Shurtleff leads Medfield past Hopkinton at Fenway
Friday afternoon was one Thomas Shurtleff will never forget.
Inside the confines of Fenway Park, Shurtleff threw a complete-game shutout, striking out six while also smacking an RBI double as Medfield shut out Hopkinton, 2-0, to take control of first place in the Tri-Valley League.
A couple hundred filled the stands as the game was open to the public for free admission. Donations to the Red Sox and Jimmy Fund
Foundation were accepted and encouraged.
“Wow, what an opportunity,” Shurtleff said. “I tried to find the balance between soaking it all in and getting the job done.”
Shurtleff retired the first eight batters he faced but ran into trouble in the third when a single, walk, and hit batter loaded the bases. The Warriors senior right-hander induced a pop up to retire the side.
One inning later, the Hillers (5-4, 5-2) threatened again, putting two on but Shurtleff escaped trouble.
Medfield (8-1, 5-1) broke the ice in the home half of the fourth as Matt Donahue reached on an error, moved over on a base hit, and came home to score on a throwing blunder to put the home team up 1-0.
After retiring Hopkinton in order in the fifth and sixth, Shurtleff provided himself with some insurance in the bottom of the sixth, roping an RBI double down the leftfield line to make it 2-0.
“Those Hopkinton kids did not quit,” Shurtleff said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I’m definitely going to remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
Hopkinton starter Andrew Gaughan threw four innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits while striking out four.