Varsity, JV Baseball Earn Double-Digit Victories

Mustangs Too Much for Matignon

Story Updated 1:19PM Tuesday, April 27, 2010

– Allison Goldsberry

Despite falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the varsity baseball team was able to rebound and ultimately defeat Matignon, 18-9, on Monday afternoon at Playstead Park.

The Mustang defense did not come together until late in the game. Junior Danny Gilchrist, usually an ace on the mound, did not have a strong start, lasting only four innings and giving up eight runs. Not all of the runs were earned and were a result of several Mustang fielding errors, according to Head Coach Nick Tucci.

Senior Mike Sullivan came in to pitch in the fifth and earned his first win of the season as he pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 inning. Junior Andrew Ferrazzani finished up on the mound for the Mustangs in the sixth and seventh innings.

This isn’t the first time Medford has battled back after being down a few runs. Staying strong while facing adversity is something Coach Tucci has drilled into his team, and he praised them for showing “resiliency” while recovering from an early 5-0 deficit. The Mustangs’ offensive attack was led by senior Andrew Pompeo, who had three hits, including a huge three-run homerun to break the game open.

Even though his team got the win, Coach Tucci said there is much work to be done if the Mustangs want to win a GBL title, something that hasn’t happened in nearly a decade.

“This was not a crisp baseball game by any stretch of the imagination. We made some mental and physical mistakes that need to be corrected if we want to reach our goal of winning a championship. The good thing about baseball is that you get to play again right away. We can’t frown upon our mistakes, instead we must learn from them. A win is a win however,” said Coach Tucci.

The Mustangs are back in action Tuesday against Somerville and Thursday against Cambridge. Both games are at Playstead Park at 4:00PM. Medford is currently 6-1 overall and 1-0 in the Greater Boston League.

Coach Vin Macone and the junior varsity baseball team also enjoyed a victory against Matignon on Monday afternoon.

Freshman Sean Doncaster’s pitching and sophomore Sam Perez’s bat propelled the Mustang JV Baseball team to a 16-5 victory.

Doncaster picked up his first JV win by holding Matignon to four hits and striking out six while walking three. After a tough first inning, Doncaster was supported by stronger defense and he allowed only one run the rest of the game, said Coach Macone.

That one run, Matignon’s fifth and final one of the game, was the result of an RBI double by Matignon sophomore and Medford resident John Colford, who belted an opposite field double in the top of the third. Nick Totora, another Medford resident on the Matignon roster, provided the relief pitching for the Warriors. Other Medford players for Matignon High participating in the losing effort were junior Luke Hartnett and freshman Joe Valente, according to Medford resident and Little League coach Peter Colford.

Like their varsity counterparts, the JV team endured a shaky start by falling behind 4-0 in the first inning. However, the Mustangs managed to tie the game in the bottom of the first, with Perez’s two RBI triple leading the way.

The Mustang JV bats did not stop all day. They scored runs in every inning of the game. Mike Pizzi was 1 for 2, reaching on an error, a walk and HBP (hit by pitch) and scoring four times from the leadoff spot. John Lavoie was 1 for 1, with two walks and scoring three times. Perez led the offense with a two-run triple in the first inning, an HBP in the 2nd in which he scored a run, a monstrous three-run homer in the third inning, and a two-run double to left center field in his last at bat of the game.

The Mustang JV team is currently undefeated at 7-0. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00PM at Hickey Park against Somerville.