LUKE ICKES struck out six and scattered five hits and two runs through four innings against Melrose on Thursday at Walsh Field. The Warriors walked off in the bottom of the 7th on a Matt Elwell hit. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

 

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — Matt Elwell had quite enough of this wild, rivalry tilt.

After the Wakefield baseball team let Melrose back into the game at Walsh Field on Thursday with four runs in the top of the 7th, Elwell walked off his Warriors on a shot over the Red Raider outfield to score John Porter and secure an exhilarating 9-8 win.

Porter pinch hit for his first at-bat on a chilly day at Walsh in the final inning and blooped a single to reach. After Evan Simoneau (3-for-3) put down a sacrifice bunt and Porter moved to third on a throwing error, Elwell (2-for-3, 1 RBI) launched his game-winner and celebrated with a rush of Warriors in the infield as Wakefield moved to 2-2.

Wakefield outhit Melrose 15-10 in a thriller that was actually quite low-scoring in the first few frames.

Luke Ickes (4IP, 5H, 6K, 2BB, 2ER) put together a great start including a 1st inning in which he struck out the side. The lefty kept it scoreless until his Warriors staked him a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd on an RBI knock by Jack Berinato (2-for-4, 3 RBI). Melrose reclaimed the lead in the 4th but Wakefield tied it up 2-2 in the bottom half when Tylor Roycroft scampered home after Aidan Riley singled and a wild throw to 3rd went wide.

 

NATHAN ICKES bats while Tylor Roycroft takes off for second against Melrose on Thursday at Walsh Field. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

 

Zack Kent replaced Ickes in the 5th and held Melrose to one in the inning.

The Warriors went off in the bottom of the 5th with four runs to take a 6-3 win.

Kent (1-for-2, RBI) had an RBI single to tie it and Berinato ripped a 2-RBI triple to reclaim the lead.

Nick Knowles (3-for-4, 3 RBI) had an RBI base hit to extend the lead.

After Melrose got one back the Warriors added two in the 6th on a Knowles 2-RBI single scoring Simoneau and Elwell.

Melrose roared back with four in the 7th to tie it at 8-8.

Their first came on a sac fly on which Simoneau made the web gem of the day with an incredible running catch to his left, prompting a few “Great catch Sim!” calls from a group of Wakefield parents in right field to which the senior replied with a humble “Thanks guys!”

Melrose followed with a single and a 2-RBI double. A throwing error to 3rd evened things up one final time to set up Elwell’s heroics.

Wakefield followed that win up by falling to Lynnfield 8-3 on the road Saturday morning.

They traveled to Woburn yesterday (results not available at press time) and will host Stoneham tomorrow at 10 a.m.