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Ashland RedSox Baseball
Medway, MA~Timely hitting and excellent pitching were the keys to victory in an impressive 9-5 comeback win for Medway. Ashland looks to get back on track at home this Sunday against the Braves of Millis.
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Holliston, MA~The Ashland Red Sox scored seven runs in both the second and fifth innings en route to a 14-4 romp over the Mariners at Holliston Sunday.
Infielder Ron Russell (3-for-5, 2 doubles) again led the Sox with his bat. Russell is now hitting .600 on the season with an .800 slugging percentage.
Rookie third baseman Ken Black (3-for-4, 3 RBI) shone both offensively and defensively for Ashland. Indeed, the bottom three batters in the Sox order -- pitcher Steve Saraceno, first-baseman Victor Saraceno (2-for-4, 3 RBI), and Black combined to go 6-for-10 with 6 RBI. And up near the top of the order, centerfielder John Badaracco went 3-for-5 in his 2009 debut.
"I thought the Mariners' starter John Gatti pitched a pretty good game," said Sox Manager Steve Saraceno afterwards. "It's tough when you have to get four or five outs per inning. Defense can be either heaven or hell for a pitcher." Case in point: Saraceno himself, blessed by a spectacular Brian Farrell grab of Gatti's blast to left in the first, a good Ken Black stab of Don Sepulveda's liner in the fourth, and generally efficient play by shortstop Michael Auren.
Saraceno (3-1) struck out six and walked zero in his complete game victory (just one walk this year in 30 innings.) The fat righthander held the Mariners to two hits until the final stanza, when some infield miscues opened the door to four Mariner runs.
Sepulveda (1-for-3, double), Gatti (1-for-3), and Pete Daly (1-for-3) led the Mariner offense.
By Steve Saraceno
MetroWest League Opening Day 2009 from Steve Saraceno on Vimeo.
Ashland, MA~Ashland's Michael Auren had himself a day both offensively and defensively, leading the Red Sox to a 7-6 come-from-behind win over the visiting Maynard Dodgers Sunday.
Auren's two-out soft line drive single in the bottom of the ninth plated pinch-runner Ron Russell from second for the walk-off win.
Brent McKenzie (2-for-4, two doubles) set the scene for Auren's heroics with a two-out rocket to left-center. Previously, Russell had almost sent everyone home with a just-foul blast down the left field line.
Auren went 3-for-4 with two doubles. He also started two double plays while anchoring a solid Red Sox infield.
"Nice comeback," said Ashland manager Steve Saraceno afterwards. "We went into the bottom of the seventh down 6-2. In that situation a coach usually urges his team to chip away at the lead. And that's just what we did. One run in the seventh, three in the eighth, and the game-winner in the ninth. I couldn't have ordered it any better."
Ashland's rookie first baseman Mike Leach came through bigtime in the eighth. With two-outs and two-strikes, Leach muscled a broken bat blooper into left to score two and tie the game at 6-6.
Dodger starter Randy Fesh pitched well before departing late. He was helped offensively by centerfielder Dave Christian (3-for-3, double), third-baseman Ben Campbell (2-for-2, double), and shortstop-manager Eric Niccoli (2-for-3).
New Sox infielders Ron Russell (2-for-3) and Chris Parlante (2-for-4) continued to impress. Steve Triveri turned in a fine start on the mound, holding a strong Dodger lineup to three runs over five innings. Manager Steve Saraceno (2-1) then swooped in for his typical vulture win.
By Steve Saraceno
Ashland, MA~Steve Triveri's outstanding relief pitching provided the only Red Sox bright spot in a 10-2 whomping by the Framingham Orioles Sunday at the Ashland Middle School field.
Triveri struck out six Orioles in four innings, allowing just one run against a lineup of strong bats that knocked around starter and loser Steve Saraceno (1-1) for nine runs in the first five innings.
Mike Auren (1-for-2, two walks) led a light Ashland offense. In the field the Sox again proved inconsistent, despite two double plays.
Oriole third-baseman Chris Currie (3-for-5, two doubles) spearheaded the early attack against starter Saraceno. Also striking blows were manager Tom Galvani (2-for-4, double), Steve Defusco (2-for-4, double), Chris Swanecamp (2-for-5), and Dave Jaffe (2-for-5).
"I used to play for the Orioles," said Saraceno afterwards. "Those guys used to be my friends. I can't understand what happened."
By Steve Saraceno
Ashland, MA~ The Hudson Cardinals scared the hell out of the Ashland Red Sox with seven runs in the ninth inning Sunday at Ashland. But starter Steve Saraceno stranded the tying run at second to give the Red Sox a 12-11 barnburner of an Opening Day victory.
After taking advantage of some early Red Sox miscues, the Cards' powerful bats dozed from the third inning to the ninth. But then two Ashland errors and a subsequent double by Jeremy Ames (2-for-4), triple by Andrew Calkins (2-for-4), three-run homer over the leftfield fence by Roberto Valentin (2-for-4), single by John Beloff (2-for-4), double by Ray Sullivan, and single by Dave Bacle (2-for-4) brought the Cards within one.
At this point Saraceno punched out the Cards' Howie Simon to end things. It was Saraceno's seventh K of the day. He walked none.
Two ex-minor leaguers dazzled in their Red Sox debut: infielder Ron Russell (Texas Rangers organization) collected three-for-four with a double. And catcher Rob Linn (Milwaukee Brewers) went 3-for-5 with a big double in the first. Two other Ashland rookies also premiered successfully: infielder Chris Parlante (2-for-4, walk) and speedy centerfielder Jim Gavagan (2-for-4, 3 runs).
Ashland leftfielder Brian Farrell picked up where he left off last year, going 2-for-3 with two walks.
And leave us not forget the Saraceno boys: Victor (3 RBI, including the game winner) and Steve (2-for-3, HBP).
"What a crazy game!!!" remarked Hudson manager Matt Sandock afterwards. "It was a lot of fun. What a way to dust off the cobwebs of a long off-season."
"Good opening day weather, lots of errors, humongous scores, a late comeback -- I love it!" said Ashland manager Saraceno. "If baseball is a game of failure we sure played some baseball today!"
By Steve Saraceno
Last year's Red Sox tied for first but were summarily dispatched by the Worcester White Sox in the playoffs. Manager Steve Saraceno (two titles coaching Ashland, six as a player in the MetroWest League) made several offseason changes. "It had to be done," he says grimly.
PITCHING: Former Boston Red Sox farmhand Eric Cormier returns for a full season. Helping out will be Manager Saraceno, fast approaching 100 pitching wins in the league. Steve Triveri and John Badaracco will also see hill time. "You gotta throw strikes," Saraceno says grimly.
CATCHING: Perennial All-Star Brent McKenzie is back for his sixth MetroWest campaign. Rookie Scott van Raalten should help with a strong bat. "Catching is a tough position," Saraceno says grimly. "You break a lot of fingers."
FIRST BASE: Triveri gets the nod when not playing elsewhere. Big newcomer Mike Leach should bring added power to the position. Six-year vet Vic Saraceno is also available. "The man is my brother," Saraceno says grimly.
SECOND BASE: Ex-Sudbury Tiger Chris Parlante, sophomore Bobby Modica, shortstop Mike Auren, and former Texas Ranger farmhand Ron Russell all can play second. "If the baserunner doesn't slide," Saraceno says grimly, "throw it at his head."
SHORTSTOP: Three-year vet Auren starts. Parlante and Russell will log time there. "A good shortstop takes no sh-- from nobody," Saraceno says with a wild gleam in his eye.
THIRD BASE: Russell, Parlante, Triveri, and Steve Saraceno -- in that order. "Block it like a catcher and throw the bum out," he instructs grimly.
RIGHT FIELD: The sole remaining member of the original Ashland Red Sox, Chris Cronin enjoyed a career year in 2008. Rookie Jim Gavagan and superstar Brian Farrell boast sunfield credentials as well. "You better throw it to the right base," Saraceno threatens.
CENTERFIELD: People say John Badaracco is the best player in the league. "And some people say I'm the best player in the league," Saraceno says grimly.
LEFTFIELD: Brian Farrell took a while to recover from his knee injury in the 2006 championship game. Last year he hit only .458 with a .792 slugging percentage. "That's insane!" Saraceno screams.
PREDICTION: Saraceno chuckles. "If there's a schedule we'll play it," he says.