Mustang Baseball Qualifies for States

3rd Season in a Row for Medford to Qualify for Tournament

Story Updated 7:23PM Monday, May 17, 2010

– Allison Goldsberry

The Mustang baseball team’s 7-6 victory over Matignon on Friday secured a spot in the state tournament for Medford.

This is the third year in a row the team has qualified for states following a seven-year drought. The Mustangs had not qualified for the state tournament prior to Coach Nick Tucci taking over the program in 2008.

On Friday the Mustangs were led offensively by senior Andrew Pompeo. Pompeo went 2-4, including slamming his team-leading second home run of the year. Senior captain Greg Wilson picked up the victory on the mound for the Mustangs as he threw a complete game, only surrendering two earned runs. Wilson had twelve strikeouts against only two walks.

“We have a very special week of baseball ahead of us as we play the teeth of the GBL schedule against the likes of Malden, Cambridge and Everett. The guys should be geared up and ready to seize the opportunity. Our goals throughout the course of the last two weeks of the regular season will be to win a GBL championship and improve our seeding for the tournament to the point where we position ourselves for a home game in the state tournament,” said Head Coach Nick Tucci.

The Mustangs are currently 11-3 overall and 4-2 in the GBL. They duke it out this week for the GBL title with games against Malden, Everett, and Cambridge.

On Monday afternoon Medford squeaked past Malden, 3-1, at Playstead Park. Junior Chris Salvati pitched the entire game, striking out five and helping out his team in a big way by ending a bases loaded, two out situation by beating a Golden Tornado to the bag in the fourth. Salvati’s record on the mound is now 5-1.

“Chris Salvati had a gutsy performance on the hill as he competed and willed us to the victory. Big time players make big time plays and Chris proved that he is that type of player with his performance against our rival, Malden,” said Coach Tucci.

Medford got its offense going in the first inning. Senior captain Kyle Heath got it started with a base hit, followed by a line to deep left by Wilson that was good for a double. A sac fly by senior John Mangiasi brought in Heath for Medford’s first run. Wilson then grabbed third on a loose ball by Malden’s catcher, and came home on a line to center field by junior Rob Deluca.

Malden responded with a run in the second inning by taking advantage of a couple of Mustang mistakes. However, Salvati bounced back on the mound and struck out two Golden Tornadoes in a row to end the inning. Medford also got out of another sticky situation in the third inning, with Wilson and Deluca turning a key double play.

Medford didn’t score again until the fifth, on Wilson’s second double of the game. Senior captain and speedy catcher Danny Gunn stole second and got to third on a line to right by Heath, and then came home on Wilson’s RBI double.

The Mustangs managed to hold Malden off for the rest of the game. Junior Thomas Flores and Salvati each caught a foul ball in the sixth, and Wilson made sure there was no bottom of the seventh by snagging a line to short to end the game.

“At this point in the season, I am very proud of my team. We have responded through countless bouts of adversity throughout the course of the year and never have we ever felt sorry for ourselves. We have continued to pick ourselves off the mat after being knocked down and respond in a positive manner. If anything we have emerged stronger as a team and learned a great deal of life lessons along the way,” said Coach Tucci.

This season the Mustangs have had to deal with injuries and six former players leaving the team for multiple reasons.

Medford is on the road against Cambridge on Tuesday afternoon and hosts Everett on Thursday at 4:00PM at Playstead Park.

“This is a special time of the season, two games to go with a GBL championship in sight if we take care of business,” said Tucci.

In other Medford baseball news, the freshman team shut out Malden, 3-0. Jacob Scannell threw a no-hitter and had 15 strike outs, according to Coach Josh Glionna.

The junior varsity team also defeated Malden 5-1 on Monday afternoon.

Another strong pitching performance, this time by sophomore JJ Lavoie, led the Mustang JV baseball team to a solid victory over the Golden Tornadoes. Lavoie pitched a complete game, allowing only two hits while striking out 10 improving the team’s record to 12-1 (5-1 GBL).

The JV Mustang defense was spectacular at times, led by the outfield trio of LF Mike Pizzi, CF Bob Milner and RF Brian Enos, said Coach Vin Macone. Pizzi and Milner made a couple of great catches while Brian Enos’ arm nailed two runners at the plate trying to tag from third on fly balls.

The biggest play of the game came in the sixth inning with Malden threatening to score. Malden loaded the bases on an error, single and a walk with 1 out. The next batter hit a fly ball to right field. After catching the fly ball, Brian Enos made a perfect throw to the plate to end the scoring threat with an inning-ending and game-saving double play.

Enos also scored two runs to lead the offense and Milner chipped in with 2 RBI’s. Nick Rocco was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The next game is Tuesday, May 18 at Cambridge at 4:00PM.