Medfield’s Joe Shebertes No-Hits Millis in 7-0 Win on Senior Day

Leading 7-0 heading into the fifth inning and his starting pitcher having thrown 65 pitches threw the first four frames on a hot Wednesday afternoon, Medfield baseball coach Matt Marenghi had told Joe Shebertes he was done for the day.

However, little did Marenghi know, his pitcher was in the middle of throwing a no-hitter.

"On my mental checklist of what’s going on in a game, [a no-hitter is] not one of them," Marenghi said. "To Joey’s credit, I said ‘that’s going to be it and try to keep you limited’ and he just put his head down. Then people told me [about the no-hitter] and I wanted him to have that moment. It was never officially a change, it’s why you bring those things up and just don’t do them."

So Shebertes stayed in the game and finished his no-hitter on 112 pitches, striking out 10 and allowing four walks. He hurled a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the no-hitter and the 7-0 Medfield over visiting Millis at Curt Schilling Field.

"It feels great," Shebertes said shortly after celebrating with his teammates on the mound. "My heart was racing in the sixth and seventh inning and I just went from there and it felt great."

Shebertes said when Marenghi approached him before the start of the fifth inning, he wasn't sure if his coach was serious about taking him out.

"My coach told me he was going to take me out in the fifth inning and I saw him laughing so I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not," Shebertes said. "A couple of my teammates went over to him and said he’s got a no-hitter going so he heard that and let me stay in."

Shebertes' battery mate, Will Cousins, was relieved when Marenghi opted to stay with the 6-foot-2, 240-pound lefty.

"I would have been pretty mad if [Marenghi] pulled [Shebertes] out," Cousins said. "Joey was sitting in the shade all game and I heard [coach] say ‘Joe you’re done.’ As soon as I heard that, my eyes popped out of my head and I was thinking he’s got a no-hitter going. … I was relieved when [coach was] given the [scorebook]. He realized he had a no-hitter and put him back in."

Cousins said Shebertes was sharper from the fifth inning on, increasing his velocity and hitting his spots.

"He actually started throwing harder as the game went on," Cousins said. "His curveball started moving as the game went on, which is something he starts to do more often now. He kind of gets off to a slow start – it was the first batter of the game that he walked. ... But that’s why we love him because he can bounce back like that. Once he sets his mind on something he can do it so congrats to him."

Marenghi said while Shebertes' effort was dominating; it was impressive because of the conditions and how the team came together to make it happen.

"Off the top of my head I can’t think of any game-saving play for the no-hitter but we just played a sound baseball game," Marenghi said. "It might seem boring to some but that’s how we played. ... The team needed something – that’s a team effort. Joey gets the credit but he’s a team player. His teammates love him and it was a great moment for the team. I think he sensed that and wanted us to experience that with him and that’s what motivated him and he got it done."

Shebertes impressed his coach by not just throwing, but pitching – especially in the later innings.

"He stayed attuned to where his pitches were going and was making quality pitches," Marenghi said. "Joey’s been pitching for so long it was nice to see him not only use his physical prowess but thinking on the mound as well. That’s sort of what carried him into this great situation."

Cousins said while Wednesday's no-hitter was "crazy," sharing it with his lifelong friend, Shebertes, was "special."

"That was the first no-hitter I’ve ever caught and I’ve been catching Joe for a long time," Cousins said. "It wasn’t just a no-hitter, we’re best friends so that meant a lot. Especially being able to give him a hug after the game and stuff."

Medfield's senior catcher and tri-captain added the no-hitter was also good for the team.

"Looking over, seeing the whole bench up on the fence cheering him on, that was special," Cousins said.

Medfield third baseman and senior tri-captain TJ Valente said he and the Warriors' infield were battling nerves as the game progressed into the later innings.

"We all got kind of nervous in the end that they were going to get a bloop hit on us," Valente said. "They tried to bunt a couple of times, which I personally was kind of mad about because I don’t like when people do that very much. It was just a great effort by Joe."

Valente hit a solo home run to opposite field in the bottom of the second inning to give Medfield a 1-0 lead. It would be all Shebertes needed but Medfield added six runs in the bottom of the fourth just to be safe.

Holding a 7-0 lead in the top of the seventh and needing just three outs to complete his first career no-hitter, Shebertes said he focused on staying calm.

"I threw two balls in the seventh inning and I told myself I got to calm down and I was able to settle down," he said. "We just wanted a win, I just wanted the win, a no hitter would have been an addition to it, but I just focused myself, calmed down and threw strikes."

Shebertes struck out the last two Millis hitters to end the game.

"It’s nice to get on a roll again," Marenghi said. "We hit a bit of a skid. It’s nice to get going and see the smiles on the kids faces."

Recognizing Medfield’s Seniors on Senior Day

The following Medfield High School baseball players were recognized on Senior Day:

• Shebertes
• Cousins
• Valetne
• Brian McCloud, tri-captain
• John Buchanan
• Corey Chung
• Warren Lent
• Jake Mintz
• Pat O’Reilly
• Mike Ray
• Mark Tapley
• Nico Vara