WAKEFIELD — On Father’s Day, as has become a tradition, the Wakefield Memorial High School baseball team held its annual banquet, amid much to celebrate. Prior to this memorable season, the team hadn’t won a playoff game since 2019 and hadn’t won a playoff game before that since 2003. Head Coach Kevin Canty, therefore, was optimistic in looking toward the future and praising the 2025 team that finished 18-6, falling in the semifinals to the eventual Division 3 state champions.
The Junior Varsity B coach spoke first about the program’s youngest players who have great promise. Quinn McGourty was awarded the Most Valuable Player for this team. The Junior Varsity A coach touted his squad’s many accomplishments, including an impressive record of 12-3 and four players hitting over .400 for the year. The Most Valuable Player award was presented to Kevin Giberti, who batted .500 for the season and went 5-0 as the team’s ace.
The varsity team coaches spoke next, reviewing such exciting season highlights as Patrick Maloney’s incredible performance against 6th-ranked Division 1 opponent, Andover, which led to the team winning its first Memorial Day tournament and propelled them forward for their inspiring Division 3 playoff run. Additional exciting wins and plays were remembered, and assistant coach Tom Leahy joked that Charles Gagne stealing home for the winning run in a playoff game was one of the top 5 moments of his life. Coach Canty said that these memories plus so many others showed the team and the town that the baseball program can compete at an elite level. They will look forward to getting back at it next season when they will even fit in a Cooperstown, New York tournament, home of the baseball Hall of Fame.
Varsity team award winners included Cam DePrizio, Marc Gagne, Charles Gagne, Nik Dhingra, Patrick Maloney and Jack Pennacchia. Senior captain DePrizio was presented the Geoffrey Walter trophy for notable leadership and sportsmanship, a special honor given each year.
The Gagne brothers were presented with the Coaches’ Award, while Coach Canty mentioned their help in elevating the status of the program since their transfer from St. John’s Prep.
Dhingra was named Most Improved Player, with Canty noting that Dhingra always did whatever was asked of him, had stellar fielding ability, and raised his batting average 100 points from last season.
Maloney was presented with the Pitcher of the Year award after ending the season with an astounding .50 earned run average and scores of strikeouts.
Last but certainly not least, Pennacchia was named Most Valuable Player after leading in nearly every offensive category, playing first base expertly, and serving as one of the team’s powerhouse pitchers.
Wakefield’s five All Star players were also announced. Earning Middlesex League All Star status were Dylan McDermott, Patrick Maloney, Cam DePrizio and Marc Gagne. Jack Pennacchia was named a Middlesex League All Conference All-Star. A full story about the All-Stars will appear at a later date.
The seniors next gave heartfelt and eloquent speeches about each varsity coach and ended with a tribute to the fathers who coached them in Little League and Senior League. The dads were called up to take a picture with the seniors.
Finally, the captains for the 2026 baseball season were announced and include Jack Pennacchia, Nik Dhingra, Dylan McDermott and Aidan Bligh. Following the announcement, Little League board member and baseball dad, John McDermott, unveiled a new banner for the outfield fence that shows the evolution of a Wakefield baseball player from t-ball to high school. It was a special moment when the 2025 captains and the 2026 captains held this banner for all to see.
The baseball team was one to watch this year and surely will be next year as well.