WAKEFIELD — Despite winning league championships and boasting impressive regular season records year after year, a playoff win has been elusive for the Wakefield Memorial High School baseball team in recent years, their last one coming during their run to the North Sectional semifinals in 2019. This year’s team was determined to change that and ended up doing so in convincing fashion last night at Walsh Field, crushing the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical School by a score of 10-0 in the first round of the Div. 3 state tournament.
Sophomore starting pitcher Patrick Maloney was his usual sharp self and made quick work of the New Bedford hitters in the first inning, while the Warriors struck early with some offense. Leadoff hitter Charles Gagne singled up the middle in the bottom of the first, followed by senior captain Andrew Nemec, who belted a ball to left. Slugger Jack Pennacchia was up next, and chants of, “Jack, Jack, Jack,” were already coming from the considerable number of young fans in the stands. Pennacchia came through with a big double over the center fielder’s head that scored Gagne and Nemec. McDermott hit a grounder that advanced Pennacchia to third, who was able to score the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly hit by senior captain Cam DePrizio.
Maloney struck out the side in the top of the second, and three consecutive fly balls were hit by the Bears to center fielder DePrizio in the top of the third. New Bedford threatened in the top of the fourth when a Bear singled and stole two bases. Maloney kept New Bedford off the scoreboard, however, striking out two and getting the next batter to ground out to senior captain Jayvith Chea at shortstop.
The Wakefield bats were quiet for a few innings except for a double from Charles Gagne in the second, but in the fifth inning, the Warriors opened things up once again. Gagne, Nemec and Pennacchia slapped three singles in a row, and Gagne scored the fourth run of the game. McDermott then popped up to the first baseman who mishandled the ball, and the bases were loaded. DePrizio was hit by a pitch, allowing Nemec to jog home and make the score 5-0 Wakefield. Aidan Bligh grounded to the pitcher, so there was a force out at home, but the bases were still loaded with only one out. Dhingra singled next and scored McDermott and DePrizio. Ethan Faulkner then singled and scored Bligh and McDermott. The Warriors ended the 5th inning up 9-0, and the team and fans were elated.
Maloney started out the top of the 6th with a strikeout and a walk. Marc Gagne was brought in at this point with Maloney’s pitch count close to 100. The runner on first tried to steal, but McDermott made a fantastic throw to second to nab him. A groundout then accounted for the third out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Warriors were able to tack on a 10th run and close out their first playoff win in seven years via the mercy rule. Nemec and Pennacchia secured infield hits and both advanced on a sacrifice fly. Nemec, on third base, was able to scamper home on a passed ball, and the victory song “Dirty Water” was cued up to start the celebration.
Charles Gagne, who went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, commented on the big win.
“It’s really a great feeling to be part of a Wakefield baseball team that broke the curse and won a playoff game for the first time in years. To be able to represent our town and come out on top for this historic moment was truly special. It’s simple when my job is just to get on base. The other guys consistently do the important work and drive in runs, and that’s exactly what they went out and did today.”
In addition to continuing their explosive offensive streak, the Wakefield pitchers have now kept opponents off the scoreboard for 42 straight innings (six consecutive games).
For the Round of 16, the No. 13 Warriors (16-5) will travel to No. 4 Shawsheen Valley Tech (21-0) in Billerica to take on the unbeaten Rams, date and time unknown as of press time. Wakefield will need the bats and the pitchers working again and will hope to secure their second playoff victory to advance to the Elite 8.