Medfield Legion Locks Up Third Place in District 6 Standings with Win over Foxborough

Entering the final week of the American Legion Baseball regular season, Medfield needed one win in its four remaining games to clinch a top three spot in the District 6 West Division standings heading into next week's Legion tournament. 

After two losses to the District 6 elite, Walpole and Norwood, Medfield travelled to Foxborough Friday still in search of that victory and came away with a 10-4 win to lock up third-place and likely ending Foxborough's season.

Despite the final score, Foxborough - needing one win to make the postseason - kept  the game close three innings.

Foxborough struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a bases loaded single by Tom Brady. The single brought Steve Nagle home to keep the bases loaded and give Foxboro a 1-0 lead. The run would not lead to any momentum as a double play to ended the inning.

In the top of the second, Medfield took its first lead of the game. With two outs and Will Cousins on third base, Derek Bauer doubled to score Cousins and tie the game at one. Bauer scored off of a Foxborough error to give Medfield a 2-1 lead. It was a big day for Bauer, who finished the day going 3-for-4 with three runs, a RBI and a double.

“He swung the bat really well,” said Medfield coach Robert Mintz of Bauer’s performance. "Derek’s a high-energy guy. He’s a good ball player."

Medfield added another run to the lead in the top of the third inning when a double from Cousins led to a run from Jim Magrath to extend the lead to 3-1.

Down by two, Foxborough responded in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at three. Brady came up big again with a double to get Aiden Farrell home. Brady scored off of a Andy Bukuras' single to tie the game at three.

Medfield quickly put the game away in a big way. With bases-loaded and no outs, Mark Poli singled to center field to score T.J. Valente and Bauer and take back the lead. Additional runs from Gabe Mirabelli and Poli put Medfield up 7-3 after four innings.

Foxborough had chances but could not take advantage of them to score. With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning and one out, Foxborough hit into an inning-ending double play. 

In the top of the sixth inning, down 8-3, Foxborough found themselves with bases-loaded again with two outs. Mitch Goldenberg was hit by a pitch, which allowed Nagle to score but that would be the only run production for Foxborough in the inning. It was a tough day for a Foxborough team looking for that one big hit to get them back into the game.

“That’s how we were at the beginning of the season and it’s kinda like our whole year in a capsule,“ said Foxborough coach Bill Travers.

A couple more runs in the top of the seventh inning gave Medfield a 10-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh when controversy arose. 

With the rain coming down and the game not in doubt, Medfield was ready to walk away with the last half inning being called to rain. Even in the rain, Foxborough was willing to play. After one batter, the game was called with Bobby Joyce at first and TJ Notarangelo at the plate. While Foxborough wanted to finish the game, the umpires cited the poor field’s condition as the reason to end the game. Travers insisted that the field was fine.

"We had guys come down here and fix the field. Once I turn in the lineup card in the umpires control this game not me,“ said Travers.

Aiden Farrell led the way for Foxborough going 3-for-4 with a run. Tom Brady went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Mitch Goldenberg went 1-for-3 with a RBI.

For Medfield, Nick Santangelo went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Poli went 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI. Mirabelli went 1-for-2 with a run.   

With the loss, Foxborough can only advance to the postseason if Canton loses their final two games. Medfield however, will make the playoffs in third place of the West Division of Division 6. Foxborough finished the regular season with a record of 8-10 and Medfield is currently 11-6 with one more game to play.

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