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Sports

Weekly Sports Roundup, April 25-May 1

With the weather finally starting to come around, play continued around the fields and tennis courts of Melrose. Here's a look at how the locals fared.

With the weather finally starting to cooperate, the spring season continued this past week with the student athletes of Melrose returning from the holiday week and returning to the fields of play.

With the campaign well underway, a clearer picture of where the Red Raider squads may be at the end of the season is starting to emerge.

After a crowded week in terms of scheduled games, the Melrose baseball team went 3-1, and now sits in a very good position in the Middlesex League in second place with an 8-2 overall mark (7-1 ML).

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On April 25, Melrose kicked off the week in fine fashion, traveling to Winchester and running out with an 8-2 win over the Sachems. Two-sport star Andy Scocca (3-0) picked up the win felled eight Winchester batsmen, while surrendering just five hits.

The Red Raiders were back in action the following day, heading up to Reading for a meeting with the always dangerous Rockets.

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With the score knotted at 3-3 late in the game, left fielder Dan Riordan came up big for the visitors, not once but twice.

In the bottom of the sixth, Riordan gunned down the potential go ahead run at the plate to keep things level. He followed that up by clubbing a solo home run to left field in the top of the seventh that ultimately gave the Red Raiders the 4-3 victory.

Ryan Hardy (4-0) fired seven strong innings to earn the win.

Next on the docket was a date with undefeated Lexington in Melrose.

The ML table-topping Minutemen dominated the Red Raiders, and handed them a 13-2 defeat.

Melrose bounced right back, however, and laid a 9-2 beating on the doorstep of Watertown on April 29.

On the softball diamond, the Lady Raiders (3-5) picked up two this past week.

Melrose earned a 12-11 win over league rivals Winchester on April 25. Amanda Downey went 3-for-4 with a triple, and Alyssa DiRaffaele homered for the Lady Raiders.

Melrose followed that up with a 12-5 victory over Watertown on April 29.

Boys Lax Goes 1-1

The boys lacrosse team (2-5) split a pair of games last week, falling to league nemesis Reading and outpacing non-league foe Bishop Fenwick.

The Rockets dropped a 17-4 drubbing in the laps of the Red Raiders on April 26. CJ Hanson (2 goals) and Paul Hanson (goal) provided the Melrose offense.

On April 29, the Red Raiders beat Bishop Fenwick 11-3 behind CJ Hanson (4 goals, 2 assists), Conor Mason (3 goals) and Rob Pesaturo (2 goals). Rich Taglieri bagged a brace as well. 

Defensively, Melrose was led by Blais Healy, who set the tone for the team, and played strong on the ball. CJ and Drew McCormack played well, as did Steve Shinto and Ryan Fay. Nick Kupchaunis played his first game as a long-stick midfielder and was up to the task.

The tough times continued for the girls team, as the Lady Raiders dropped three league contests last week. 

Melrose lost to Belmont 13-5 on April 25, Reading 16-2 on April 27, and on April 28, fell to neighboring Wakefield 12-9.

Boys Tennis Wins Two

The week started off slowly for Melrose boys tennis, as they were swept by Reading on April 26, but things took a dramatic turn for the better from there.

The following day the Red Raiders (4-5) beat Watertown 4-1, and turned around to blank Belmont 5-0 on April 29.

On the girls side of the court, it was a memorable week for the Lady Raiders, as they earned a win over Reading for the first time in head coach Deb Deacon’s tenure at the helm.

The Lady Raiders took the contest 4-1.

Winners for Melrose (4-1) were Emma McGowan, who defeated Hannah Conroy, Sarah McGowan, who bested Katie Crowley in straight sets and Lydia Mays, who downed Haley Laughlin in a tie-breaker.

Julie Mongeau and Natalie Kendall also earned a point at second doubles.

After such an emotional win, the squad could have been forgiven for coming out a bit flat the next game, but that was not the case.

Melrose dispatched Watertown 4-1 on April 27, and now has momentum squarely on its side.

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