By: Steve Watson, MBUA
Ashland vs Newton
Monday June 17, 2019
5:45pm–Ashland Middle School
Preview
-After having their first three games of the season postponed due to HS Playoffs, Ashland finally opens their 2019 season against Newton.
-Newton has already played two games. The lost 7-6 to Medford on 06/12 and beat Waltham 8-2 on 06/14. They were scheduled to play a twin-bill at Lowell on 06/16 but were washed out.
-There have been three total games played in Zone 5 so far in 2019. Newton has been involved in two of them (66.7 pct).
-These two teams square off again at Newton on 07/02.
Today’s Zone 5 Schedule
Newton @ Ashland 5:45pm
Medford @ Lowell 6:00pm
North Chelmsford @ Hudson 7:00pm
Natick @ Waltham 7:00pm
Make-Ups
-Ashland will make up their 06/13 postponement vs Natick on 06/18 at 7:30pm (Mahan Field).
-The two postponements vs Billerica (06/12 & 06/14) have make up dates yet to be determined.
Recent Series History
06/14/16 vs Newton L 1-4
06/15/18 @ Newton L 8-12
07/06/17 @ Newton L 2-14
07/11/17 vs Newton L 4-8
07/23/17 vs Newton W 10-8 (State Tournament)
06/14/18 @ Newton W 8-2
07/11/18 vs Newton W 6-3
-Ashland has defeated Newton three consecutive times, outscoring them 24-13 in the process.
-Newton outscored Ashland 38-15 in the previous 4 games.
Recent Season Openers
06/13/16 @ Hudson L 0-1
06/12/17 @ Hudson W 10-0
06/14/18 @ Newton W 8-2
-Ashland has won 2 consecutive season openers, outscoring opponents 18-2 in the process.
-Including this season, Ashland has faced only 2 opponents in the last 4 Opening Day games (Hudson x2 and Newton x2)
Fun Facts
-Newton will be Ashland’s Home Opener opponent for the second time in 3 years (also 2017).
-Both teams played in the 2017 State Tournament in Milford. Ashland topped Newton 10-8 on Day 2 in a winner’s bracket game.
Quite A Run
-After going 4-11-1 in 2016, Ashland has gone 33-14 combined the last two years.
-Post 77 went 17-8 in 2017 and 16-6 in 2018.
Common Sense
-Zone 5 takes a break 4th of July week, having no games scheduled from July 3th to July 6th. Quite the opposite of nearby Zone 4, which plays games on July 3rd and 4th.
Who’s In, Who’s Out
-Ashland HS fell to Medway 1-0 at Fino Field on Saturday, allowing Post 77 to gain all of their Ashland HS players back. That list consists of:
#34 Alex Amalfi (Senior Ashland)
#22 Dominic Cavanagh (Junior Ashland)
#9 Dante D’Avanzo (Freshman Ashland)
#14 Brandon Grover (Junior Ashland)
#5 Jackson Hornung (Senior Ashland)
#1 Andrew Sternick (Senior Ashland)
-Hopkinton advanced to the D2 State Final (Thursday night at Alumni Field in Lowell), meaning that the following player’s won’t be available:
#2 Cole Glassburn (Senior Hopkinton)
#4 Drew Rancatore (Junior Hopkinton)
Up Next
-Ashland travels to Natick on 06/18 at 7:30pm and North Chelmsford on 06/19 at 5:45pm. Post 77 is then off until 06/26 when they travel to Lowell.
Alumni Update
-Shawn Babineau is pitching for the Worcester Bravehearts of the FCBL. He’s off to a fantastic start: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13IP, 2H, 2BB, 18K. Pitched 05/30 vs Nashua (combined no hitter) and 06/08 vs Brockton.
