Wakefield Summer Sports Roundup, June 17-24

Although the high school sports season is over, that doesn’t mean the athletic fields around Wakefield are falling into disrepair from a lack of use.

With several summer leagues in town, as well as a weekly 5k road race, Wakefieldians are still in action across numerous arenas of competition.

Here’s a look at how the locals fared last week.

American Legion Baseball
The Wakefield American Legion baseball team (2-3) kicked of its season back on June 14, but the first two games wound up in the loss column, as Harry E. Nelson Post 63 drew a pair of the most potent squads in the area in Lexington and Reading and lost to both. Wakefield would go on to win its next two, besting Natick and Weston at Walsh Field on June 17 and 18 respectively to even its record at 2-2 heading into last Tuesday’s showdown with Ashland at home.

Head coach Steve Pacheco’s men pushed the visitors to extra innings, but ultimately fell just shy of victory in a 10-8 slugfest.

With the game knotted at eight in the top of the eighth, a throwing error allowed Ashland to take a two-run lead and pick up a win on the road.

Nick Roberto (Malden Catholic) swatted a pair of triples and collected an RBI, while Dylan Dennis (Malden Catholic) clubbed a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to give Post 63 an 8-6 lead. Brett Barbati (Melrose High) and Matt Rej (Wakefield High) added two RBIs, and Tyler Finnegan (Austin Prep) plated drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Justen Laffey (Melrose High) got the start for Wakefield, but yielded to Ben Kendrew (Lynnfield High), who pitched well but wound up taking the loss. Nick Cornu (Hopkinton High) came on in relief for Ashland and picked up the win. Cornu spelled Ben Levine (Holliston High) on the mound.

The remainder of Wakefield Post 63’s schedule for the week was rained out, but the team returns to action on Sunday, traveling to Emerson Field in Concord to face Concord Post 158 as District Five play continues.

For schedules, rosters and other information about Wakefield Post 63 American Legion baseball, visit: www.legion5baseball.com

Lake Q 5K
The Mystic Runners Club Lake Q 5k, a weekly run around Wakefield’s Lake Quannapowitt, was held on June 22. Here’s a look at the overall results:

Eric Breberg (Saugus) won the race with a time of 22.18, while Dan McCormack (Waltham) placed second at 22.25. Next on the leaderboard was a pair of Stoneham residents, as David Smelser and Rich Fortuna took third and fourth place respectively with marks of 22.32 and 22.39. North Reading’s Rich Halloran garnered the fifth spot at 26.08, and Wakefieldian Brad Engen followed with a time of 26.09.

Other notable Wakefield runners included Bob Haas, who took eighth place at 26.15; Elizabeth LaBorne, who placed 11th with a time of 27.29 and Meg Michaels who took 14th at 31.19.

The Mystic Runners Club Lake Q 5k will be run again on June 29.