UPDATED: Warriors Walk Off with Win over Westwood

There’s a reason the Medfield High School baseball team is a perfect 13-0 in the Tri-Valley League this season – grit.

Medfield (13-1, 13-0) needed every bit of its grit in a 5-4 walk-off victory at Curt Schilling Field on a rainy and cold Monday afternoon.

After Westwood plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning off Medfield ace Mike Keleher to tie the game at four, the Warriors responded with a gritty effort in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with nobody out. Cue TJ Valente's RBI single over the Westwood shortstop, scoring Jim Magrath from third base and the result was a walk-off, 5-4 victory. 

"Very proud of us as a team," said Medfield head coach Matt Marenghi. "Last few games we put up a lot of runs and the game got a little less competitive as we went on towards the end. Success can breed complacency and the fear would be all of a sudden you get into a tight game like this and you can't perform, but we did and that is what I am most proud of."

Seven of Medfield's 13 wins this season have been by three runs or less but over the Warriors last three games, they had outscored their opponents, 54-13. On Monday they reminded those in attendance and around the league they can win the close ones too – a sign of a resilient and determined team.

"Despite the conditions [rain, wet field], despite the fact that we really haven't had to be truly competitive in pressure situations, we responded to both," Marenghi said. 

The field conditions caused for sloppy defensive play by the Warriors' infield as few balls were fielded cleanly and several were bobbled or thrown away, allowing Westwood runners to reach base. The injury to shortstop Brian McCloud also played a roll, according to Marenghi. 

"Defensively, we were hurt most [by] … I don’t want to take away anything from anybody else but it was clear how much of a leader and how much of a keystone Brian McCloud is to our infield," Marenghi said. "He got hurt last Saturday in practice and it’s nothing serious."

McCloud sat today to rest and Marenghi said his absence was noticed.

"I think that was what the glaring thing was [on defense]," he said. "If I had to say what one of the strength of our team is I would have to say it was our infield – they’re sound. When we took out one element of it you can tell we were shaken a little bit."

Marenghi said McCloud out of the lineup, coupled with less than ideal field conditions resulted in several defensive miscues in the infield. 

"This is really our first adverse weather game, luckily," Marenghi said. "I don't think we'll get anything but from here on out."

Medfield was able to overcome those miscues in the infield thanks to the gutty pitching performances of starter Corey Chung and Keleher in three innings of relief – and of course the patience and resiliency of Medfield's hitters in the bottom of the seventh.

Magrath, who moved over to shortstop for the injured McCloud, led-off the final frame with a walk. Keleher followed with a sharp ground ball to third base – Magrath beat the force out at second and there was no time for a throw over to first – both Warriors’ runners were safe with no outs. Medfield catcher Will Cousins stepped in the box and was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Valente.

The junior delivered with a single over the shortstop’s head and into left field to score Magrath for the game winning run.  

"TJ has been somebody, who from the first day of tryouts has continually gotten better as the season has gone on," said Marenghi. "It has been nothing but impressive. I think he started eighth in the lineup at the beginning of the year and now he is up into the meat of the order. His work ethics, he is usually the first guy to practice, having him get up there [in that situation], I had no doubt in my mind that he would come through in that situation."

The dramatic victory came after Medfield held the lead through six innings. The Warriors jumped ahead of the Wolverines early, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first but Westwood quickly responded to tie it in the second inning.

That tie would be broken in the bottom half of the inning. After John Buchanan and Jake Mintz reached base, Magrath hit a one-out single into left field that scored Buchanan to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Medfield added to its lead in the bottom of the third on a Buchanan triple that went deep off the fence in right center to score Cousins from first and give the Warriors a 3-1 advantage.

Westwood responded in the top of the fifth with a home run off the scoreboard over the fence in right field to pull within one, 3-2. Chung walked the next batter and Marenghi replaced the junior hurler with his ace, Keleher. The senior was dominant in the fifth, striking out the side and getting out of the jam to preserve the 3-2 lead. Medfield scored again in the bottom of the fifth as Cousins knocked in Keleher from third base to give the Warriors a 4-2 lead but that lead would disappear in the top half of the seventh as Westwood battled back.

Westwood showed some grit of its own, plating two runs off Keleher to come back on the number one pitcher and number one team in the TVL.

"[Keleher] is the best pitcher in the league, stats wise and everything else supposedly so I was pleased to see that [effort] against him," said Westwood head coach Brian Whelan. "Obviously we would have liked to have a different outcome but it's alright, we will keep battling. We are headed in the right direction."

The Wolverines are a win away from qualifying for the state tournament with four to play. Medfield has already clinched a postseason berth and has its sights set on the TVL title.

Chung finished with three strike outs over four innings and one earned run allowed. Keleher pitched the final three innings, striking out six and allowing two runs, earning the victory. 

Medfield is back in action on Wednesday at Bellingham at 3:45 p.m. if the weather holds out.