Mustangs Fall in 13-inning Marathon

It is often said that baseball is a game of inches.

The Medford Mustangs received a heartbreaking reminder of just how true that old adage can be yesterday, as they watched their season come to an abrupt end after leveling the score in the bottom of the ninth.

No. 6 Medford’s dramatic comeback went for naught as sophomore Matt Rabbito snuck a double down the left field line in the top of the 13th inning to give 11th-seeded Chelmsford a pulse quickening 5-3 victory in the first round of the MIAA Division 1 North Sectionals at Playstead Park.

“That ball, just out of the reach of the third baseman,” said Chelmsford head coach Mike O’Keefe. “That’s the game of baseball right there. He dives and just misses it.” 

Chelmsford improves to 14-7 with the win, while the Mustangs season ends at 15-6.

“Great game,” said O’Keefe. “Both teams played very well. Medford showed a lot of character coming back like they did in the ninth ... I give our guys credit for not putting their heads down.”

Medford reliever John Lavoie (four hits, three strikeouts and two runs) took over for Danny Gilchrist in the top of the seventh and worked seven strong innings, but in the top of the 13th, things began to unravel behind him.

“It’s just making the simple plays,” said Medford head coach Mike Nestor. “You can’t play that way against a fundamentally sound team and make the mistakes we made. That hurts, and it cost us.”

After retiring the first Lions batter of the frame, Lavoie surrendered a single to Chelmsford shortstop Dave Dedonato. Centerfielder Dom Zaher then hit an apparent double play ball, but the transfer was botched at second and no throw to first materialized.

“We made uncommon mistakes,” said Nestor. "Like that last inning on that double play. We usually make that throw ... we usually make those plays.”

After Zaher successfully stole second, Rabbiti stepped into the box and sliced a hard shot down the left field line that somehow made it past Chris Hayes and into the outfield, scoring Zaher with what ended up being the winning run.

“(Lavoie) threw me a fastball on the first pitch and it was inside, and Dom (Zaher) stole second,” said Rabbito. “So I was just looking for something I could drive to the outfield ... he threw me something inside and I just happened to get my bat on it.”

The Lions added and insurance run as Kevin Driscoll reached via error, allowing Rabbiti to cross the plate with Chelmsford’s fifth and final run.

Blair Baraldi took the ball for the Lions and worked 8 1/3 solid innings, allowing three runs while striking out five. Joe St. Hillaire came on in the home half of the eighth in relief and scattered five hits but made the pitches he needed to and kept Medford off the scoreboard.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Mustangs mounted a thrilling comeback to send the contest into extra frames.

Gilchrist led off the inning with a single, but was gunned down at second a few pitches later by Rabbito in what appeared to be a blown hit and run. It would prove to be costly, as the next three Medford batters hit safely, and designated hitter Sean Doncaster doubled home Pat Duffy to tie the score at three. The Mustangs centerfielder would have represented the winning run had the Mustangs not lost their first baserunner of the inning. 

“That was huge, it was absolutely huge,” said O’Keefe. “But we had a good pitch ... sort of a slide step, it was almost like a pitchout ... our shortstop made a great play.”

The game started off with a few tense moments, as Chelmsford’s first batter of the afternoon, starting rightfielder Nick Martin, was struck in the face by a Gilchrist pitch. Martin was cut and forced to leave the game, but was back in the dugout in time to celebrate the Lions victory.

“Obviously that was a concern,” O’Keefe said. “We don’t want to start a game like that. He’s a kid who has had numerous concussions.

“How’s Nick? He’s back, watching us win the game. That’s how Nick is. He’s a total team kid.”

Gilchrist (six innings, two earned runs, two hits, four walks and three strikeouts) recovered, and breezed through the first three innings without allowing a hit, before watching three Chelmsford runners cross the plate in the following three innings on only two base hits.

The Mustangs pulled one run back in the second inning, and another in the eighth before rallying to pull even in the ninth.

“The kids hung in there,” said Nestor. “They never get down, they’re always playing to the last out.”

Rabbito wound up 2-for-5 on the day with the game-winning RBI, while Thomas Murphy plated a pair for the Lions as well. Colin Clancy swatted a double and Joe Gennaro, Eric Cue and Dave Dedonato also collected hits for Chelmsford.

The Mustangs were led by Tom Flores, who was one of the few Medford fielders to play a near flawless game in the field and went 3-for-6 at the plate with a double and two singles. Nick Murphy (1-for-5) and Doncaster (1-for-5) also plated runs for Medford, while Duffy went 3-for-6 and scored two runs.

The Lions move on to face the winner of Everett and Newton South’s first round contest which is scheduled for 4pm this afternoon.