Trojans Still Finding Their Footing

The Arlington Trojans, of the Intercity League, lost the second game of a weekend doubleheader Sunday 6-3 to the Medford Americans.

Medford hurler Kevin Hayes pitched a complete game for the win, while Arlington starter Jordan Dean struggled with his control, walking seven batters in the loss.

"He didn't have overpowering stuff," Trojans coach Joe Hart said of Hayes, "but he located well, kept the ball away from our left-handed hitters for the most part."

Hayes gave up no earned runs. With a man on and two outs in the second inning, Medford (4-10), the home team, made three consecutive errors on groundballs to give Arlington an early 2-0 lead.

First baseman Kevin Hart, who walked to lead-off the inning, scored the team's first run when catcher Ed McDonald reached on an error. Third baseman Joe Edgerly and second baseman Greg Wilson then reached on errors, with McDonald scoring on Wilson's groundball to second base, which was mishandled.

In the sixth inning, down 5-2, Arlington (3-8-1) had a chance to get back in the game.

Blake Yee, who pitched the bottom of the sixth in relief of Dean, led-off the inning by reaching on an error. Hart and left fielder Paul O'Neil then singled and walked, respectively, to load the bases with no outs.

Shortstop Ryan Walsh, the next batter, hit into a double play, scoring Yee but ending any potential rally.

Wilson had two hits for the Trojans, right fielder Mike Griffin one.

Although wild at times, Dean, a rising senior reliever at Division I Kennesaw State University (Ga.), showed his ability to get big outs.

In the second and fifth innings, he struck out Medford's Eric O'Brien on full-counts with the bases loaded to end the innings.

Dean, a Georgia native, ran into trouble in the third inning, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks. He gave up another in the fifth inning before striking out O'Brien. Yee allowed one run in the sixth.

With the season nearing the halfway point, Hart said he believes his team will turn it on.

"We've been in games," he said, "just need to be able to finish."

Many of his players, Hart said, are college underclassmen who saw limited time during their respective seasons. He said his players, especially his pitchers, just need some games under their belts.

Arlington beat Medford 12-4 on Saturday. The Trojans will return to action against the Testa Corp. Bombers Tuesday at 8 p.m. at East Boston Stadium.