Published in the August 3, 2018 edition

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

MELROSE — Community Night at Morelli Field, hosted by the Melrose Parks and Recreation Department has become a beloved tradition. 

This year’s Community Night on Wednesday, July 25 was another big hit, as the town came together before the Melrose Americans played the Andre Chiefs in Intercity League action. 

Amongst all the lawn games, free slush, face painting and music, Melrose youth baseball players and fans got an opportunity to warm up in the outfield with the Americans during batting practice, stand with the team during the National Anthem, and participate in an Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS. 

The Americans and the Chiefs also treated the fans to an exciting game with a combined 22 hits. 

Melrose Mayor Gail Infurna threw out the first pitch. 

The Americans got on the board soon after with one run in the bottom of the 1st. 

THE AMERICANS line up for the national anthem with kids from Melrose at the annual Melrose Parks and Recreation Community Night at Morelli Field last Wednesday. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Chris Mitchell fought hard on the mound all night going 6.2 innings, scattering nine hits and striking out three, but the defense for the Americans wasn’t very sharp as only two of Mitchell’s five runs against were earned. 

The Chiefs held a 4-2 lead after four innings and kept the Americans at a comfortable distance for the rest of the game.

Melrose actually had four more hits than Andre. Chris Hopkins led the charge going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Malcolm Nachmanoff went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. John Jennings, who is second in the ICL in both batting average (.440) and hits (33) went 2-for-3. Will Shackelford had an RBI base hit and Dave Center went 2-for-4 with a double. 

A big problem for the Americans was strikeouts as seven of the ten batters K’d at least once. 

Melrose fell to league-leading Lexington 4-2 on Friday. Jamie Weiss (5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) was strong, but the reigning champion Blue Sox held on for another win. 

The Americans (22 pts.), scrapping for the final playoff spot against the Reading Bulldogs (23 pts.), earned an 8-2 win over Alibrandis Club at Morelli on Monday. The Americans were powered by homers from Hopkins (5 RBIs) and Jennings (4th of the season).

Kyle Autillo (4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K) and Brent Greeley (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) were solid.  

At press time the Americans had three games left, all at Morelli: Wednesday against Malden, Thursday against Wakefield and Friday against Malden. The Reading Bulldogs had five games remaining at press time, making a final playoff push a tough task for Melrose.