John William McEvoy, Jr.
Assistant Middlesex District Attorney

Of Belmont, Passed away suddenly at home on August 25, 2021, at the age of 66. Devoted husband of M. Jane Walsh for nearly 41 years. Father of Matthew and Robyn McEvoy of Sudbury; Michael McEvoy and Dan Nadeau of Boston; and Elizabeth McEvoy and Michael Birch of Natick. Grandfather of Stella McEvoy, Eva Birch and Jack Birch. Brother of Kathleen McEvoy of Cambridge and the Honorable Christine McEvoy (RET) of Belmont; son of late John William McEvoy, Sr. and the late Eva Antonelli McEvoy of Belmont.

Born in Brighton, MA, in 1954, John was a graduate of Belmont High School, class of 1972, and Brown University, class of 1976. While at Brown, John played football and baseball and was captain of the Varsity Baseball Team. After college, he continued to play baseball in the amateur Intercity Baseball League for the next 18 years. In his later playing years in the ICL, he founded the Peter Fuller team, which played home games at Belmont High School. He would coach and play for the Peter Fuller team until the age of 39. His son Matthew followed in his father’s ICL footsteps as Matthew played 13 seasons in the Intercity League. Matthew played 10 seasons with Watertown and played three seasons with Lexington, winning the ICL championship each year.

John graduated from Suffolk Law School in 1979 and was appointed an assistant Middlesex District Attorney later that year. He served in that capacity in the office he loved to the present day, for 42 years. During those four decades, he was honored to serve as a supervisor for each of the three regions within the Middlesex DA’s office, as chief of homicide for more than 20 years and as First Assistant District Attorney for 3 consecutive administrations.

An accomplished trial attorney, John never forgot to credit the professionalism and tremendous work ethic of the State and Local Police as well as the Appellate Bureau upon whom he depended. One of his greatest satisfactions was witnessing the continued accomplishments of the many talented, dedicated assistant district attorneys whom he helped train. He was genuinely grateful to the countless families with whom he worked toward securing justice.

John’s most important priority was always his family. He was deeply committed to his wife, Jane, his partner for life. He was a loving, enthusiastic, and forever proud Father, and honored to be beloved “Papa” to his grandchildren. John also shared his passion for sports with his children and community, selected as coach of dozens of youth teams. There he was respected for his knowledge and more importantly for his kindness.

John is survived as well by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home 36 Trapelo Road Belmont on Thursday Sept. 2nd from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated in St Joseph Church 128 Common Street Belmont on Friday Sept. 3rd at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment Highland Meadow Cemetery, Belmont. Please wear face masks and social distance at all indoor services.

2021 INTERCITY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Play-In Round
Tuesday, August 10
#5 Andre Chiefs 6, #6 Reading Bulldogs 1
(Reading Bulldogs eliminated)

Wednesday, August 11
#5 Andre Chiefs 13, #4 Alibrandis 1
(Alibrandis eliminated)

Semi-Finals (Best of three)
Thursday, August 12
#1 Lexington Blue Sox 3, #5 Andre Chiefs 2
(Lexington Leads Series, 1-0)
#3 Melrose Americans 5, #2 Middlesex Expos 3
(Melrose Leads Serie, 1-0)

Friday, August 13
#5 Andre Chiefs 6, #1 Lexington Blue Sox 5
(Series tied 1-1)
#2 Middlesex Expos 16, #3 Melrose Americans 2
(Series tied 1-1)

Sunday, August 15
#2 Middlesex Expos 7, #3 Melrose Americans 2
(Middlesex wins series, 2-1)
#1 Lexington Blue Sox 7, #5 Andre Chiefs 1
(Lexington wins series, 2-1)

Championship
#2 Middlesex Expos vs. #1 Lexington Blue Sox
(Best of Five)
Tuesday, August 17
Lexington Blue Sox 11, Middlesex Expos 4
(Lexington leads series. 1-0)

Wednesday, August 18
Lexington Blue Sox 6, Middlesex Expos 0
(Lexington leads series, 2-0)

Thursday, August 19, Victory Field, 7:00 PM
Lexington Blue Sox 2, Middlesex Expos 1
(Lexington wins series, 2-1)

By Bruce Hack
Melrose – Lexington flexed its muscles Tuesday night hitting three home runs on the way to an 11-4 first game win over Middlesex at Morelli Field.

The Blue Sox have 1-0 lead in the best of five finals with game two tonight at Morelli at 7:45.

Julian Alvarez started the power show with a first inning solo shot, his second home run of the playoffs, that knotted the score at 1-1. It was the fourth straight playoff game that the Blue Sox have scored in the first inning.

Gage Gaunt made it 3-1 with a solo home run in the third, his first of the playoffs.

In the fifth it was Dom Zaher’s turn to take a jog around the bases as he hit a two-run shot to give the Blue Sox a 5-1 lead. The next four Sox batters all singled with Luke Hall driving in two runs for a 7-1 lead. Alvarez scored on an infield out and Lexington had put up a big crooked number with five runs to take an 8-1 lead.

Ryan O’Rourke was the beneficiary of the Sox offense. The lefty pitched six innings for his second win of the playoffs. He gave up six hits, one run, walked one and struck out five. The strikeouts came in the third and fourth innings as he struck out four straight, two to end the third and two to start the fourth.

Both teams had at least one hit in every half inning. The teams combined for 21 hits in seven innings.

Middlesex had a single in each of the first six innings, but only scored one run and left eight runners stranded.

The Expos took a 1-0 lead in top of the first. Kebler Peralta started the game with a single to left. Jose Paulino walked and the Expos had runners on first and second with no out. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position. With one out, Kenny Higgins popped up down the right field line that was caught by second baseman Brendan Jones. Peralta tagged up and trotted home for the 1-0 lead.

Middlesex was kept off the scoreboard for the next five innings, but finally broke through in the seventh. The Expos scored three runs on three hits and three walks off Sox reliever Jack Schwartz. Michael Oliveira singled, his second of the night, to drive in two.

Alvarez, Gaunt and Zaher combined to score eight runs, knock out eight hits and drive in six runs along with their three home runs.

Peralta had three hits for the Expos and scored twice. Oliveira added two hits and drove in two.

Michael Smith started for the Expos and five innings. He gave up 10 hits, eight runs, walked one and struck out five.

The two teams return to Morelli Wednesday night for game two switching sides as Lexington will be the visitors.

All of the action of the finals can be seen at Beyond Sight Sports on You Tube. The games are broadcast live and can also be watched later. Check the ICL website and twitter for the exact URL for game two.

By Bruce Hack
Lexington – Blue Sox starter Robbie Cobb made his first start for Lexington a memorable one as he pitched Lexington into the finals with a 7-1 win over Andre Sunday night.

Cobb, a former Nichols College pitcher, set down the first six Chiefs on 13 pitches. He retired 11 of the first 13 batters he faced through the fourth. In the third and fourth innings he was helped out by his defense. Lexington center fielder Dom Zaher, brought the third inning to a close with a Sports Center Top Ten Plays worthy catch. Zaher raced to his right and after a long run made a diving catch. In the fourth Zaher again flashed the leather making a running catch coming in for the first out of the inning. With one out and Nick Valdario on first Brendan Jones ended the fourth by turning a double play.

Meanwhile the Lexington offense finally got into high gear after two games. In the first two games of the series the Blue Sox had scored eight runs on eight hits. Tonight they scored seven runs on 13 hits, all singles.

For the third straight game the Blue Sox scored in the first inning and quickly took a 1-0 lead. With one out Gage Gaunt reached second on a throwing error. Luke Hall delivered a single up the middle and Gaunt easily scored the first run.

Lexington added two more runs in the third. Alex Voitik and Dahiandy Johnson each had two-out RBI singles that drove in Josue Feliciano (fielder’s choice) and Gaunt (single).

The Chiefs scored their lone run in the fifth. Adam Johnson singled and went to second on a throwing error. After taking third on an infield out Johnson scored on Joe Bova’s ground out to first. Kyle DeRoma walked and that brought an end to Cobb’s night. Borja Jones-Berasaluce came in and finished the inning with a strikeout.

In getting his first playoff win, Cobb pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, an unearned run, walked two and struck out two.

Adding two runs in the fifth and sixth innings the Blue Sox took a 7-1 lead going into the seventh.

Lexington closer Manny Delcarmen pitched the seventh and quickly brought the game to an end as he struck out the side.

Chiefs starter Tim Dunphy, in his second start of the playoffs, pitched 5+ innings giving up 11 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned, walked one and struck out one.

Johnson drove in three runs for Lexington on run-producing singles in the third and fifth innings. At the top of the order Feliciano and Gaunt each scored two runs with Gaunt adding an RBI. Voitik and Zaher each scored and drove in a run. All nine Lexington starters had at least one hit, with four of them, Johnson, Alex Krylov, Jones and Zaher each getting two.

Lexington will be making its 14th consecutive appearance in the finals. All of the games will be played at Melrose’s Morelli Field with 7:45 start times. The action can all be watched on You Tube at Beyond Sight Sports.

First game of the Championship Round is Tuesday, August 17.

By Bruce Hack
Malden – Ryan Noone raced around third toward home plate and a 6-5 win for the Chiefs Friday night at Malden Catholic to knot the semifinal series at 1-1.
Game three will be Sunday night in Lexington at 8:00 PM.

Lead off hitter Miles Reid started the rally by reaching on a throwing error. Tommy Leone sacrificed Reid to second placing the tying run in scoring position. Noone went the other way and slapped a base hit to left to drive in Reid to even the game at 5-5. An Andrew Caulfield single, his third hit of the game, moved Noone into scoring position and setting up the winning play.

There were only three innings in which runs were scored as the teams scored in the first, fifth and seventh innings. Each time Lexington scored the Chiefs answered.
The Blue Sox scored in the top of first. Gage Gaunt reached on a fielder’s choice. After the second out he went to third on a single by Julian Alvarez. Alex Voitik’s single to left brought home Gaunt for a 1-0 lead.

Reid started off the bottom of the first with a single. He moved to second on a walk to Nate Witkowski. Following the first out, Caulfield singled and Reid scored on a throwing error.

In the fifth inning the teams exchanged three run home runs. Alvarez gave Lexington a 4-1 lead with a two-out three run blast that scored Josue Feliciano and Luke Hall.
Caulfield answered with his own two-out three run home run which knotted the score at 4-4. Reid and Noone were aboard and scored ahead of Caulfield.

Lexington took the lead for the third time in the top of seventh. Gaunt doubled to left with one out to start the rally. Hall bounced what appeared to be a routine ground out only to see the throw sail over the first baseman and allow Gaunt to score for a 5-4 lead.

Jonathan Richard (1-0) started for the Chiefs and went the distance, the fourth complete game for the Chiefs in the playoffs. He gave up only four hits, but walked six of which only one scored, and struck out seven in his 124 pitch outing.

The cleanup hitters for each team showed why that occupy that spot in the batting order. The Blue Sox Alvarez had two hits, walked twice and three RBI on his home run. The Chiefs Caulfield had his own three-run home run and added two singles.
Reid set the table for the Chiefs reaching base three times and scoring each time. Noone had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run.

Pat McGowan started for Lexington and pitched 5.1 innings giving up five hits, four runs, three earned, walked three and struck out. Borja Jones-Berasaluce came in in the sixth and recorded the last two outs. Manny Delcarmen entered the game in the seventh and suffered his first loss in a Blue Sox uniform.

The teams will meet for game three Sunday night. This is the seventh time in 10 playoff series between the two rivals that the series has gone the distance. The previous six were all in the finals (best of 5) from 2011 to 2016.