Sanders gets Freedom MVP/All-Conference honors
Published in the July 1, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The Middlesex League’s baseball coaches met recently to vote on All-Stars for the 2019 season.
The Wakefield Warriors, who concluded their season at 14-9 and made it to the Div. 2 North semifinals, had five All-Stars selected: Senior captains Tommy Mottl, Erich Hickey and Gabe Sanders and sophomores Chris Alden and Danny Hurley.
Additionally, Sanders was named the Freedom Division’s Most Valuable Player and earned a spot on the All-Conference team. Sanders affected the team in many ways as he hit leadoff, was the starting shortstop and pitched plenty of big innings late in games.
Mottl and Hickey picked up their senior season from where they left off their junior years as terrific outfielders. The duo with Hickey in right and Mottl in center, were strong defenders this year and were the pulse of Wakefield’s heart of the batting order.
Alden was Wakefield’s ace this season and he picked up both of their wins in the playoffs against Greater Lawrence and Whittier Tech.
Hurley was an impact player at the dish, in the field at first base and on the mound.
The Warriors were Freedom Division champions and won the program’s first tournament game since 2003.
Wakefield led the All-Star balloting in the Freedom with five. Burlington was next with four selections followed by three from Melrose and Wilmington and one from Stoneham and Watertown.
In the Liberty Division, Woburn and Belmont both have four All-Stars. Woburn also had the Liberty’s MVP in Ryan Qualey who pitched a terrific game to beat Wakefield in the Semifinals. Lexington and Arlington both had three selections followed by one from both Winchester and Reading.
