Max Goodman (pictured) fires home a pitch in the top of the fifth inning on Thursday against Milton. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The River Rats continued their hot summer on Thursday night as Medfield/DS (12-2) hosted Milton (9-5) looking to keep pace with Ashland (13-1) for first place in the league.
An RBI sacrifice fly by Charlie Walker in the bottom of the first gave Milton an early 1-0 lead. Nick Sheehan led off the home half for Medfield with a single, stole a pair of bases, and came around to score, thanks to a two-out RBI single by Ben Leonard, tying the game at one after an inning.
A passed ball to the backstop with a runner on third gave Milton back the lead in the top of the second inning. Milton doubled its lead to two runs in the top of the fourth when Andrew Possi drove Michael Donahoe with an RBI sacrifice fly to right.
Still trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Medfield put together a rally. Sam Kornet started things off with a double to deep right field. A double down the left field line by Ryan Murray brought home Kornet to make it a one-run game. Luigi Musto belted a two-out single to right field to bring in Murray and tie the game at three. Musto advanced to second on a passed ball and later came around to score the go-ahead run, thanks to a throwing error on a grounder to short.
Milton tied the game in the top of the seventh, thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly by Jack Balboni. Sam Kornet nearly ended it on the second pitch of the bottom half, smashing a fly ball to deep center field that was hauled in at the fence by Balboni. Milton kept Medfield off the scoreboard and forced the game into extra innings.
Following a scoreless top of the eighth, Ryan Murray led off the home half with a double to the right field fence, putting the winning run in scoring position. With two outs, Nick Sheehan stepped up and delivered with a single to left field, scoring Murray and allowing Medfield to walk-off with the 5-4 extra-inning victory.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as game highlights, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
