Mustang Baseball Wins Local Tourney for 1st Time
Medford Defeats MC, AC in 7th Annual Holovak and Coughlin Tournament
MHS senior John Mangiasi (#8, batting) was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
– Allison Goldsberry
The Mustang varsity baseball team bested top Catholic school talent and beat Malden Catholic and Arlington Catholic to win its first ever Holovak and Coughlin Memorial Day Tournament.
Medford narrowly defeated MC, 7-6, on Saturday and defeated AC, 6-3, on Sunday.
The wins improve the Mustangs to 16 and 4, the best record the Medford High school baseball team has had since 2000.
“The win also locks Medford into the #4 seed out of 19 teams in Division 1, which should put the Mustangs in a position to host a state tournament game on Friday afternoon at 4:00 by our calculations, although nothing is official in that regard until tomorrow morning,” said Head Coach Nick Tucci.
Senior John Mangiasi earned the tournament Most Valuable Player Award by going 3-5 with two walks on Saturday and Sunday. Mangiasi also made an incredible diving catch in right field to preserve the Mustang championship victory on Sunday.
“He laid flat out coming in on a soft line drive to get the 2nd out of the last inning as AC was rallying,” said Coach Tucci.
Junior Chris Salvati pitched a complete game to improve his personal record on the hill to 6-1. He had two strikeouts and three walks and gave up three runs. Offensively the Mustangs were led by Mangiasi (1-2, 2 walks), senior captain Kyle Heath (2-4) and senior Andrew Pompeo (2-3, 2 2B).
“It was special to see the guys so happy in holding that trophy at the end of the game. They truly deserve to be happy about their performances this weekend and this year as a whole. This is a program on the rise, all because of the hard work and dedication to the task at hand by each and every player on our seventeen man roster. I always remind the guys of the suicide shuttle sprints and all the extra running that we do to stay disciplined throughout the course of the season. Those pay off in dividends when it is time to dig deep from within and capture a title, and they did it today,” said Coach Tucci.
The Mustangs are now preparing for the upcoming state tournament. It is the third consecutive season the team has qualified for states. Medford will host Westford Academy at 3:00pm at Playstead Park on Saturday, June 5. It has been many years since the MHS baseball team has hosted a state tournament game.
“Anything is possible with this team, and we will begin our quest for a state championship this week at Monbouquette Field in Playstead Park. The guys are looking forward to a playoff atmosphere back in Medford. I told them all year that there was nothing more special to me as a player for Medford to play a home playoff game in front of your own fans. I remember back in 2000 when there had to be at least 1,000 fans that came out to watch us beat Lowell and play St. John’s Prep in June of that year. I am sure that we will put on a show and play Mustang baseball, like we are capable of, in front of the people of Medford. The road to the championship begins this week,” said Tucci.
Coincidentally, the Mustang softball team, 10-8, will also host Westford Academy on Saturday afternoon to open up their state tournament competition. The girls play at 5:00PM at Tufts Park in Medford.