Melrose edged by #1 seed Chieftains, 7-4

Published in the June 15, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

BOXFORD, MA—The Melrose Red Raider baseball team’s playoff run came to an end when they fell to #1 seed Masconomet, 7-4 on Saturday, June 9 at Masconomet Regional High in the Div. 2 North quarterfinals. 

Despite Melrose out-hitting Masco 10-5, it was ultimately Andrew Manni of Masco who proved a menace for the Red Raiders by fanning 10 on the mound and hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning that essentially put the game away for Melrose. The Cape Ann League MVP hadn’t recorded a loss this year and had not given up an earned run the entire season for Masco (19-2). Despite striking out seven Red Raiders in the first three innings, Melrose earned four runs against him and maintained a very competitive game throughout the day. 

“I’m proud of how they played,” said Melrose coach Bill Hirschfeld, who has now led his team to 8 playoffs in 11 seasons, this one his sixth straight. “We were a 15th seed facing a number one seed and I think we gave them all they could handle. Our hitters came through, our pitching was solid, Will [Dolaher] pitched a great game and Harry [Kelley] did well too. Masco got some unearned runs off us and we had one tricky inning.”

THE MELROSE Red Raider baseball team fell to Masco, 7-4, in the second round of Div. 2 North play. (Donna Larsson photo)

Melrose starting pitcher William Dolaher kept Masco’s damage minimal in the early innings of the game and was strong at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Masco took an early lead when Patrick Costigan hit a two-run single to knock in Alex Zenus. And Melrose scored a run in the fourth to make it a 2-1 game behind the batting of Mike Fennell, Mike Koytikh, Jack Sullivan and Liam Crovo.

Masco padded their lead with a few unearned runs in the fourth before Melrose reliever Harry Kelley took over on the mound with Melrose down 5-1 in the fifth and got the Red Raiders out of the inning. After Kelley fanned back-to-back batters, Andrew Manni knocked a two-run homer, which scored David Hunter and Jack Hurton to help Masco maintain the edge they needed for victory. 

The Red Raiders wouldn’t give up, however, and their bats came alive in the six when Kelley (2 hits) delivered an RBI single and was later driven in by Mike Muscarella’s double to make it a 7-3 game. Charlie Stanton and Matt Morrissey also helped Melrose with RBIs that narrowed the lead to 7-4, but Melrose ultimately couldn’t get beyond that. They finish the season with an 11-11 record. 

“We needed to make the kind of plays we did against Wakefield. We had to have that kind of game,” says Hirschfeld. “This year we lost 5 games by one run scores and pitchers like Mike [Muscarella] were usually on the other side of it. But he has always held his own against tough opponents. He and my other senior captains had great seasons.” 

That includes captains Jack Sullivan and Charlie Stanton, great positional players for Melrose. “Charlie is an extension of a coach,” says Hirschfeld. “Real heads up on the field and a great kid. Jack is an outstanding player, he was the anchor of our infield this year at first base.”

Overall, Melrose will say goodbye to ten seniors, including those captains and seniors Will Dolaher, Robert Mele, Joe Stanton, Cam McKenzie, Mike Koytikh and Mike Fennell. Tough shoes to fill, but they return with talented underclassmen Liam Crovo, Harry Kelley, pitcher Dylan Kaliris, Zach McGuire and Matt McDonough. Says Hirschfeld, “Harry will be the bulk of our pitching next year, but there are plenty of opportunities for roles on the team.”  

Next season, look for the Red Raiders to vie for another playoff run and extend the program’s winning tradition.”

“They worked hard and were committed all season,” says the coach. I’m proud of this group.”