Weekly Sports Roundup, August 15-22

The Wakefield Merchants entered the Intercity League playoffs with the second seed and a first-round bye, but things got off to a shaky start for the local nine. When Wakefield’s postseason curtain finally went up, on August 17, against the Andre Chiefs in the opener of a best-of-five semifinals series, the Merchants found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-3 decision. Andy Hartung doubled and drove in two runs in the losing effort, while John Davison collected an RBI as well. 

Wakefield’s woes only intensified in game two, as only a Mike Sorrentino RBI single in the first inning stood between Chiefs’ ace Jared Freni and a no-hitter, as the Chiefs prevailed, 4-1. The Merchants headed into game three at Walsh Field facing elimination, and with their backs squarely against the wall, pulled out a 6-2 victory. Dennis Bisso took the mound for the Merchants, picking up the win, while Hartung and Lorenzo Papa homered. Game four, on August 20, saw proceedings shift back to Tufts University, but the homefield advantage failed to pay dividends for the Chiefs who found themselves on the opposite end of a one-hitter this time, as Stephen Cool handcuffed the Andre batsmen all day and picked up the win.

The Merchants need just one more win to complete their comeback and advance to the final. The decisive game five will be at Walsh Field on August 21 at 4pm.

Wakefield Cares 10K Run for Homeless Vets

Contested on August 14, the Wakefield Cares 10K was won by Woburn’s Ryan Hayes, who finished the race at 38.08, well over a minute quicker than the closest opposing harrier, John Kelly, of Arlington, who crossed the finish line with a time of 40.49. Stoneham resident Naomi Laing took third at 45.27, and was the fleetest female of the afternoon, while Ronald Siracp finished fourth with a time of 46.41. Rounding out the top five was Glen Turgiss of Woburn, who posted a mark of 48.23. 

Antranig Hagopian was the quickest Wakefieldian on the day, finishing at 51.32, good enough for seventh overall, while Meg Michaels, also of Wakefield, finished 12th with a time of 63.10. Sharon McKenna placed 16th with a mark of 68.51, while Richard Collette took 18th at 73.41. Christopher Naper was 21st with a time of 79.27.

Mystic Runners Lake Q 5K

The weekly run around beautiful Lake Quannapowitt fell on August 17, and 18-year-old Joe Donlan of Stoneham took top honors with a winning time of 17.09, a full forty seconds better than the closest challenger, Stoneham resident Dave Corbett, who posted a time of 17.49. Somerville’s Harris Hardy placed third at 18.17.

Wakefield’s John Miksis, 17, finished fourth at 18.37, while fellow local James Bridges, 18, recorded an identical time. Another pair of Wakefield teenagers rounded out the top ten, as 16-year-old Jared Geller placed eighth with a time of 20.02, and Andrew Russo, 17, took ninth at 20.47.