Mercurio three-run HR in seventh lifts Warriors to 6-4 triumph

MATT MERCURIO, a senior (#21), is greeted by his teammate at home plate after hitting a three-run homer which was the game-winning hit in Wakefield’s 6-4 win over Melrose yesterday at Morelli Field. (Donna Larsson Photo)

MATT MERCURIO, a senior (#21), is greeted by his teammate at home plate after hitting a three-run homer which was the game-winning hit in Wakefield’s 6-4 win over Melrose yesterday at Morelli Field. (Donna Larsson Photo)

Published in the April 28, 2016 edition.

By JIM SOUTHMAYD

MELROSE — Giving a team or a player a second chance isn’t a very good idea.

Doing so against last year’s Middlesex League Freedom division champion Wakefield and league MVP Matt Mercurio is a recipe for disaster.

Mercurio, a senior, crushed a three-run home run to left field in the top of the seventh as the Warrior baseball team rallied for a 6-4 triumph over a good Melrose team yesterday afternoon at Morelli Field.

For Mercurio, it is his third home run of the season and the second that came when Wakefield needed it the most. As result, the Warriors are now 6-2 overall season and 4-2 in the M.L. Freedom division.

The home run for Mercurio came after he swung at a high and inside pitch near his head and popped it up in foul territory near third base. Melrose third baseman Clark Watson tried to get underneath the ball but the breeze blew it back toward fair territory. Despite a diving attempt and getting the glove on the ball, it popped out for no catch. After Mercurio fouled off another pitch, he crushed a shot over the left field fence which was about 345 feet long.

Wakefield retired the Red Raiders 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to emerge with another come-from-behind win.

“That was a fun game, both teams played well,” said Coach Keith Forbes. “For the most part, the defense played well. We had a 3-1 lead but they came back. Their pitcher threw strikes and mixed up his fast ball and breaking ball. We scored six runs on 10 hits. We had some good at bats. If we can do that, we’ll win ballgames.”

Down 4-3, headed into the top of the seventh, leadoff hitter Corey Imbriano, a senior, drew a walk from Red Raider starter Justin McCarthy. Senior Paul McGunigle also walked which led to a pitching change as John Casparriello, a junior, relieved McCarthy.

With Mercurio at the plate, Imbriano took off for third and Casparriello committed a balk which allowed both runners to move up to second and third with no outs. Mercurio made Melrose pay for its miscues as he smashed his three-run shot over the left field fence to give the Warriors the lead.

“I was going to have Mercurio bunt but in hindsight that was’t the thing to do. We thought we could steal third on their pitcher with what we saw,” said Forbes. “Matt is the MVP of the league and he is the type of guy you can’t give a second chance.”

Andrew Auld, a senior, lined a single to left field for his third base hit of the game. Senior Adam Chanley bunted Auld up to second base and Auld stole third. But a ground ball to third base and a grounder back to Casparriello resulted in no more runs for the Warriors.

Chanley, a right-hander, struck out two out of three batters he faced in the seventh to earn the victory in relief. The senior hurled three innings giving up one run on two hits while striking out four batters.

Auld pitched the first four frames for Wakefield. The right-hander gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits while walking five and striking out three. He also threw a wild pitch.

McCarthy went six plus innings for Melrose surrendering five runs on eight hits while striking out five, walking four and hitting a batter. The righty also threw a wild pitch.

Casparriello went an inning giving up one run on two hits.

Mercurio singled to left field and Auld lined a base hit to right field with two outs in the first inning but the Warriors left those runners stranded.

Melrose plated an unearned run in the home half of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Drew Maguire walked and went to second on a wild pitch. He took third on a ground ball back to Auld. Nick Cordeau walked and stole second. On an errant throw by Mercurio, Maguire crossed the plate.

Alec Tauro walked and then Watson tapped a grounder to Imbriano at shortstop. Imbriano booted the ball but Cordeau rounded third and went too far and was caught in rundown for the second out of the inning. On the play, Tauro attempted to advance to third and was thrown out there for an inning ending double play.

In the top of the second, Tighe Beck, a senior, walked and advance to second on an errant pickoff throw by McCarthy. Will Shea, a senior, lined a base hit to right-center field and stole second. With runners on second and third, two strikeouts ended the inning.

Wakefield broke through and plated three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.

McGunigle was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on a ground ball. After a grounder to third, Ben Coccoluto, a junior walked. Mike Guanci, a junior, lined a hit between shortstop and third base as McGunigle scored. Beck then crushed a triple to deep right field plating both Coccoluto and Guanci.

The Red Raiders got a run back in the third inning to cut the lead to 3-2.

After two strikeouts, Ryan Censullo reached on an error at third base by Guanci. Cordeau walked and then Tauro roped a single to right field to score Censullo.

Wakefield had a pair of base hits to right field from junior Tim Hurley and McGunigle. But both runners were thrown out trying to steal second base.

Melrose tied the game at 3-3 in the home half of the fourth inning.

Sean Connolly walked and McCarthy singled to left field. A ground ball to shortstop advanced the base runners. Matt Cornelius tapped a grounder to Imbriano who fired home to Mercurio. Mercurio tagged Connolly for the second out of the inning. But Maguire singled into right-center field to score McCarthy to tie the game.

Auld had one out infield hit to third base in the top of the fifth but was forced at second on a ground ball. The Red Raiders went in order with Chanley on the rubber.

The Warriors went 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth but Melrose pushed a run across to take a 4-3 lead in the home half of the frame.

Connolly singled to left field and pinch-runner Justin Horrey stole second. He was injured on the play and Connolly re-entered. McCarthy helped his own cause with an RBI base hit. He was thrown out trying to steal second for the first out. Chanley then retired the next two batters to keep the deficit at one run.

The Warriors then saved their best for last and pulled out a hard fought victory.

“We’re 6-2 and we’re getting better. We’ve had much better offensive games in the past three out of four games,” said Forbes. “The league is tough. There are a lot of strong teams. Every game is going to be a battle. The league is definitely up this year. These are the type of games we’re going to be in. If we can make the playoffs, then these are the kind of games we’re going to be in where we have to grind it out. We’ve come back late in games.”

Wakefield hosts Burlington on Friday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. at Walsh Field.