After dropping three straight games over school vacation week, the Marblehead High baseball team (2-5 in the Northeastern Conference, 4-6 overall) snapped out of it in a big way against host Manchester Essex on April 24, 15-0.
Coach Mike Giardi’s team scored in every inning until the game was halted after four frames because of the mercy rule. They scored one in the first, four in the second and seven more in the third before tacking on another one in the fourth.
Shane Keough powered the attack with a double and a triple in just three at-bats, producing four of his team’s runs. Charlie Sachs doubled in one run. Brooks Keefe came up with a huge triple to drive home a couple of more runs. Jake Scogland doubled in a run. Ian Maude was also credited with a double.
Maude pitched the first three innings, allowing just two hits and no walks. He fanned one. Matt Mahan finished up on the mound, striking out two in the fourth and final frame to go along with no hits and no walks.
But coming home to Seaside Park two days later did not help sustain the momentum, as the team dropped an 11-1 decision to non-league Bishop Fenwick.
“While both teams walked several in this game, Bishop Fenwick was able to come up with some big hits at the right time to break open this game in the fifth with six runs,” said Giardi.
The Crusaders led, 2-1 after two, and they added three more in the fourth, before the fifth-inning explosion that invoked the mercy rule after the Magicians failed to score in the home half.
Bodie Bartram and Sachs were credited with the home team’s lone two hits in this game. Sachs smacked a double, while Bartram’s single knocked him home in the second.
Drew Whitman went 3.1 innings, yielding five hits, four walks and four earned runs. He whiffed three.
Cody Selvais retired the final two batters in the fourth, but not before the Crusaders scored three more times. He walked two but gave up no hits while fanning one. Mahan pitched the fifth and allowed two hits, one walk and three more runs, none earned. He struck out one.
The Marblehead boys then suffered your classic heartbreaker to Danvers on April 27, 6-5. It was a bitter defeat that definitely could have gone either way.
“Four early errors came back to haunt us as Danvers was able to put together a late rally to win this game,” said Giardi.
The game was tied at three after three and 4-4 after four, but the Magicians were able to push across the go-ahead run in the next frame. Unfortunately, the Falcons scored twice in the home half of the sixth to claim their first lead since the first, when they led 2-1.
Marblehead banged out 10 hits, led by Bartram with two singles and a double, plus a stolen base. He scored one run.
Keefe was credited with two singles and an RBI. He, too, scored once. Designated hitter Stefan Shepard singled, and scored a run.
Third baseman Riley Schmitt reached base twice that included one base hit, and he scored both times. Keough chipped in with a single and a walk. Chris Cannuscio walked with the bases loaded to account for another Marblehead run. Maude singled in a run. Drake Wyman singled once.
Maude pitched all six innings for the Magicians and allowed seven hits, two walks and only three earned runs. He whiffed eight Falcons.
Giardi’s squad is now preparing for next Wednesday’s home game against Saugus, looking to start playing more consistent baseball as the second half of the season gets underway.
