Mustang Baseball Upsets Malden Catholic

2-1 Win Knocks Off Top-Ranked Team

– Allison Goldsberry

The Medford Mustang baseball team pulled off a huge win on Saturday, knocking off top-ranked baseball powerhouse Malden Catholic 2-1.

The win, the Mustangs’ fourth straight, has given the team a huge confidence boost as they head into the state tournament this week.

“It was a special win for us. We played inspired baseball. It goes a long way toward showing that Medford baseball is back on tbe map,” said Medford High School Head Baseball Coach Nick Tucci.

MC, recently ranked #3 in the state by the Boston Globe, has been a top team for years and has a special rivalry with the Mustangs because it attacts some of Medford’s best athletic talent.

Coach Tucci can’t remember the last time Medford triumphed over the MC Lancers, a feat they didn’t even accomplish when Tucci himself was a star pitcher for the Mustangs.

“It was a really emotional game. It’s the first time in over ten years Medford has beat MC. The players in Medford should take notice that they should want to play for a team like Medford,” said Tucci.

The Mustangs were led by senior captain Ben Waldrip on the mound. Waldrip, who only just got his first high school win as a pitcher this season against Somerville, had a stellar outing against the Lancers, tossing six strikes and giving up only one unearned run. He pitched the whole game and had enough juice left to shut down MC 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

Offensively the Mustangs were led by sophomore Greg Wilson, who was 2 for 3, and senior Shaun O’Brien, 2 for 2. Wilson, an MC transfer, got the game winning hit in the bottom of the sixth that broke a 1-1 tie.

Saturday’s win against MC pits Medford in the “winner’s game” against Arlington High School today in the annual Holovak and Coughlin tournament. At stake today is a trophy and another chance for Medford, now 11-8, to improve its seeding for the state tournament.

It’s the third time this season Medford and Arlington have squared off and each has one win against the other. Today’s game is also special because it’s another chance for Coach Tucci to engage in some friendly competition  with his mentor and former coach, Paul Mattatall, who now coaches for Arlington.