Ashland Red Sox Baseball

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Ashland, MA

Red Sox 9
Cardinals 7

Momentum exchanged hands several times in Game 1 until Eric Cormier came on in the sixth inning and promptly struck out the final five batters to end all excitement.

Cormier inherited a base runner and an 8-7 lead, stranding the former and maintaining the latter.  The ex-Red Sox farmhand from Milford looked nasty for the second week in a row deploying a hard fastball, salient curve, and occasional forkball to baffle  the Hudson five.  

Previously Sox starter Steve Saraceno had pitched a tad better than seven Cardinal runs (four unearned) might indicate.  Four errors and some missed chances from the left side of the infield helped turn a 2-1 Sox lead into a 4-2 deficit in the 5th, and to reduce an 8-4 Sox lead to 8-7 in the sixth.

"A good pitcher is like a riverboat gambler," said Saraceno somewhat obscurely afterwards.  "He works with the cards he's dealt.  I almost got out of  that jam in the fifth --I threw perhaps my best pitch of the year,  a twostrike cutter that painted the outside corner on Tom Langmeyer.  But glory be, he went with it and doubled down the line.  Sometimes you  just get trumped, that's all." 

Trumping Cards starter Matt Sandock in the fifth were the seven aces of the Ashland order:  leftfielder Paul Murphy, rightfielder Brian Farrell, centerfielde John Badaracc(RBI double), catcher Brent McKenzie, third baseman  Mike Donfrancesco (key triple)first baseman Steve Triveri   (2-for- 2 in the game), and SS Mike Auren (double, 2 for 2).   Their flurry gave the Sox an 8-4 lead which, with Cormier's help, they never relinquished.

In the second inning Ashland's Steve Southard collected his first hit since returning from offseason open heart surgery, a typical line drive that plated two and gave the  Sox their early lead.

Leading the Hudson attack were Jeremy Ames  (2-for-3), Wade Krejdovsky (2-for-3, big triple in the 6th), and Tom Langmeyer (double on the cutter).

Red Sox 2
Cardinals 1

Eric Cormier took front stage again in Game 2.  Not only did the righthander shut down the Cards with a complete game 6-hitter --he contributed his second-game winning RBI in two weeks.

"In the minors they always used a DH for him," said Sox manager Saraceno.   "So these last few weeks have been Eric's first at-bats since high school.  Maybe I should take a fifteen year rest."

The nightcap turned out to be one of those surprising MetroWest League pitching duels -- rare as a mowed field in August.   Cards starter Anothony LaMonika nearly matched Cormier strikeout for strikeout (10 to 9).  No runs scored until the third, when Sox rightfielder Chris Cronin singled and moved to  third on a two-out single to right by second baseman Bobby Modica.   Saraceno,  running for Modica, deliberately strolled off first base, looking to get hung up.  LaMonika balked.  Cronin crossed for the first run.  

Ashland played small ball again in the fifth.  With two out Steve Southard     (2-for-3 on the day) singled.  Centerfielder Paul Murphy pinch ran, promptly stealing second. Then Cormier helped his cause with a broken-backed liner to center, plating the speedy Murphy.

Carefully nursing that two-run lead into the seventh, Cormier tired slightly.  The tall righthander had alread pitched two innings in Game 1 for the save.  Now working his ninth inning of the day he allowed a leadoff single to number eleven batter Brian Rodriguez.   Then with one out Matt Finnegan singled to left.   The ball briefly eluded the charging Brian Farrell, and when his throw to second got away, Finnegan broke for second.   First baseman Steve Triveri gunned him down easily.  But one Cardinal run had scored.  Two out now,third baseman Matt Sandock kept hopes alive with a walk.   Then Wade Krejdovsky   (3-for-6 on the day) singled.

"At that point I thought about taking Cormier out," said Sox manager  Saraceno.   "Of course I wasn't crazy enough to actually say anything."
Cormier induced Ray Sullivan to ground to short and the long sunny day of perfect baseball weather was over.

Sox offensive stars for the doubleheader included shortstop Michael Auren (3-for-4, two doubles), Farrell (2-for-4), Southard (2-for-3), and                 Triveri (2-for-4).  The Cards attack was led by Jeremy Ames                            (3-for-4) and Krejdovsky (3-for-6).

by S. Saraceno 

Worcester, MA~The Worcester White Sox solidified their hold on second place in the American League with a solid thumping of the Ashland Red Sox, 8-2, at the Main South field in Wormtown.

Matt Mckeon went the distance for the pale hose. After allowing solo runs in the third and fourth, Mckeon shut down Ashland the rest of the way. The cool righthander allowed seven free passes in addition to seven hits, but never really appeared in trouble. He stranded nine baserunners in all.

Shortstop Lou DeCataldo (3-for-3, double), rightfielder Mike Luby (solo HR in 8th), and leftfielder Brian Spanos (1-for-3, double) led the Worcester attack.

"Luby hit that dinger off a slow forkball nearly in the dirt," said Ashland's Steve Saraceno, who threw the pitch. "I put it where I wanted. But Luby did too -- about 35 feet over the right field fence."

Saraceno (6-5) took the loss for the Red Sox. Though touched for eight runs, the veteran junkman was perhaps more sinned against than sinning, as five Worcester tallies scored on miscues. The Ashland offense has now scored a combined total of four runs in four of Saraceno's losses.

Centerfielder John Badaracco (2-for-3) led the Ashland effort. Second baseman Carl Hakansson (1-for-2, walk) and Steve Linda (2 walks) also chimed in.

by S. Saraceno

Fesh allowed just 4 hits. But he found himself in trouble all day due to 7 free passes.

Two of those freebies came in the ninth. With the Dodgers up 3-1, Ashland's John Badaracco led off with a single. Dodger centerfielder Dave Christian robbed Brent McKenzie of a blooper, nearly doubling Badaracco at first. Fesh re-directed a hard shot from Mike Donfrancesco for the second out. But then he walked Steve Triveri and beaned Steve Saraceno to load the bases.

Acclimated by now to the agony of men on base, Fesh induced Steve Halzel to line softly to first for the game-ender.

The Dodgers offensive attack featured first baseman Vladislav Zilberman (2-for-3, double, triple), leftfielder Matt Vidal (2-for-3, fine running catch), and Ben Campbell (double, on base all three times).

"Zilberman gave me trouble all day," said Sox starter Saraceno. "In the eighth we decided to unintentionally intentionally walk him to fill the bases. Little did I know the next batter, Fesh, had entered the game hitting .538..."

Saraceno survived a rainmaker fly ball to end the threat. But by then the damage had been done. Two earlier Sox miscues led to two of the three Dodger runs. Saraceno (now 6-4) suffered his third complete game loss this year in which the Sox scored one run or less.

Ashland scrambled to man the ramparts with three big guns missing from the lineup. First baseman Triveri (1-for-2, two walks, fine defense at first) and leftfielder Chris Cronin (1-for-2, walk) fired their best shots. But in the end the volley fell short.

"A big thunderstorm passed through Maynard at dawn," said Sox manager Saraceno afterwards, to a bored audience of squirrels. "The first two fields we looked at were underwater. Then by chance I found this field at the end of a dirt road out in the woods. It seemed strangely untouched by the elements. So we played the ballgame -- as if shut off from the world -- and at the end I saw Shoeless Joe Jackson come running in from centerfield. Some said it was just Badaracco, having taken off his cleats. Hah! What do they know? Idiots!"

Saraceno was last seen playing catch with his father.

by S. Saraceno

Marlborough, MA~The Ashland Red Sox swept the Marlboro Indians 6-1 and 4-0 at Marlboro in two crisply played contests that belied the day's heat and humidity.

Red Sox 6, Indians 1

"I've never seen a better-played defensive game in my ten years in this league," said Sox starting pitcher Steve Saraceno after his 6-1 win in the opener.

Gems from third baseman Mike Donfrancesco, shortstop Mike Auren, leftfielder Brian Farrell, centerfielder John Badaracco, rightfielder Chris Cronin, second baseman Carl Hakansson, and catcher Brent McKenzie limited the Marlboro offense to just one run despite eight hits over the first four innings.

Badaracco gunned out a runner at home to end the first. McKenzie cut down two would-be base-stealers. In the fourth, ignoring a balky hamstring, McKenzie backed up an overthrow at first to complete a 6-4-2-4 double play. The temperature at the time was 91 degrees.

After that play, Saraceno retired the final nine Indians in order to end it. The slowballing righthander neatly defined the term,"contact pitcher" -- walking zero and striking out zero for his fifth victory of the year.

Offensive stars for the Sox included Badaracco (3-for-3) and McKenzie (2-for-3). Indians Manager Jerry Guerra (2-for-2, perfect bunt) and Mike Giordano (2-for-2) led the Marlboro attack.

Red Sox 4, Indians 0

Saraceno remained on the mound for Game Two. The 53-year-old righthander fared even better this time against a strong Marlboro lineup, scattering seven hits for the 4-0 shutout. It was his 85th pitching victory in the MetroWest League.

"I even got a K this time," Saraceno said, "for which I am very proud."

Indians starter Jack Buchanan also turned in a fine performance. After allowing three runs in the first, Buchanan's deliberate soft-tosses ("even slower than Sara!") shut down one of the league's most terrifying offenses.

Typical of the Sox day was centerfielder John Badaracco's spectacular shoestring catch of a twisting drive by Jim Rooney in the fourth. After knocking the wind out of himself, Badaracco jumped up and doubled the retreating Jerry Guerra at first.

Offensively McKenzie (4-for-5 on the day), Donfrancesco (2-for-4), and Brian Farrell continued their hot hitting. Farrell's .533 batting average entering the doubleheader actually dropped a few points, despite a 3-for-6 performance.

Marlboro's Steve Courtwright (2-for-2) and Guerra (3-for-5 on the day) led the Indian attack.

"Here's what I especially liked," said Ashland manager Saraceno after the doubleheader. "In the last inning of the second game, I saw our rightfielder Steve Linda hustling to back up an infield play at first. It was about two thousand degrees at the time, we had played two games, and this was Steve's first inning in the field. That's what I call baseball."

by S. Saraceno

Ashland, MA, 7/13/2008 ~ Rightfielder Brian Farrell's three-run homer powered the Ashland Red Sox to a 13-6 comeback victory over the Holliston Mariners on a sunny, breezy Sunday in Ashland.

Farrell's fifth-inning laser-blast struck twenty feet up the lightpole in leftfield. The homer put the Sox ahead 7-6 after trailing 6-0 in the second inning. Indeed, Ashland scored thirteen unanswered points after spotting Holliston their early touchdown.

Farrell, who also tripled in the third, is now hitting .533 with an unheard of 1.067 slugging percentage. Of his 16 hits so far this year, only 6 have been singles.

"That's the first home run I've ever seen hit at this field," Ashland manager Steve Saraceno said afterwards. "Keep in mind, I've been around this game since the Cotton Gin League merged with the Tobackey Association in 1873, and never have I seen a batter more consistently swat for power than Farrell has this year. One of our players found the home run ball afterwards. He told me it was moaning in pain."

Holliston started the game by picking up where Millis left off two weeks ago in their 13-4 shellacking of starter Steve Saraceno. But after surrendering six runs on eight hits over the first two innings, Saraceno (now 4-3) blanked the Mariners over the final seven. In fact, the snowcapped righthander collected a season high ten strikeouts on the day.

Complementing Farrell's heroics were two doubles by leftfielder Paul Murphy, playing in his first game of the year. Also making his 2008 debut was Steve Southard, who underwent open heart surgery in the offseason. Southard calmly knocked a sacrifice fly in his first at-bat.

Holliston actually outhit Ashland 12-9. Offensive stars for the Mariners included pitcher Tom McCabe (2-for-3, triple), Ed Wright (2-for-2), and John Moore (1-for-1).

by S. Saraceno

Ashland, MA~The Ashland Red Sox evened their season record at 4-4 with a doubleheader sweep of the Sudbury Tigers amidst unsettled weather this past Sunday in Ashland.GAME 1

Red Sox 5, Tigers 1Steve Saraceno went the distance for Ashland in Game One. The veteran righthander (now 3-2) scattered eleven hits over seven innings, the sole Tiger run scoring on a passed ball in the fourth.

Sudbury's Mitch Williams outpitched Saraceno in several respects. The Texan Tiger struck out 8 batters to Saraceno's zero, walked none (as did Saraceno), and allowed 2 fewer hits.

But Williams suffered from lack of defensive support in the fourth. With Sudbury up 1-0, Ashland scored two unearned runs (four runs total) to take the lead for good. Catcher Brent McKenzie's one-out double broke open the game as well as his right hamstring.

Other able-bodied Sox stars included leftfielder Brian Farrell (4-for-6 on the day) and third baseman Steve Halzel (2-for-2).

The Tiger attack was led by Williams (2-for-4), Manager Joe Dervin (2-for-3), and third baseman Ed Connors (2-for-3).

GAME 2

Red Sox 18, Tigers 6 The two teams waited out a 25-minute rain delay before resuming Game 2 during the first inning.

Williams started once again for Sudbury. Tiring somewhat after pitching the complete first game, the stalwart righty suffered several more Tiger miscues as the Red Sox scored 8 runs and never looked back.

Ashland's Steve Triveri (1-1) grabbed the win on the mound, complementing his 3-for-3 game at bat. Former centerfielder John Badaracco pitched two notable innings in relief.

Offensive standouts for Ashland included Badaracco (2-for-3, double), centerfielder Brian Farrell (2-for-3, triple, walk), leftfielder Steve Saraceno (2-for-3), and catcher Chris Cronin (2-for-3, 2 walks on the day).

Centerfielder Pinoccs Patton-Bowe keynoted the Sudbury offense, going two-for-three.

"Our thanks to the umps and the Tigers for getting Game 2 played," said Sox Manager Saraceno afterwards. "During the rain delay lightning struck a tree behind our bench and I took the opportunity to carve a bat out of the smoldering wood. That explains my two infield hits. I just hope such magical bats are not declared illegal at the next league meeting..."

by S.Saraceno

Ashland Red Sox Training Video

Manager Steve Saraceno takes us through his unique motivational, early season training regimen. All work and no baseball makes Steve a dull boy.

 WARNING:  The techniques and claims in this teleplay have not been evalauted by the FDA, American Psychiatric Association, or any governing body and do not necessarily represent the views of the Webmaster, staff, or owners of AshlandRedsox.com.

Ashland, MA~The previously winless Wayland Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Ashland Red Sox 2-1 and 11-8 on a scorching June Sunday at the Ashland field.

Brewers 2, Red Sox 1

Wayland scored its only two runs in the third inning. Ashland shortstop Mike Donfrancesco booted a two-out grounder to load the bases. The next Wayland batter drove a ball past third base apparently foul, but adjudged fair by home plate umpire Helen Keller.

Trailing by a run in the final frame, Carl Hakansson led off for Ashland with a line single to left. Leftfielder Brian Farrell's deep blast to left-center got tracked down for the first out, but then Ashland proceded to load the bases. The rally died when catcher Brent McKenzie (who entered the game hitting over .600) tapped back to the mound and Steve Triveri flew out to center to end the game.

The two unearned runs were all that Ashland starter Steve Saraceno allowed in his complete game loss.

Brewers 11, Red Sox 8

Temperatures rising toward 100 now, Ashland started Game 2 with just nine players.  Things soon got worse.

The younger Brewers built a 9-3 lead by mid-game, prospering in the sun and making plays when they had to.  Meanwhile the dizzy, cramped, and muscle-pulled champs found themselves down to seven fielders.  A spectator was quizzed, quite seriously, as to whether she would like to suit up.

The Red Sox closed the score to 9-8, however, by the last of the eighth. Then the game turned on an embarrassing blunder by Steve Saraceno.

With two outs and the bases loaded, one of Ashland's best hitters -- Brian Farrell (4-for-4, two doubles) -- stepped to the plate. The Brewer pitcher worked carefully. Farrell lined a hard drive foul to left. With the count 2-and-2, the pitcher -- seemingly out of options -- tossed to third. Saraceno was caught napping.

"No excuse," said Saraceno later. "This should never, never, never, never, never happen, not even at Little League level.  I once got picked off by the hidden-ball trick to end a Stan Musial League game. But this is worse.  The ball was in plain sight all the way."

The despondent manager shook his head.  "After setting such an example as this," he continued, "how the hell do I motivate my team to play heads up baseball?"  Saraceno reflected a moment, then made a big fist.  "The answer is clear: physical force."

~S. Saraceno

Framingham, MA~The Framingham Orioles shut out the two-time defending champion Ashland Red Sox 6-0 Sunday behind the ten-strikeout, three-hit pitching of rookie Tony Gentilecore.

Gentilecore's sole brush with trouble came in the fifth inning after two Red Sox batters singled with one out. A 6-4-3 double play -- Tom Galvani to Bob Galvani to Mark Hauglie -- ended the threat.

Steve Saraceno (2-1) took the loss for the Red Sox.  The former Oriole stalwart worked out of a  jam or two before Gentilecore's seeing-eye single in the third gave the O's a commanding 4-0 lead.

"These guys used to be my friends," said Saraceno afterwards . "I am shocked, shocked that they should treat me like this..."

Catcher Jeff Merzel and first-sacker Hauglie led the Framingham attack with perfect 3-for-3 days.  Third baseman Chris Currie, leftfielder Aubrey Doyle, and centerfielder Al Dayhoff all went 2-for-3.  Second baseman Bobby Galvani contributed a key double in the third.

The highlight of the Red Sox day came with leftfielder Brian Farrell's frozen rope triple in the fourth. That was it.

The Orioles remain tied for first place in the American League with the 3-1 Worcester White Sox. The Red Sox drop to 2-2.

Steve Saraceno

Ashland, MA~The first three White Sox batters accounted for six of their seven hits.  Leadoff hitter The Ashland Red Sox beat the previously undefeated Worcester White Sox 7-2 to grab a share of the American League lead Sunday in Ashland.

Veteran righthander Steve Saraceno went the distance for the Red Sox, upping his record to 2-0 on the season.  After giving up three hits to start the fourth, Saraceno faced only two batters over the minimum the rest of the way.

Red Sox catcher Brent McKenzie (2-for-3) led a balanced Ashland attack that scored runs in each of the first four innings to take a 5-2 lead.

Both teams tallied 7 hits.  But Worcester allowed 8 free passes and made 3 errors, while Saraceno walked none backed by a solid Ashland defense.

"In our previous game we made seven errors," said Manager Saraceno afterwards.  "So it was nice to see the boys bring their gloves to the field today.  Even if some of the gloves are 40 years old..."

Brian McDonnell grabbed the overall offensive honors for the day with a perfect 3-for-3.  Lou Decataldo tripled to keynote a two-run fourth.  And Dan Fuller went 2-for-3 with a double.

Steve Saraceno

Ashland, MA (API)-The Ashland Red Sox beat the Southboro Cubs 9-8 in ten innings Sunday in an Opening Day barnburner at the Ashland field.

The three-hour game went back and forth more times than a commuter on steroids.  Over the first third of the contest the Cubs built a 4-0 lead against Sox starter Steve Saraceno.  But Saraceno settled down in the middle innings as Ashland roared back to take a 6-4 lead.

Southboro counterpunched with two runs in the seventh, and a run each in the eighth and ninth to take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Then Ashland's big guns let loose against reliever John Gordon.  With one out shortstop Michael Auren (2-for-3, 2 doubles, walk, 3 runs scored) blasted a shot off the left-centerfield fence.  Then a double by centerfielder John Badaracco (on base 4 times, 3 runs scored, 2 SB) brought the Sox within one.

With two outs Gordon quickly got two strikes on Mike Donfrancesco, but just as Donfrancesco did in a similar situation last year versus the Orioles, the clutch third baseman lined a solid drive into right-center to tie the game.

Extra innings.  Saraceno held serve for the Sox in the top of the tenth, and in the bottom frame first baseman Pete Padovano lofted a leadoff double.  Victor Saraceno set down a perfect "sacrifice" bunt for a basehit.  Then rookie second baseman Bobby Modica rapped a grounder to the right side of the infield to knock in the game winner.

The win marked the 80th pitching victory for Steve Saraceno since entering the MetroWest League.  It was also one of his ugliest, as the chunky righthander gave up 14 hits and an uncharacteristic three walks during his ten-inning adventure in damage control.

Offensive stars for Ashland also included catcher Brent McKenzie (2-for-3), Donfrancesco (3-for-4, 3 RBI), and first baseman Pete Greene (triple).  The Southboro attack was led by catcher Paul Sonnett (3-for-4), P.J. O'Toole (3-for-4, double), Dennis Fontecchio (2-for-3, double), and leftfielder Paul Shaver (2-for-4).

 ~by Steve Saraceno

Ashland, MA~The 2007 MetroWest League champion Ashland Red Sox played .800 ball (16-4) despite losing seven players from the 2006 champs.  In sweeping all three postseason series the Sox extended their playoff winning streak to ten games -- a feat unprecedented in league history.

Third-baseman Steve Southard, a key performer in both Sox championship runs, underwent heart surgery in December.  The 34-year-old third baseman is back to work now and recovering nicely, though he will not play this year. Southard finished last season with seven straight hits and won Ashland's Tenth Player Award.

To help out in Southard's absence, the Sox added infielder Bobby Modica of Framingham.  Also gracing the roster will be outfielder Keith Cheverie, back after a year's hiatus.  Cheverie's defense helped deliver a Sox title in 2006.

Otherwise, most of the big guns from 2007 are reloaded: MVP catcher Brent McKenzie (.407), all-star centerfielder John Badaracco (.366, slugging .634), gimpy Brian Farrell (.426, OBP .517), steady shortstop Michael Auren (.302), and acrobatic first baseman Wayne Sylvia (.306).

On the mound, Ashland remains solid.  Heading the staff is Steve Saraceno, who at age 52 enjoyed a career year in 2007, going 15-3 with a 2.51 ERA over 151 innings.  The old junk merchant collected wins in all five postseason games, giving him nine straight playoff victories in the last two seasons -- plus a save.

Forcibly assisting Saraceno off the mound whenever necessary will be two-year standout Mike Donfrancesco, Steve Triveri (winner of the 16-inning Death Valley marathon vs. the Orioles last year), and knuckleballer Kevin Quinn.  Centerfielder Badaracco may also see some work as a Papelbon-type closer, sans the Riverdance.

"I look forward to a complete baseball season without that dad-fool Irish step dancing," says manager Saraceno.  "You won't see my brother, first-baseman Victor Saraceno, doin' it!  Nor will you see first-baseman Pete Greene, second-baseman Carl Hakansson, third-baseman Steve Halzel, third-baseman pepperpot Pete Padovano (.348), outfielder and new dad Steve Linda, nor that'ere outfielder-catcher Chris Cronin, winner of the Coaches Choice Eleventh Player Award for 2007, doing no Irish step dancing!  No sirree!  No way, no how!  They've got a nice old-fashioned Rockettes-style number they do together, and if it's good enough for them -- then dammit -- it's good enough for me!"

The Red Sox open at home vs. the Southboro Cubs April 20.