Series tied 1-1; game three tonight

THE TWI LEAGUE got a great night for game two of the finals between the Highlife and Brewers at Moulton Field last night. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Published in the August 17, 2018 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — There’s a general consensus in town that the best fireworks in Wakefield happen on the 4th of July.

The ones at Moulton in August aren’t bad either.

It’s been an extremely competitive, thrilling and at times contentious Twi League playoffs.

Game two of the Finals was just the latest chapter.

THE BREWERS walked off game two of the Twi League Finals on a sacrifice fly off the bat of John Zagaria (left) scoring Tom Leahy. (Dan Pawlowski Photos)

Following a 7-2 game one win for the Highlife, the Brewers fought back in game two, responding to a four-run top of the 7th for the Highlife that tied the game, by walking off on a sacrifice fly.

The Brewers took control of this one with a four-run 2nd inning off Highlife starter John Evangelista. The shorthanded Highlife, without regular starters like Eric DiTonno, Mark Sulllivan, Matt Davis and Ryan Doyle, could only scratch out a few runs against Brewers starter Tom Leahy until they exploded in the top of the 7th, flipping a 7-3 deficit into a 7-7 tie.

The Highlife starter, repeating similar tendencies that boiled over against the Expos in the previous series, found himself at odds against the Brewers for most of the game. That should at least make for an interesting game four which no longer says “if necessary” on the schedule.

The Highlife got on the board in the top of the 1st when leadoff hitter Danny Concessi continued his blistering postseason with a double. He was advanced and scored on two consecutive groundouts to second to give the Life a 1-0 lead.

The Brewers got that back in the bottom half when Matt Fiore hit a one-out double and Matt Halsey drove him in with an RBI single.

Leahy sat the Highlife down in order in the top of the second setting up the Brewers to become the authority figures in game two early.

Three consecutive walks to Timmy Hurley, Joe Greer and John Zagaria loaded the bases. Matt Fiore legged out an RBI infield single and Halsey’s groundout to third scored another run to make it 3-1. With runners at second and third, an error from Jake Vezga at short off the bat of Mike Fiore gave the Brewers a 5-1 lead.

Concessi started a two-out rally in the 3rd with a base hit and a stolen base. Jason Federico hit a sky-high pop up that Mike Fiore lost at second and Concessi scored to make it 5-2. Leahy got Anthony Caracciolo to fly out to end the inning.

The Life threatened again in the 4th when Cliff Silva capitalized on a bad throw from a grounder. Brewers first baseman Mike Greer was drawn off the bag but looked like he had a chance with a tag that Silva dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and…..dodged to avoid Greer’s glove. Joe Stackhouse hit a single and Nick Kaddaras also followed with a base hit, loading the bags with no outs. Vezga hit a sac fly to right that also advanced Stackhouse to third. Stackhouse broke for him on a wild pitch to Michael Day. Brewers catcher Halsey got to it quickly and flipped to Leahy who got the tag down for a big out. Leahy followed with a K to Day to limit the damage to one run; 5-3 Brewers.

Vezga made the play of the day at short in the 4th, making up for his error in the 2nd that resulted in two runs. Vezga, who typically plays second base for the Life, made an incredible diving stop up the middle and whipped a strong throw to first to get Mike Fiore. With Zagaria having previously hit a single and stole second, Vezga’s play stole a hit and saved a run.

The Highlife couldn’t score in the top of the 5th, but they got out of a big jam in the bottom of the 5th. Drew Betts singled for the Brewers to start it up. Mike Greer walked and Leahy singled to load the bags with no outs. Hurley flew out, Joe Greer struck out and Zagaria flew out to end the frame.

Leahy got through the 6th with just a handful of pitches, quickly setting the pace for the Brewers to pick up two more in the 6th. Matt Fiore reached on an error and Mike Fiore later crushed a triple to deep left center, scoring his brother to make it 6-3. Betts followed by driving one to deep right-center that Concessi made a great catch on, but it was plenty deep enough to score Fiore on a sacrifice fly for a 7-3 lead.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the 7th inning denouement turned into an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffett at Brother’s. No rules, no lines, just a scrap for the last few pieces of bacon.

The Life’s Vezga led off with a single. Day grounded out and Nick Dettorre singled to put runners at first and third for Concessi who hit a moonshot to deep center, easily clearing the first couple of Memorial Maples and scoring two. Concessi wiped out rounding second, with the call being interference at the bag, as he ended up with a two-RBI triple.

Federico quickly followed with an RBI double that made it 7-6. After Leahy got Caracciolo to fly out, Cliff Silva stepped up in a big spot with two outs. The Wakefield Fire Lieutenant was clutch once again for the Highlife hitting a single that would score Federico to tie it. A Stackhouse grounder ended the inning but the damage was done and the game was tied.

It was almost poetic that Leahy was the man to lead off in the bottom of the 7th. He drew a walk against Evangelista, who was tiring, more so in his arm than his jaw. Leahy was his coach at Wakefield High not 15 months ago, and the next batter, Tim Hurley was his teammate.

Not today.

Hurley hit a sinking liner that just got past a diving Federico in left. Joe Greer walked to load the bases with no outs once again. This time, the Brewers would capitalize. Zagaria sent a shot down the left field line. It was close, but probably more-so as a force of habit, Federico made the play, a fine catch on the run, but it would be too far to get Leahy at home who crossed the plate with plenty of fire, getting some level of revenge for the previous inning and tying the Twi League Finals at 1-1.

Not bad for a grand finale.

The next showing of fireworks at Moulton will be game three tonight at 5:30.