Published in the December 7, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The Middlesex League coaches met recently to make this year’s All-Star selections on both offense and defense for the Freedom and Liberty divisions.
The Wakefield Warriors had five All-Stars named with two on offense and three on defense.
Seniors Pat Bertini and Dan Cataldo were named All-Stars on offense while seniors Ryan Fitzpatrick and Devin O’Brien, and junior Danny Marinaccio got the honor on defense.
Bertini and Cataldo both completed their careers with another great season on the offensive line. Bertini helped set up the line from his center position. Cataldo also played an excellent linebacker for the Warriors this year.
Fitzpatrick earned the nod as a defensive back but he was also the lead running back for Wakefield this year. It was a similar story for Marinaccio, whose speed and instincts at the linebacker position caught the eye of coaches, but he was an excellent running back as well. O’Brien made the All-Star team for the second consecutive year. Last year, he made the team as an offensive lineman while this year he got the call as a defensive lineman.
Division 5 North champion Watertown tied with Division 4 Super Bowl champion Melrose for the most selections in the Freedom Division with seven. Division 6 North champion Stoneham was next with six selections. Wakefield and Wilmington both had five All-Stars while Burlington had three.
The Freedom Division had co-MVP’s in Stoneham’s Tre Pignone and Wilmington’s Tyler Roberts.
In the Liberty Division, league champion Lexington led the way with 11 All-Stars, five on offense (including three linemen) and six on defense, while second-place Arlington tied with last-place Belmont with six selections.
The Liberty Division MVP was Lexington QB Sal Frelick.
