By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — On a beautiful afternoon by the lake yesterday, Wakefield softball welcomed Middlesex League Freedom Division rival Burlington to Veterans Field.
A back-and-forth matchup featuring a full day of strong pitching, steady defense and clutch hits ended with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Wakefield sophomore Chloe Seto (2-for-3, RBI), concluding a hard-fought, 4-3 victory for the Warriors (11-2), their second win of the season over the Red Devils (8-7), one of two teams that Wakefield split the league title with last season.
“It was a good, league win to put us in control of our own destiny for the Middlesex League title,” said head coach Chris Tolios as the Warriors are now 9-1 in league play and multiple games up on 2nd place Wilmington (8-4) the third co-champion of the Freedom last year. “It wasn’t our best day but we battled through and beat a good team.”
Wakefield starter, junior Kathryn Sliski (7IP, 8H, 3BB, 1K, 2ER) got the complete-game victory, buckling down in key moments to keep a strong-hitting Burlington team from getting any momentum.
The Warriors took a 3-2 lead through 6 innings but the visitors tied it with two outs in the top of the 7th. A great catch in foul territory by freshman third baseman Paige Eriksen ended the threat and helped keep the game level, giving the Warriors a chance to win it before extra innings.
Sliski started the rally with a one-out, base hit and a clutch double down the right field line by sophomore Molly Burns put runners at second and third with one out for Seto who came through under pressure to get the ball to the outfield, allowing pinch runner, junior Maya Kenny to tag up and score the winning run.
“I was really happy for Chloe to come through in that big moment for the win,” said Tolios. “Proud of how she settled in and took on the pressure to get the job done. Not an easy spot to be in for sure but she’s certainly at the top of my list for someone I’d choose to be in that situation.”
It was a great way to end the day for the catcher who also added a double and a triple at the plate.
Also collecting multiple hits for the Warriors were Caroline Burns and Molly Burns who both went 2-for-4.
Junior Jackie Sullivan led the way with 3 RBI. She hit a sac fly to account for Wakefield’s first run in the 2nd inning and later came through with 2 outs for a 2-RBI double in the 3rd to reclaim the lead.
A single, steal, wild pitch and an error resulted in Burlington opening the scoring in the 2nd.
Seto’s triple led off the bottom of the 2nd and Sullivan’s sac fly tied it.
Sliski sat Burlington down in order in the top of the 3rd before Sullivan’s 2-RBI double — a hard-hit liner to the gap in right-center — scored Sliski and Seto in the bottom of the 3rd to make it 3-1.
The defensive play of the day came in the 4th when Seto threw down to catch a runner trying to steal 2nd after a leadoff hit. Molly Burns caught it on the right side of the bag and made a diving tag across the base for the out.
Sliski had three straight 1-3 outs on consecutive hard-hit grounders right back to her in the 5th, drawing grins from the Warrior infielders who were plenty happy to let Wakefield’s ace do it all.
Burlington got one back in the 6th, seconds after a baby squirrel crossing caused a quick, cute delay. That’s life at the picturesque and nature-filled Veterans Field, Wakefield’s home for this season as their Meghan Burnett Field at Blatz Park behind WMHS works through flooding and other construction-related difficulties during what has been a relentlessly rainy season.
Sliski worked around the natural and man-made Vets Field distractions (including a commuter rail horn) to get out of the inning with the lead in tact at 3-2.
Burlington fought valiantly in this one, par for the course for an always-strong program but in the end, this game belonged to Wakefield as they collected their 10th win in their last 11 games.
The Warriors were ranked No. 8 in the latest Div. 2 power rankings that were released yesterday.
Wakefield will host Watertown (0-12) for a double-header at Vets tomorrow. Game one is set for 4:30 p.m. and game two will follow. They will then get ready to host Belmont (8-6) on Sunday night at 6 p.m.