Bombers Bounced by Merchants at Maplewood Park

The last time Jeff Rowan faced the Wakefield Merchants, the Testa Corp. hurler fired a three-hit shutout as the Bombers squeaked out a 1-0 victory on June 27.

Last night, however, things didn’t go quite as smoothly for the University of Rochester moundsman.

Rowan pitched well, but allowed Wakefield to score three first-inning runs, and the Merchants went on to win, 4-2, in Intercity League baseball action at Maplewood Park. Conar Mahon took the hill for Wakefield and turned in a solid outing, working a complete game while striking out seven and allowing just three hits—it was Mahon’s first ICL win.

“We spotted him three runs, which was nice,” said Merchants manager Dave Ellegood. “But (Testa Corp.) battled hard, it was a tight game. Normally, he’s a closer, but we have 10 or 12 games coming up, and we needed to give another guy a start, so it was Conar’s turn. He pitched great for us, he threw strikes.”

The victory keeps the Merchants (10-3) even with the Lexington Blue Sox (12-3) in the loss column, and in a virtual tie for first place. Lexington also won last night, beating the Medford Americans, 5-3.

The Bombers had won four of their last five heading into last night’s game, and now sit at 5-6, good enough for fifth place in the league table. Player/manager Anthony DelPrete, while disappointed with the loss, was still pleased with the way his squad has been playing lately.

“Tonight was tough, but we’ve been playing really good baseball, and that’s all I can ask,” he said. “These guys are coming down here and they’re grinding out at-bats, and we’re playing good baseball.”

The game started nearly half an hour behind schedule because of a late-running prior contest, and Wakefield wasted little time in getting on the ledger. Melrose native Scott Searles and Joe Papa (Trinity College) both led off the game with singles, and Mike Sorrentino (WPI), who currently leads the ICL in batting average at .525, knocked in the Merchants first run of the night, legging out an infield single to bring Searles across.

John Davison brought in Papa when he grounded out to third for the innings second out, and Andy Hartung (1-for-4, RBI) ripped a single down the third base line to plate Sorrentino (2-for-3, RBI) with Wakefield’s third and final run of the inning.

“The pitching in this league is so good, that when you score early it puts a lot of pressure on the other team to have success,” DelPrete said about the effects of Wakefield’s early onslaught. “I think they did that tonight. They were able to put a little pressure on us, and they were better off for it.”

After bowing out in order in the home half of the first, the Bombers pegged two runs back in the bottom of the second. With two on and two out, Dan Gad (Butler University) knocked in Testa Corp.’s only two runs on the night with a single, driving in Mike Addesa and Devin Perry.

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the seventh, when, with the bases loaded, Hartung hit a ball that was misplayed by the Bombers’ shortstop, allowing Papa, who reached base four times last night, to cross the plate with the Merchants fourth and final run of the game.

Wakefield plays a pivotal contest with Lexington on Sunday at Walsh Field, while Testa Corp. and Reading will play two at Reading High the same day.