Walk Off Warriors

Wakefield allowed visiting Wilmington to erase a four-run deficit and take a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning of the season-opening tilt for both teams. The Warriors, however, made sure that advantage didn’t last long.

What looked like a secure 4-0 edge for Wakefield turned into a nail biter that the Warriors won, 6-5, on Friday.

Wilmington starting pitcher Michael Gracia helped cap a frantic sixth inning rally with a sacrifice fly that knotted the score at 4-4. Junior outfielder Chris Frissore then gave the Wildcats a 5-4 edge with a two-out single.

The home half of the seventh got off to an inauspicious start for Wilmington. Wakefield’s John Grossi started the frame with a ground ball to shortstop that Vinny Scifo threw to first base. Either the glove or ball hit Grossi in the face, causing a bloody nose. The good news for the Warriors was that the ball trickled away from the bag and the team earned a leadoff runner.

Pinch runner Josh Orlowitz was picked off of first base on a missed bunt by Brendan DeLeire, but he stole second after a delayed throw from the catcher. Orlowitz then took third on a sacrifice fly by DeLeire.

Nick Calderone popped a ball to shallow left field that glanced off of Scifo’s glove and brought home the tying run. Captain Connor O’Brien lined a single to right field two batters later and gave his team the win.

“Defense kept us in the game the first five innings and then defense took us out of the game in the sixth,” said Wakefield head coach Dennis Bisso. “We were up 4-0 and then all of the sudden we blink and we’re down 5-4. It happens quick in this game.”

Gracia allowed two runs in the first inning for Wilmington, but settled in as the game went on. The senior allowed single tallies in the second and third, but kept the home team off the board for the next two innings as he gave his team the chance to come back.

The Wildcats went in order in their first at bat of the season, but began to chip away as the game went on.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys who swing the bat. We were kind of waiting for the opportune moment and they sort of woke up in the (sixth) inning,” said Wilmington mentor Aldo Caira. “This is a very loose team. Kids know the game of baseball, like to have fun and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem (bouncing back). We have Tewksbury coming up and it’s never a problem getting up for that game.”

The Wildcats won’t have to wait long for their attempt at revenge on Wakefield. The two teams play again on Friday in Wilmington.