By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Coming off back-to-back victories against Weymouth and Framingham, the Walpole High School varsity baseball team traveled to Milton on Monday afternoon looking to make it three wins a row.
Blake Conroy got the start on the mound for the Timberwolves (4-2), who looked to keep pace in the Herget Division with the unbeaten Wildcats (6-0). Milton came into Monday's showdown riding high following a 6-4 victory against perennial power and rival Braintree on May 12.
The game remained scoreless after three innings, thanks to a strong effort by Conroy. However, Milton's bats would finally come alive in the bottom of the fourth, as the Wildcats put together four hits mixed around a walk to take a 3-0 lead. Walpole responded immediately in the top half of the fifth by plating four runs, highlighted by an RBI single by Corey Kilroy and a two-RBI double by Stonehill-committed second baseman Max Martin. Back-to-back fielding errors by Milton allowed the go-ahead run to come home and give the Timberwolves a 4-3 lead after four-and-a-half innings.
Tucker Hazell came on to pitch for Walpole in place of Conroy in the bottom of the fifth. Hazell recorded the first two outs of the inning before surrendering the tying run. Matt Bianculli came on in relief and recorded the final out via a fly to left to get the Timberwolves out of the inning without surrendering the lead.
After Walpole was sent down in order in the top of the sixth, the game's turning point came in the bottom half of the inning. Milton loaded the bases before bases before Mason Bicknell smacked a bases-clearing double, giving the Wildcats a 7-4 lead. DJ Berzas then drove home Bicknell with an RBI single to make it an 8-4 game after six innings.
Walpole put together a mini-rally in the top of the sixth, plating a pair of runs, thanks to an RBI single by Luke Janowicz and an RBI sacrifice fly by Will Blakley to bring home Janowicz. Unfortunately, the rally was too little, too late for the Timberwolves. Milton was able to record the final two outs of the game to prevail by the 8-6 final.
At the time of print, Walpole will look to get back on track at Brookline on May 19.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
