Blue Raiders edge Melrose, 7-4, in Sweet 16 play
By CORY THOMAS
MELOSE—On Wednesday, June 4, the Melrose High varsity baseball team made the trek down to Somerset, MA for their 2nd round MIAA tournament match-up against the talented Somerset-Berkley Blue Raiders, and hours later, saw their post season end in a heartbreaking 7-4 loss that finishes Melrose’s season at 13-9 and as reigning ML Freedom champions.
This was a match-up of the #6 & #22 teams in this year’s tournament. Coming off a road victory over #11 Milton, #22 ranked Melrose relished their underdog status, and knew they needed to play a clean game to pull off the upset. Senior quad Captain Jaiden Aquino got the start against Somerset Berkley, who proved worthy of their lofty ranking. They jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and Melrose had to battle from behind. SB would build their lead to 4-0 with a relentless balanced hitting attack. Blue Raider batters Luke Thornton (3-4 2RBI), Liam Meehan (2-3 2RBI) and their exceptional shortstop, Jayden Cruz, paced the home teams’ offensive attack that kept the visiting Melrose defenders on their toes all game.
As he has all season long, senior quad captain Michael Thomas got a Melrose rally going in the top of the 5th inning. Trailing 4-1, Thomas singled to start the 5th inning, his second hit of the day. Thomas would keep the pressure on SB by stealing second base in the 5th, his third stolen base of the game. Melrose would load the bases behind a walk from senior captain Dylan Harrington and a base hit by senior captain Jaiden Aquino. Clean-up hitter and senior quad captain Brendan Doyle came up to the plate and delivered a clutch RBI base hit to score Thomas and draw Melrose closer at 4-2. The Melrose dugout and stands were alive with excitement as junior slugger Cadel McKeown stepped to the plate in the top of the 5th with the bases still loaded. The lefty McKeown would shoot a ball into the shortstop/third base hole that the SB shortstop Cruz couldn’t convert and, after an errant throw to first base, two Melrose runners, Harrington and Aquino, had scored and it was a brand new ballgame.
Tied 4-4 after the Melrose rally, they sensed their second straight upset victory in the tournament. With Dylan Harrington now pitching for Melrose, SB could not score in the home half of the fifth inning.
Melrose threatened in the 6th inning behind a double by sophomore outfielder Nate Geer and a walk from Thomas who reached base safely four times against SB. Despite their threat, Melrose couldn’t take the lead as SB came up to bat in its half of the sixth inning. SB’s shortstop Cruz led off the sixth with a double and quickly scored to reclaim the lead for Somerset-Berkley. SB would rally for three runs in the sixth and took a 7-4 lead into the 7th inning, Melrose’s last chance to keep their season alive. As they have all year, Melrose went down fighting, in a desperate attempt of continuing their tournament dreams. Doyle walked and McKeown singled, but that’s as far as the rally would go.
Melrose was unable to get any more runs across as their season came to an end 7-4 in Somerset, Massachusetts, ending their tournament and the careers of five memorable seniors, Mike Thomas, Dylan Harrington, Brendan Doyle, Jaiden Aquino, and Reid Hiedebrecht, a terrific quintet, who varsity coach Scott Searles spoke highly of. “The seniors did it the right way, leading by example in games and in practice. This senior group left this team and program with a new bar for success. This is where we want to be, League Champs and a solid tournament team.”
Searles looked to the future as well. “We have a great group coming up that sees what’s expected and where we want to be. Everyone worked so hard this year and it was a pleasure being their coach.”
Added a dejected, graduating Michael Thomas, “It stinks right now, we wanted to keep playing. But the juniors and the underclassmen are a solid group capable of great things. The future is very bright for Melrose High School baseball.”