Published in the July 16, 2020 edition.
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — Three days later, 12.5 percent of the season is over.
The Unknowns and Brewers were the last of the six Twi League teams to play their season openers when they met on a cool, sunny afternoon at Moulton Field last night.
The Unknowns joined the Expos and the Highlife at the top of the standings by getting a 5-1 win over the Brewers.
The Brew Crew outhit the Question Marks 11-8 but Unknowns starter Adam Chanley limited damage and the defense, especially up the middle with Brett Maloney at shortstop and Scott Elwell at second, were sharp, mostly stopping any rallies before they started.
Meanwhile, Brewer starter Brian Millea collected 10 strikeouts but three unearned runs created enough breathing room for the Unknowns to never really break a sweat.
The young guns stole the show for the Unknowns. Of their five runs, three were batted in. Brendan Coughlin (WMHS ‘18) collected two on a single to make it 3-0 in the 2nd. One of those runners to cross the plate was Elwell from Wakefield High’s Class of 2020, playing in his Twi League debut.
Elwell (2-for-3, 1RBI, 1R, 1SB) had an RBI base hit in the 5th to make it 5-1. The offense combined with solid defensive play earned Elwell the game ball.
Elwell’s 2020 classmate Chris Coombs was also making his Twi debut for the Brewers. Coombs also collected two base hits his first came with two outs in the 3rd and prompted a “Can we get that ball?” joke from his teammates.
The Unknowns’ initial run was scored in the 1st as Brendan Panarese reached on an error found his way to third and eventually scored with two outs on a wild pitch/passed ball, you-make-the-call.
The Unknowns’ three-run 2nd was business as usual in the Twi as Millea struck out the side with a traditional four K’s. His first got by catcher John Halsey allowing Bryan Butt to reach first. Elwell’s first single and ensuing stolen base set up Coughlin’s two-RBI knock. Millea struck out Chanley, Panarese and Timmy Coggswell to end the inning.
The Question Marks added another unearned run in the 3rd when Kevin Murray reached on a fielder’s choice, got to second on a Butt single and scampered home after an overthrow to third base on his steal attempt ended up in the outfield.
Elwell and Maloney connected on a smooth 4-6-3 double play hit by their Warrior coach Tom Leahy to end the top of the 4th.
The Brewers got something going in the 5th, started by a 1-out infield single from Darren Bisso. Zack Thomas later kept the rally going with two outs on a base hit and Drew Betts brought home Bisso with a single to make it 4-1 before Chanley got Coombs to ground it back to the mound to end the threat.
Murray had the longest hit of the day with a one-out bomb to left-center resulting in a standup double in the bottom of the 5th. Elwell later drove him in to make it 5-1.
The Brew Crew made a little noise with two outs in the 7th. Bisso led off with a high bloop single that fell inside the right field line. Chanley struck out Joe Greer and got Thomas to ground to Maloney for a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Betts and Coombs loaded the bags with back-to-back infield single but Chanley got Halsey to ground out to Butt at third to end the game.
With that, each team in the Twi has their first game under their belt, the results important because each team only has seven regular season games left, but just as vital, they got a chance to knock the rust off with most playing baseball for the first time in 11 months.
Following guidelines sent by the Wakefield Recreation Department, it hasn’t been typical but it’s been fun.
The Highlife (1-0) will play the Slappers (0-1) tonight at Moulton, 6 p.m.
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Notes
There were only a couple broken bats last night but that puts the three-game total to about 11. Obviously the lumber needs some time to get into game shape too…The home team has won all three games so far. The Highlife are home tonight against the Slappers.
