In a do-or-die game for the Chieftains, they overcame a tough team in the Melrose Red Hawks this past Sunday, 4-1.
With their ace pitcher and junior captain Drew Gustafson on the mound, Masco needed a top performance and Gustafson was up to the task. The NEC All-Star pitcher threw six and one-third innings, where he gave up only one run and seven hits while fanning four and walking a solo batter.
After a slow start for both teams, the Chieftain bats got going at the right time in the last two innings.
It was senior Chris Porfido who changed the whole game with an RBI double in the top of the sixth, knocking home sophomore NEC All-Star Davis DeLuties to open up the scoring.
DeLuties and junior All-Conference shortstop Cal Weidman led the attack at the plate for the Chieftains, each going two for four. Weidman added two stolen bags of the Chieftains’ four total.
Junior catcher Drew Nelson, sophomore left-fielder Chase Lepore, and Gustafson all picked up clutch RBI’s in the 7th inning, springing the lead to 4-1.
Sophomore pitcher Cruz Zizza came in to close the last two outs, and didn’t disappoint as the joy in the faces of this Chieftain team was evident on that field when junior Liam Ginley caught a pop to send them to the playoffs.
The Chieftains finished at an even .500, 9-9, after starting the year off 3-7. The perseverance of this ball team in the back half of the season landed them a chance to make some noise in round one. (35) Masco will now hit the road for round one in what should shape up to be a great game against (30) Burlington, tomorrow at three.