By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
DUBOIS, PA — For the first time ever, the Melrose 14-year old All-Star baseball team participated in the Little League Junior League (regulation size field). It became a very memorable year as they ended up winning the state title. They then went on to the Junior Eastern Regional Tournament down in Dubois, Pennsylvania where they went 0-2.
“I was very proud of the team,” stated Melrose manager Brian Fogarty. “They played hard and represented themselves with class. We also had a lot of fun.”
In their final game of the tournament on July 21, Melrose was edged by Eastside out of West Chester PA, 4-3.
Melrose fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, they rallied scoring twice but couldn’t push home the game-tying run.
“We ended up leaving the bases loaded,” said Fogarty. “It was a real tough loss after we were able to claw back.”
In the first game on July 19, Melrose lost another one-run game falling 5-4 to North Arlington, New Jersey.
Just like the Eastside game, Melrose fell behind early as they were down 4-0 after the third inning. Melrose scored three in the sixth and both teams scored once in the seventh.
“We left the bases loaded five times and we committed five errors,” pointed out Fogarty.
The Massachusetts State Championship game took place on July 13 at Scituate High School. Melrose ended up winning that game 8-7 in an eight-inning thriller. Calvin Hoag was the hero in this one with a game-ending single as he was mobbed by his teammates in celebration.
“It was unbelievable,” stated Fogarty. “Canton came into that game undefeated and beat us earlier in the tournament. I was so proud.”
Charlie Recinito was the winning pitcher in relief pitching the final two innings.
Melrose led 4-0 early but trailed 7-5 heading into the seventh inning as they were able to plate two runs to send the game into extra innings.
In the state semifinals on July 12 at Morelli Field, they defeated Auburn 2-0.
Hoag was the winning pitcher going six innings. He gave up four hits, two walks and he struck out five.
Christian Fogarty pitched the seventh to record the save.
“Hoag had great stuff, especially with his breaking ball,” said coach Fogarty.
On July 9, Melrose defeated host North Reading 6-3. The key inning was the second as they scored five times. Parker Sarata had an RBI single while Rocco Motroni had an RBI double in that inning.
At home on July 5, Melrose outscored Auburn, 19-10, in a long, high-scoring game.
Cooper Anderson led the attack going 3 for 4 with a walk. He also scored three times. Bryce Phillips also had a big day at the plate going 3 for 5 scoring twice.
On July 2, Melrose edged host Scituate 2-1.
Hoag was the winning pitcher in this one as well going five innings. He did not allow a run and fanned 12.
Chase Cameron pitched the final two frames and recorded the save.
At Morelli on June 29, Melrose lost to Canton 10-6.
The day before, Melrose pounded host Holden, 15-2, in a six-inning mercy-rule game. Emry Vanderhoof had an RBI double and scored twice in that game.
Fogarty pitched all six innings to record the win on the hill.
In the opening game of the state sectionals, Melrose knocked off host Swansea 8-2.
Fogarty enjoyed coaching the kids and would love to do it next summer as the team would be in the 15-year-old Senior League.