American Legion: Malden Post 69 Loses 3-1 to Arlington Post 39

Despite solid pitching and stellar defensive plays by Malden Post 69 pitcher Joseph Saia, the team took its sixth loss of the American Legion season Friday night, falling 3-1 to Arlington Post 39 at Spy Pond Field.

Malden coach Kenny Mazonson lauded the effort of Arlington pitcher Michael Remondi.

“We didn’t make enough chances,” Mazonson said. “We don’t typically score a lot of runs, but (Thursday) night we scored 11 against Weston, so I’m hoping that the bats are coming around. But I think (Remondi) did a real good job of keeping us off balance with his delivery.

“I think (Remondi) was deceptive,” Mazonson continued. “The kids kept coming back and saying that he was hiding the ball very well. They weren’t seeing it until he was just releasing it. We’ve certainly faced pitchers who have thrown the ball harder than him, but he was definitely keeping us off balance.”

The game was slow to start, but it picked up in the top of the fourth inning with Arlington’s (2-7) Remondi on the mound. Malden’s (1-6) Alexander Andon singled Remondi’s pitch up first base and was able to bring teammate Marc Woodman across the plate from third for a 1-0 advantage.

“Marc’s probably the best hitter on the team so it didn’t surprise me that he’s starting to get on base more and he hits the ball hard,” Mazonson said.

Arlington came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth when Sean Gustin scored from third base against Saia, who, just prior to Gustin’s at-bat, made a hot defensive play. Scurrying from the mound to first, Saia fell as he nailed Arlington’s second out. Gustin then came up and blasted a triple, eventually scoring from third on the next play in a very unusual circumstance.

“We got lucky,” Arlington coach Sean O’Brian said. “My pitcher, the closer, he’s our center fielder, he stole home. He’s a very, very explosive player, he’s unbelievable.

“We were talking about the pitch before and I looked at him—he’s got tons of speed and I looked at him and told him to creep more in the grass when he’s walking. When you run on the dirt they can hear you coming. So I told him to go more on the grass and if he wanted to take it.

"(Saia) pitched well tonight too," O'Brian continued. "I mean, he’s a lefty so he had his back (to Gustin.) (Gustin) timed it for two pitches and he just took off and the pitcher just didn’t know what to do and he just threw it, which you can’t just do that. It was a great play.”

After a quick three outs for Malden in the top of the sixth, Arlington nabbed two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Tim Barnicle’s triple earned Arlington its second run of the night and then Aiden Cleary smacked a double into right that brought Barnicle across the plate for a 3-1 game.

“I think (Saia) threw the ball pretty well,” Mazonson said. “Fell behind on the first inning; walked a couple batters, which was a problem that he had earlier in the season. But worked out of the jams.

“His defense certainly helped (as) we turned two double plays to eliminate some of the base runners," Mazonson added. "I think his overall stats were five walks and five strikeouts and five walks is not good for seven innings. Got to have more control.”

In the top of the seventh, Gustin came in to relieve Remondi on the mound in Malden’s final break, but before the last chance, O’Brian had a few words with the umpires.

“There was a little rule on—my pitcher Michael Remondi, he came out of the game and I was going to bring in our closer and there was some issues with the designated hitter and—I only had 10 guys tonight so it was kind of, who could stay in the game and who couldn’t,” O’Brian said. “The closer there at the end was my center fielder, so he came in to pitch and I ended up having to lose my (designated hitter).”

After a couple minutes of conversation the game was back on, but only to soon end with Arlington earning the much wanted victory, as Malden got an out and two strikeouts.

Next up for Malden is a Saturday, 11 a.m. tilt against Hudson at Riverside Park.