Published in the August 1, 2018 edition

WAKEFIELD — Colin Jaena is welcome anytime. 

The Wakefield native took the mound for the Senior Townies on Sunday at Walsh Field against Lynnfield in his first appearance for the team. 

Jaena led Austin Prep to a state championship this season by pitching a complete game in their 5-3 win over Dedham in the D3 semifinals, and hitting an RBI single in the championship game against Taconic.  

The righty was lights out against Lynnfield racking up 12 strikeouts and allowing just three hits in seven innings as the Townies won 7-0. 

He also came through at the plate, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two doubles, including a three-RBI two-bagger in the 4th to extend the lead to 6-0. 

COLIN JAENA was un-hittable during his first appearance for the senior Townies at Walsh Field on
Sunday. The recent Austin Prep state champ shut out Lynnfield, allowing just three hits and no runs
while striking out 12 in seven innings. He also went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

The Townies picked up two runs in the 1st inning. Jaena was hit by a pitch to start the rally. He advanced to third on an out from Tommy Mottl. Chris Coombs walked and stole second to put runners at second and third with two outs. 

Gould then stepped up and and ripped a two-RBI double to make it 2-0. 

Jaena made a nice play in the 2nd, throwing out a runner from the ground after stopping a sharply hit grounder. He struck out the next batter for his second consecutive one, two, three inning to start the game. 

Corey Sample walked and Ryan Donald hit a single in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Leadoff hitter Cal Tryder walked with two outs to load the bases. Jaena got his first RBI of the game when he jumped at a fastball and hit a line drive that was knocked down by the umpire of all people, and scored Sample in the process. 

Jaena continued to cruise after his bases-clearing double in the 4th made it 6-0. The top of the 5th proved to be the toughest of the game for Jaena as he worked around two base hits, still piling up two strikeouts in the inning to keep Lynnfield off the board. 

The Townies added another run in the 5th. Coombs walked again and advanced to third after Gould and Jordan Fauci ground outs. Scott Elwell hit an RBI infield single to make it 7-0. 

Jaena whiffed the first batter of the 6th and hit the next one, only to strike out the side on the next two hitters anyways. 

The big win was important for the Townies as they jockey for playoff position. Wakefield lost to first-place Reading on Monday, but with their record at 11-11, are currently in 8th place in the 2018 Middlesex Senior Babe Ruth League. The playoff structure alters every year based on how many teams participate, but finishing top eight should be enough to make it.

Having Colin Jaena will help too. He is expected to continue playing for the Townies during the home stretch. 

“Yeah, we’re lucky we’ll have his arm for the playoffs,” agreed Wakefield head coach Kevin Murray. 

The Townies’ last regular season game will be tomorrow, 5:45 at Walsh Field against the Arlington Cardinals.