Published in the May 3, 2018 edition.
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
STONEHAM — The WMHS baseball team traveled to Stoneham on Tuesday with heavy hearts.
Kevin Canty of Lynnfield, the father of Wakefield head coach Kevin Canty, Jr. passed away last week.
During what was an extremely difficult day for Coach Canty, the Warriors stepped up, first by just being there for their leader, and next by coming up with a great 7-1 win.
The outcome of a sporting event should never be taken too seriously, but the effect team members can have on each other should be. This one was important to everybody involved in Wakefield baseball.
“This is the escape that I get and that’s why I love what I do,” said Canty. “I’ve got a great group of guys; they know what today meant.”
Led by captains Jake Nardone and Brendan Coughlin, the Warriors usually speak as a group.
“It felt great to win this game,” said the boys. “We all knew how important it was to him and we wanted to show up and win the game for him.”
Gabe Sanders got the start for Wakefield and pitched a complete game, giving up just four hits and no earned runs while striking out nine. The junior settled into a nice groove throughout the middle innings.
“He pitched really well for us,” said Canty. “He fell behind early on in counts to start the game, but he battled all day and that’s what we needed him to do. When he throws strikes and relies on his mechanics he can be really good for us.”
Sanders was just as impressive at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two singles and an RBI triple. Sanders led off the game with a base hit, swiped second and scored on a double from Nardone. Coughlin then ripped one up the middle for an RBI single and a 2-0 lead.
Erich Hickey was hit by a pitch to get on first and was still shaking out his arm when Sanders sent a deep fly ball to right-center. With plenty of encouragement from the dugout, and an animated Coach Canty waving him around at third base, Hickey got on his horse and didn’t get off until he crossed home plate, his helmet flying off and landing somewhere in between Franklin Street in Stoneham and Main Street in Wakefield. Warriors 3-0.
After a couple of errors got Stoneham on the board, Wakefield responded well in the top of the 4th. Tommy Mottl hit a lead-off single, then after two quick outs, the Warriors went to work. Hickey shot a single down the first base line to score Mottl from third. Sanders’ second single and steal set up Tyler Pugsley with two outs and runners at second and third. “Pugs” worked the count full until a base hit up the middle scored two for a 6-1 advantage. It was exactly the type of response the coaching staff was looking for.
“Especially after giving up the one run on the mistake we made (in the field), responding and getting that run, that definitely put Stoneham back on their heels again.”
Wakefield’s defense improved throughout the game. After a strikeout and a single started Stoneham’s half of the 6th. Sanders snagged a comeback grounder and wheeled to second where Chris Coombs spun it to first for a double play to end the inning.
Wakefield got another run in the 7th on Coughlin’s second RBI single of the day and Sanders had two more K’s in the last half to close it out.
With the Spartans still searching for their first win, Wakefield played with the type of vitality they needed.
“We did what we needed to do today,” said Canty. “When we have games that we need to win, we need to come with the effort we came out with today. There are good teams that we haven’t seen yet. If we play with the energy we had today we’re going to be fine.”
Yes, there was extra motivation for the Warriors to give it their best on Tuesday, but hopefully they can evoke that type of spirit during every game.
It was the first game for Wakefield since April 23.
“It’s tough to go this long without playing a game,” admitted Canty. But now the Warriors will have plenty of opportunities to play some baseball. “We realize we’re going to play a lot in the next five weeks and we’re excited about that.”
Wakefield (4-2) traveled to Arlington in the Warriors’ first back-to-back games of the season against one of the best teams in the Middlesex League’s large division, and although they fell 9-0, the Warriors will be ready to go against Woburn at Walsh Field on Friday.
“Coach Canty always shows up with a positive attitude and works hard to get us ready for our next opponent,” said the Warriors.
It is the kind of attitude that is certainly difficult to uphold during times of sorrow, but Coach Canty will have a team, a coaching staff and a community behind him every step of the way.