Lightbody HR Sends Alibrandis to Finals

Watertown, MA– Veteran Dave Lightbody’s two run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning erased a 3-2 Wakefield Merchants lead and propelled Alibrandis to a 4-3 series clinching victory on Friday night at Victory Field.

Alibrandis wins the series 2-1 and will now move on to their first ICL Championship Series. That best of five series will begin at Morelli Field on Monday night at 7:45 PM against the defending champion Lexington Blue Sox.

Chris Butler had given the Merchants a 3-2 lead with a two RBI double in the top of the sixth inning.

The Merchants took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning on Mike Sorrentino’s RBI single.

Alibrandis came back with two runs and took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on RBI’s from Mike Maguire and Teddy Dziuba.

Ryan Corriveau, who was 6-1 in the regular season, worked the first six innings for Alibrandis to get the win. 2018 ICL Pitcher of the Year Matt Horan retired the Merchants’ side in order in the top of the seventh to record the save.

Greg Johnson went the route and took the loss despite some brilliant pitching.

The Merchants, who were looking to return to the ICL finals for the first time since 1994, conclude the 2019 campaign with an overall 17-14 mark. Alibrandis was dominant in the Yawkey League for two decades and joined the ICL in 2018.