Win over rival Arlington, 6-4, a highlight

Published in the April 20, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider baseball team is off to a 1-2 start in just over a week of play with games against Lexington, Arlington and Wilmington. Melrose picked up their first win of the season against Arlington on April 12 on the road at Spy Pond Field, a 9-4 victory against a team that is a bit of a new rival. 

“Arlington is always a competitive team and they’re really well coached,” says Melrose head coach Bill Hirschfeld. “We have a great history together. Last year, we fell just shy to them, as they had jumped out first at the plate, and this season we had a quick start at the plate.”

Earning the win on the mound was senior Will Dolaher. “He was a steady presence for us,” says his coach. “It was his first time on the mound this season and he kept things stable.” 

MELROSE HURLER Mike Muscarella is among the returning pitchers for the 2018 Red Raider baseball team. (file photo)

Dolaher was supported with scattered hits from his teammates, including RBIs from Mike Koytikh and Liam Crovo, helping Melrose take an early 4-0 lead that was extended to 7-0, before the Spy Ponders came back to cut the lead in half. Melrose also benefitted from seven walks thrown by Arlington. 

Melrose’s Dolaher was relieved by two, scoreless innings by junior hurler Harry Kelley, who has not given up a run in six innings during his two relief outings, including an appearance in Melrose’s home effort against Wilmington on Friday, April 13. 

In the game, Melrose found themselves in a hole when Wildcat Jarred Aucoin hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning off of Melrose starter Joe Stanton. Wilmington would score more runs again before Melrose’s Kelley was called in for relief. 

“Harry’s really holding his own,” says Hirschfeld. “His confidence is building every time he steps on the mound.”

Melrose struggled at the plate while Wilmington pitcher Chris Stokes had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning. Melrose bats came around, behind some solid hits by Jack Whitley and Mike Muscarella, and despite an admirable, late game rally, the end result was a 6-4 loss at home. 

Melrose opened the season on the road on April 11 against a tough Lexington squad and were shutout 8-0. And while it was far from the result they wanted, Hirschfeld points to the relief performance by pitcher Rob Mele as a highlight. “He has been a stabilizing force for us in relief. It was a good effort.”

And so, while Melrose must take the good and the bad, they are hoping for more good as they continue this week when hosting Woburn on Wednesday and traveling to Wilmington to once again face the Wildcats. 

Mother Nature has been a nuisance and forced Melrose back inside to practice early in the week. “It’s definitely frustrating and hard to remain consistent when you’re both in and out. You can develop bad habits. So this week we are going to try to tighten up all around to we can be crisp on the field. But this team is working hard and is up for the challenge.”