Wildcats Steal Win from Needham at Home

It was a battle of momentum on Monday at Milton's Cunningham Park, and by the end of the game between Needham and Milton, the pendulum had fully swung to the home team.

The Wildcats varsity baseball team trailed 2-0 before a late scoring burst gave them three runs and the win. The win advanced Milton to a record of 10-6.

The Rockets struck first, scoring a run in the third inning.  Right fielder Nick Shaheen hit a single and was eventually batted home by third basemen Eric Arnao.

With a single, shortstop Scott Atkinson sent Alex Arsenault home, giving the visitors a two run lead and full custody of the momentum in the top of the fifth.

Milton pitcher Willie Archibald held the rockets at bay for the majority of the game, throwing two strikeouts before Matt O'Neil took the mound in the eighth.

O'Neil racked up a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to end the game.

Offensively, things started to change for the Wildcats in the seventh as a tiring Zach Borson loaded the bases with three walks.

"In retrospect we might have left our sophomore in an inning too long," said Needham coach John Freitas.

Colin Fanelli, who's had three saves and two wins on the year, entered the game to get the last out of the seventh inning and save any runs, but Milton coach Robin Curley said the walks breathed life into his team.

In the next frame, that life was apparent. The first batter of the inning, Archibald, reached on single before getting hit home by Davis. Then, Kevin Lamere made it to second on an error, opening the door for Mike Borolotti to blast a two RBI standing double to win the game.

"We got the bats going," said Curley. "The hit by Borolotti was big, that brought in the tying and winning runs."

On Wednesday, the Wildcats will travel to Natick. "They'll be very tough," Curley said their opponents. Curley added that at this point in the year the team is having fun, since they've already locked up a postseason appearance.