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By Edward Sheehan
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
On Thursday, June 30, the Needham Post 14 Rockets (8-6-1) lost a tough game to the Medfield Post 110 Tomahawks (8-7-0) by a score of 11 to 7 at Curt Schilling Field in Medfield in a game of American Legion baseball.
The Tomahawks started off strong, with Jeff Voss, Todd Nelson, Josh Hirschfeld, and Max Moran scoring four unanswered runs in the first inning and Voss and Hirschfeld two more in the second, overwhelming Needham pitcher Steve Anzalone. Just as it looked like Needham would surely roll over and give up, they came back strong, scoring four runs in the third inning off of Medfield pitcher Ryan Sliwinski. Medfield responded with two more runs, making the score 8-4 at the bottom of the third. Needham scored the only run of the fourth inning, and Medfield two in the fifth and another in the sixth. Needham, in their last chance of the game, put up a heroic last stand, with both Spencer Yee and Frankie Mahoney scoring, but their initial deficit proved insurmountable, and Medfield left victorious.
This result lifts the Tomahawks to fourth place in the District 6 West Division standings, and within one game of Needham, in third place. Walpole leads the division, with Franklin in second place. Despite Needham’s higher place in the standings, Medfield has beaten them all three times they have met this season.
Needham will next play July 7 at home against Foxboro, then July 8 at home against Norfolk, then after the league All-Star game July 9 at Rockland, face first-place Walpole at home July 10.
Hometown Weekly MVP: Max Moran, catcher, Medfield. 3-4, 2B, R.
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Voss, Second Base, Medfield. 2-4, BB, SB, 2R;
Scott Westvold, Center Field, Needham. 4-4, 2B, SB
