ICL drops EMABC championship game to Cranberry League 8-2

Boston – The Cranberry League won its second Eastern Mass Amateur Baseball Classic with an 8-2 win over the Intercity League at BC High’s Monan Park on Saturday evening.

 

This was the third time the two leagues have met in the Championship game and the first time the ICL has lost the Championship game.

The Cranberries struck first scoring two in the third as Mike Muir (walk) and Jordan Enos (fielder’s choice) each scored on a double by Bryant Salkind. Salkind had his second two-run double in the fourth earning the tourney MVP with his 2-for-3, two doubles, and record-tying four RBI.

Meanwhile Cranberry hurlers Dan Southerland, Connor Birch and Will Gallagher held the ICL without a hit for the first 4 and 2/3 innings. Bobby Losano (Wakefield) broke the no-hitter with a sharp base hit to left with two outs in the fifth. A wild pitch put Losano in scoring position. He then scored on John Jennings (Melrose) double, that just missed being a home run, to left to cut the lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, Matt Nuzzo (Chiefs) blasted a home run to left over the wall to cut the lead to 5-2. That was the last run the ICL would score.

Monan Park is also known, as little Fenway as it has the same outfield dimensions as Fenway Park. It does have a wall (fence and netting) from leftfield to center, but it is not as long or as high as the one at “big” Fenway.

Borja Jones-Berasaluce (Lexington) took the loss for the ICL. In his one inning of work, the third, he gave up the first two Cranberry runs on two hits and two walks. He also struck out a batter.

The Cranberry knocked out 16 hits, lead by Dan Cook with three and also two runs scored.  Salkind and Nick Droukas each had two hits for the CBL.

Connor Birch picked up the win pitching the third and fourth innings for the CBL. He allowed no hits, but did walk three and struck out won.

The ICl is now 7-4 in the tournament’s history. Improving to 8-5 the CBL takes over the top spot for wins in tournament history.

 

Intercity League edges Yawkey League 3-2, advances to championship

This is the seventh year of the Eastern Mass Amateur Baseball Classic between the Intercity League, the Park League, the Yawkey League and the Cranberry League. The event was held at BC High’s Monan Park, which is also home to the UMass Boston baseball team.

 

John Jennings (Melrose) single to center to drive in Dillon Koster (Wakefield), who started the inning with a single, with the winning run in top of the seventh to give the Intercity League a 3-2 win over the Yawkey League and advance to the championship game of the Eastern Mass Amateur Baseball Classic. The Intercity League will face the Cranberry League, a 7-5 winner over the Park League, in the championship game.

Manny Delcarmen (Lexington) came in to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh and did so facing only three batters thanks to a double play and a ground out.

In a back-and-forth game, the Yawkey League struck first scoring a run in the second inning. Hecter Cosciono hit one just inside the leftfield foul pole for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead.

The Intercityers tied the game in the third when with two outs Charlie Huegi (Melrose) walked. He scored on Bobby Losano’s (Wakefield) single to center. They took a 2-1 lead two innings later when Teddy Dziuba (Alibrandis) walked with one out. Nick Valdario (Somerville) went in as a pinch runner for Dziuba.. Valdario went to third on a single by Jennings. He scored on a sacrifice fly to Huegi for the 2-1 lead.

The Yawkies responded in the sixth to tie the game on a Jake Keen RBI single that scored Alex Wong (single).

Ben Gottesman (Reading) earned the win for the Intercity League despite giving up the tying run in the sixth. He recorded a strikeout in his inning of work.

Melrose’s Kyle Autillo pitched the fourth and fifth innings holding the Yawkey League hitless and striking out two.

Wakefield’s Joe Maguire had the only 1-2-3 inning in the third for the ICL pitchers.

Losano and Jennings each had two hits, accounting for two-thirds of ICL’s six hits in the game.

The win gave the ICL a 7-3 record in the seven years of the EMABC, the best of the four leagues that play in the event.

By Bruce Hack, ICL correspondent

Eastern Massachusetts All-Star Classic is at UMass-Boston on Saturday

The 2018 Eastern Massachusetts Amateur All-Star Baseball Classic will be played on Saturday July 14.  The games will be broadcast live by Sam Feeley of Local Sports Productions. Click on at 10:55 AM to watch.  http://www.localsportsproductions.com/live

The All-Star tournament now in its seventh year, features teams from the Intercity League, the Boston Park League, the Cranberry League and the Yawkey League.

All games will be played at Father Monan Field on the Campus of Boston College High School and UMass-Boston.

Game 1 11:00 AM
Boston Park League vs Cranberry League

Game 2 2:00 PM
Intercity League vs Yawkey League

Championship Game 5:00 PM
Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner

Royals Beat Reds in Friday’s Only Game

Eduardo Soto had a double, triple, and three RBI’s, and the Somerville Royals got a homer and two RBI’s from Luke Ronchi to hold on and beat the Watertown Reds 9-7 at Trum Field on Friday night. Brady Chant and Jake Cintolo each added a couple of hits and an RBI to the Royals 10 hit offense. Logan Gillis drove in four of the Reds’ runs with three hits that included a triple. Ryan Covelle (2-1) got the win with help from Cal Carroll who recorded the save.

It was the only ICL game on the Friday schedule.

Merchants, Alibrandis & Bulldogs Victorious on Thursday Night

The Wakefield Merchants got a homer from Bobby Losanno, three hits from Joe Barry, and three RBI’s and a couple of more hits from Dillon Koster, to beat the Melrose Americans 16-9 at Morelli Field. Koster continues to lead the ICL batting race, hitting a gaudy .592 (29-49) with 16 RBI’s. Greg Johnson (1-0) got the win.

David Lightbody’s three-run homer in the fourth inning powered Alibrandis to an 8-4 win over the Blue Sox in Lexington.  For Alibrandis it was their fourth straight win. Teddy Dziuba and Jamil Moquette each had three hits for Alibrandis and Andrew Selima drove in three of the runs for the Sox. Brian Tanguay (1-1) picked up the win.

Jack Burke (2-0) tossed five innings of three-hit ball, and Alex Mandrus recorded the save, when the Reading Bulldogs edged the Somerville Royals 6-5 at Endicott College.

 

Alibrandis, Merchants & Reds Win on Wednesday

Alibrandis got sacrifice flies from Bobby Barrett and Dave Lightbody in the top of the eighth inning to take an 8-6 extra inning win at Maplewood. The Chiefs tied the game up at 6-6 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. James Cramphin (2-0) got the win in relief. Johhny Welch went 4-4 with a homer for the Chiefs.

Mike Andrews tossed a three-hitter and Dillon Koster drove home two runs when the Merchants beat the Malden Maddogs 4-1 in Wakefield.

In Wednesday’s other game, the Watertown Reds edged the Melrose Americans 7-6 at Victory Field.

Pitching Key to Tuesday Wins for Alibrandis, Chiefs & Reds

Chris Costa (2-1) allowed just one hit in six innings, striking out nine, and Lamarre Rey got the save, when Alibrandis shutout the Malden Maddogs 1-0 at Maplewood. Juan Parra had two of Alibrandis three hits.

Former Bentley University lefty Evan Walsh (2-2) struck out 13 batters in six innings, allowing just two infield hits, and the Andre Chiefs got homers from Matt Nuzzo (5 RBI’s), Johnny Welch (3 RBI’s) and Leivi Ventura (2 RBI’s) to beat the Somerville Royals 15-0 at Trum.

Worth Walrod raised his record to 5-1 with a complete game five-hitter, and the Reds got homers from Dan Chaisson and Mike Samko, to beat the Reading Bulldogs 5-2 in Watertown. Mike Taylor had two of the Bulldogs’ hits.

Blue Sox Win 9-1, Bulldogs Beat Americans in 17-8 Slugfest

Gray Goolsby, Morgan Brown and Julian Alvarez paced the Blue Sox offense in a 9-1 win over the Malden Maddogs on Monday night in Lexington. The Blue Sox had nine players get a hit in the game. Tony Annino got the win and improved to 3-0 on the year. The lefty went four innings and allowed just one unearned run.

The Reading Bulldogs scored 15 runs over the last four innings to take a 17-8 win over the Melrose Americans at Morelli Field. Darren Hartwell, Tyler Cedeno and Mike Taylor with three hits each, and Kyle Brennan with a homer, led the Reading 18 hit offense. Jack Theriault (2-0) picked up the win. John Jennings had two doubles and drove home five runs for the Americans.

Blue Sox, Americans & Bulldogs Grab Sunday Afternoon Wins

Justin Silvestro had three hits and three RBI’s to lead the Lexington Blue Sox to a 7-3 win over the Merchants in Wakefield.  Aaron Barbosa added two hits, scored two runs, and made three outstanding catches in centerfield. Nick Godfroy (1-1) earned the win, pitching two innings in relief, striking out tw0. Torrid Dillon Koster (25-41, .610) had two more hits and two RBI’s while Mike Sorrentino added three hits for Wakefield.

The Melrose Americans scored five times in the top of the sixth inning to come from behind and turn back the Somerville Royals 8-5 at Trum Field. Matt Hosman with three hits and Charlie Huegi with a couple of RBI’s led the Americans’ offense. Mike Peters (1-1) got the win while Aran Hamilton-Grenham recorded the save.

Darren Hartwell had two triples and Jeff Roy added two hits when the Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with a 5-4 seesaw win over the Watertown Reds in Reading. Ben Gottesman (1-0) got the win in relief of Cam Lanzilli who worked the first 7.1 innings.

Lightbody, Rey Give Alibrandis 2-1 Nine Inning Win Over Americans

Dave Lightbody’s walk off two run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Alibrandis a 2-1 come from behind win over the Melrose Americans on Friday night at Maplewood. Lightbody’s homer backed the pitching of Lamarre Rey who went all nine innings and allowed six hits while striking out 15. Dan Cacciola gave the Americans a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth. Chris Mitchell put the Americans in positon to win with 7.1 innings of shutout ball. Shawn Smeglin (1-1) came on in the eighth and ninth and took the loss.

It was the only ICL game played on Friday.