The Chelsea High baseball team dropped its three contests this past week, two of them in extra innings. For the hard-luck Red Devil nine, the extra inning losses marked their third such defeat in the past five games.
Last Wednesday at Shawsheen, Daniel Velastegui tossed a gem for the Red Devils in a 5-4 loss in eight innings. Daniel went the entire route, allowing just four earned runs while fanning two and walking none. “Daniel was throwing strikes and we played solid defense behind him,” said CHS head coach Alan Beausoleil, who noted that Velastegui threw only 77 pitches in his eight innings of work.
Chelsea jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive base hits by Jason Pineda, Velastegui, and Carlos Vega. Shawsheen quickly evened the count in the bottom of the frame and went ahead 2-1 with a run in the third.
But the Red Devils knotted matters in the fifth. Francisco Mercedes drew a base on balls and eventually came around after base hits by Luis Rodriguez and Pineda and a ground out by Frankie Rodriguez.
Shawsheen struck back with a run in its half of the fifth to make it 3-2, but Chelsea kept the game of see-saw going with two markers in the sixth. After base hits by Carlos Vega and Carlos Ramos, a ground ball to first was misplayed by the Shawsheen first baseman, allowing both Vega and Ramos to score for a 4-3 Chelsea advantage.
However, Shawsheen came back with a run in the sixth and then a run in the eighth to claim the 5-4 win.
Two days later, the Red Devils hosted Mystic Valley. After spotting the visitors a 2-0 lead in the first stanza, Chelsea asserted themselves with a three run outburst in the fourth. Base hits by Nelson Salguero, Pineda, Frank Rodriguez, Velastegui, and Carlos Vega accounted for the three tallies.
Chelsea made it a 4-2 ballgame in the fifth when Luis Rodriguez singled, stole second, and strode home on a hit by Pineda. However, Mystic Valley forced the contest into extras with solo markers in the sixth and seventh.
Chelsea had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, filling the sacks on hits by Frank Rodriguez and Velastegui and an intentional walk to Carlos Vega, but the next three Red Devils fanned to end the threat.
After a scoreless eighth, both teams exploded in the ninth. Mystic Valley put up eight runs on the board for a seemingly safe 12-4 lead, but the Red Devils refused to quit, striking back for five markers on their own and leaving the bases loaded at the end.
Base hits by Mercedes and Alvaro Lopez and a walk to Keith Patti loaded the bases. An error by the MV shortstop on a ball hit by Velastegui brought in one run and a walk to Carlos Ramos brought in another. Nelson Vega then delivered a two-RBI base hit and Armand Montes delivered another RBI single to draw the Devils within 12-9. But that would be as close as they would get on the day.
“Those were a couple of tough losses for us,” said Beausoleil. “They just as easily could have been wins, but that’s been the story of our season.”
The Red Devils, who now stand at 4-9, were set to travel to Whittier yesterday (Wednesday), host Lynn Tech tomorrow, and entertain Maimonides Monday evening under the lights at the Stadium starting at 7:00.
Boys track team deadlocks Shawsheen
The Chelsea High boys track team dueled Shawsheen Tech to a dead heat, 68-68, this past week, clinching a tie with a win in the final event, the 4 x 400 relay.
Rickie Maldonado earned18 points for the Red Devils with three first place finishes in the100 meter dash, the 400 meter dash, and the high jump and a second place effort in the javelin.
Jeffrey Estrada added 11 points to the Chelsea cause, winning the 400 meter low hurdles and taking seconds in the 110 high hurdles and triple jump.
Senior Chester Rath enjoyed a banner day, taking first place in the mile, breaking five minutes for the first time with a clocking of 4:59.9,and then anchoring the winning 4 X 400 relay quartet.
Tuan Tran hurled the discus 86-9 for first place and was third in the shotput. Jay Pedroro finished second in the 800 meter run, followed by teammate Sam Fernandez in third.
Jefferson Elien took second in the discus with a throw of 83-0. Adriel Rodriguez grabbed second in the shotput with a heave of 35-8. Eric Floors high jumped 5-2 to finish in second and Michael Rendon long-jumped 17-2 for second spot.
David Sklodwski picked up a valuable third place in the 400 dash, as did Faisal Nasimi in the high jump. Mohammed Abdul contributed key third place points in the long jump, triple jump, and 200 meter dash.
But just as the Red Devils were saved by the relay against Shawsheen, they fell by the same sword in their previous meet against Whittier Tech, 70-66.
Chelsea now stands at 3 3- on the season. Next Tuesday will see Chelsea hosting the Commonwealth Athletic Conference’s boys and girls Freshman/Sophomore Meet.
On Saturday, May 18, Coach Don Fay and his full crew will compete in the CAC league meet at Greater Lowell.
Red Devil Ricky Maldonado has qualified in the javelin for the state meet and the high jump which will be at Notre Dame of Hingham on Memorial Day weekend.
Girls track tops Whittier, falls to Gr. Lowell
The Chelsea High girls outdoor track team split its two meets this past week, defeating Whittier 77-59, but dropping a closely-contested 70-66 decision to Greater Lowell, marking the Lady Red Devils’ first loss of the season.
The Whittier victory saw Chelsea take first place in six of the individual events and capture both relays. First place finishers for the Lady Red Devils were:
– 100 Hurdles: Quinnee Valenzona
– 100M & Long Jump: Stephanie Moni
– 400M: Katherine Cabral
– 200M: Sarah Bourouis
– Discus: Rebeca Torrento
– Triple Jump: Tatyana Almeida
– 4×100 Relay Team: Quinnee Valenzona, Sarah Bourouis, Steicy Martins, Stephanie Moni
– 4×400 Relay Team: Katherine Cabral, Maranatha Boyer, Arandeni Ramos, Tatyana Almeida
In the Greater Lowell meet, first place winners for Chelsea were:
– Discus: Rebeca Torrento
– 100 Hurdles: Quinnee Valenzona (also 2nd 400 Hurdles, 2nd Javelin)
– 100M: Stephanie Moni
– 800M: Tatyana Almeida (also 3rd High Jump, 3rd Triple Jump)
– 200M: Sarah Bourouis
– Javelin: Cristal Rodriguez (also 3rd 800M)
– 4×100 Relay Team: Mariama Kamara, Kenia Santana, Sarah Bourouis, Stephanie Moni
– 4×400 Relay Team: Katherine Cabral, Tatyana Almeida, Cristal Rodriguez, Yessenia Motta
“The Greater Lowell meet was a tough defeat for our team,” said CHS head coach Kim Huffer. “Greater Lowell has been a consistently great team over the years and a team that brings out some of our best performances. We had 24 personal bests overall as a team, but struggled a bit in the field events and were in some really tight, close races.
“This season we have really had a team effort,” continued Huffer. “We don’t have one or two standout performers/big point scorers, but about 20 girls whom we count on to contribute to our score. This team is determined to come back from this loss and prove themselves in the next meet. We have a great mix of senior leadership, veteran juniors, and fresh faces this season which just helps out with the energy, dedication, and effort that they show in every practice.”
The Lady Red Devils engaged in a tri-meet Tuesday (full results will be in next week’s Record) and will compete in the CAC Freshman-Sophomore Meet Saturday.