Mustang Baseball Triumphs Over Boston English, 7-6

Team One Win Closer to Qualifying for Post-Season Play

– Allison Goldsberry

After finishing 7-5 in the Greater Boston League last week, the Medford Mustang baseball team took out the aluminum bats Monday afternoon at Playstead Park’s Bill Monbouquette field to take on non-leaguer Boston English.

The last time the team played with metal bats at home was the season opener against Dracut in April, with senior Shawn Foley smashing two homers in that game.

Though there were no home runs today the Mustangs became only the second team to hand Boston English a loss this season, knocking off the Bulldogs 7-6.

Sophomore Ian Fitzgerald took the mound for the Mustangs, pitching seven complete innings and keeping his composure against an aggressive Boston English offense. He struck out two and got the Mustangs out of a couple of jams, including a seventh-inning rally by Boston English that made a three-run game a one-run game.

The Mustangs got things started in the first inning with a relentless offensive attack that saw the entire line-up at bat, with lead-off hitter Danny Gunn with two at-bats. Gunn started off with a base hit, followed by the walks of senior captain Ben Waldrip and senior Rich Miller to load the bases. An RBI single by Fitzgerald and an RBI double by senior David Milner gave the Mustangs a one-run lead, 3-2.

The bases were loaded again after a walk by junior Steve Mearn and Medford walked in a run after sophomore Greg Wilson took a pitch to head, leaving the Mustangs 4-2 after the first inning.

The Mustangs scored another run in the third after an RBI single by Milner brought in senior Shaun O’Brien. Two successive base hits by O’Brien and Waldrip, followed by a walk by Miller loaded the bases and Milner followed with his second RBI of the game.

A big fifth inning by the Mustangs gave them a 4-run lead, 7-3. Mearn and Wilson started it off with two successive base hits, followed by a double by Gunn. Since Mearn was thrown out at second, Gunn’s double had Mustangs at second and third, both of whom came home on a monster triple by O’Brien.

Boston English picked up an RBI in the third and another one in the sixth, and was down 7-4 at the top of the seventh. With two outs the Bulldogs managed to load the bases and bring in two runs, making it a one-run game. However Boston English’s chance to snatch victory ended after a Bulldog was out on a grounder to third.

Mustang Head Baseball Coach Nick Tucci was happy with his team’s performance and said the team had worked hard over the weekend to prepare for this week.

“Ian Fitzgerald did a nice job out there. He kept us in the ballgame…I was also really happy with how we battled with the bats,” said Tucci.

The win takes the Mustangs one win closer to the ten wins needed on the season to qualify for the state tournament. They are currently 9-8 overall and face Woburn at home on Wednesday. O’Brien, who got the win for the Mustangs against Woburn back in April, will take the mound for Medford.