By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MELROSE — The Melrose 12-year old Williamsport Little League baseball team has gotten off to a 2-0 start in District 12 action.
On July 2, they beat South Boston, 6-2, at Evans Field in South Boston. Melrose won the coin toss and was the designated home team.
With the scored tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Melrose broke the game open with four runs. Ben Cordella had the big hit with a two-run double down the right field line. Braden Bolger had an RBI single while the other run scored on a throwing error.
Melrose scored in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch and on throwing errors in the top of the second.
South Boston scored single runs in the first and fifth innings.
The winning pitcher was Michael Tierney who pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief. He gave up no runs, one hit, no walks and he struck out three.
The starter was Owen Pillsbury who went the first 4.2 innings. He gave up two runs (one earned), four hits, one walk and he fanned eight.
“We had excellent pitching from Owen and Michael,” stated Melrose manager Dan Cordella. “We also got the key timely hitting we needed.”
Oliver Pechulis led the offense going a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs scored. Ben Cordella was the other multiple hitter going 2 for 3.
Overall, the team had 11 hits.
In the first game of the tournament on June 29, Melrose won, 9-2, over Dorchester at McConnell Park in Dorchester. Again, Melrose won the coin toss and was the home team.
The scoring was spread out as they scored twice in the first and third innings. They plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Both of Dorchester’s runs came in the top of the third.
Sam Kirsh was the winning pitcher going the first three frames, He gave up two runs (one earned), one hit, five walks and he struck out five.
Pechulis got the save going the final three innings in relief. He gave up two hits, one walk and he struck out five.
The Melrose offense had 12 hits led by Lawton Chisholm and Drew Besegai who were both 3 for 3 at the dish. Chisholm had one RBI and scored once while Besegai scored three times to go with one run batted in.
Pillsbury was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 3. Tighe Lusas added an RBI single.
If they beat South Boston on Wednesday, they would clinch the district title (result unknown as of press time).