Starting pitcher Drew Kral (pictured) fires home a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Two of the perennial Division Six Legion powers, Hyde Park and Walpole, squared off on Sunday at Bird Middle School for a little late afternoon MIBL action. Hyde Park served as the home team despite Walpole playing on its home field.
Thanks to a stout pitching performance by Drew Kral, the game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth. Walpole's bats exploded for four runs, thanks to a two-RBI single by Zack Oles. Jack Magane tripled home Oles on the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat before Jackson Walonis doubled home Magane to give Walpole a 4-0 lead.
Hyde Park got a run back in the home half of the fourth, but Walpole responded right back in the top of the fifth as John Brady came home to score on a wild pitch after singling to begin the inning, extending the lead to 5-1. Hyde Park's bats came alive in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. Max Martin then proceeded to make the play of the game, gunning down the would-be tying run at home from short right field to end the inning and keep Walpole in front.
Walpole added right back to their lead in the top of the sixth, with two runs coming around to score, thanks to a throwing error at first with runners at second and third.
Walpole shut the door and emerged with a 7-4 victory.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as game highlights, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0
