Concord Post 158 Topped by Medford

It was the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s game at that did in Concord Post 158 in American Legion play. Medford Post 45 added five runs to its two-run advantage to run away from Concord for an 8-1 victory.

“(Medford) got away from us a little bit there,” said Concord coach John Morrissey. “I thought the strike zone was a little tighter than it was in the rest of the game to be honest with you, but that’s not an excuse.

“They just hit the ball. I think all night (Medford) made the plays on some hard hit balls; obviously the play there at the end that they made was excellent. They played well defensively and we really didn’t. They swung the bats well.”

Medford came to bat in the top of the seventh inning against Brandon Napolitano with a 3-1 lead.

Nolan Brennan singled to center field with the bases loaded to bring home Kyle Heath. Two batters later with only one out, Ryan Carvalho tripled to center to score Mike Pizzi, pitcher John Lavoie and Brennan. Chris Salvati then doubled to center, scoring Carvalho.

Brendan Harrington then came on to relieve Napolitano with the score at 8-1 in favor of Medford. Harrington walked the first batter he faced, but then earned the final two outs to close the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Concord faced Lavoie on the mound for one final chance at closing the gap, but they recorded three quick outs to finish the game.

Medford opened Tuesday’s play when Paul Covelle wacked a home run deep to left field in the top of the second inning. Post 45 added their second and third runs in the top of the sixth. Carvalho tripled to bring in John Mangiasi, and Salvati followed with a single to score Carvalho.

Concord scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Taylor tripled into deep center field and Alex Gutwillig’s single to right field brought him home.

“Mikey Taylor hit a shot over the center fielder’s head for a triple,” Morrissey said. “He got a good blow at the bat, swung the bat well. He made a tough out in his first at-bat; he ripped one right at the third baseman and the kid made a nice play off it. So (Taylor) was dialed in tonight and he smacked it out there and then Alex (Gutwillig) follows up with a single.

“But, you know, just not enough,” Morrissey added. “Their kid threw a good game.”

Concord Post 158 plays North Chelmsford and Wakefield for its next two games on Wednesday and Thursday. Morrissey said the team will have a chance to battle back and improve its 2-3 record.

“We got two more coming this week so we can get the .500 for the week and a lot of baseball left in the season,” he said. “Can’t get too down on it, but we got to get the bats going a little bit.”