Millbury’s Silvestri captures 600th career win
UXBRIDGE >> One of the most elite clubs in Massachusetts high school baseball has a new member.
Millbury’s Ron Silvestri became just the 10th coach to win 600 or more games as his Woolies broke a 1-1 tie with No. 6 Uxbridge thanks to a two-run single from Alex Havalotti in the top of the seventh inning and then staved off a bottom of the seventh rally by the Spartans to take a 3-2 win at McCloskey Field.
“This has been a long time coming, obviously,” Silvestri said after getting an ice bath from his team. “This is a big accomplishment for all the kids who have played for me. I’m so thankful for all of them. This is all because of them.”
Silvestri joins a group which includes North Reading’s Frank Carey (736), Leominster’s Emile Johnson (722), Greenfield’s Tom Suchanek (676, heading into Wednesday’s game), Chicopee Comp’s Dan Dulchinos (639), Cardinal Spellman’s Peter Ambrose (628), BC High’s Norm Walsh (622), DightonRehoboth’s Bill Cuthbertson (621), Newburyport’s Bill Pettingell (616) and Burlington’s
Jim Curtin (612) in the exclusive 600-win club.
The win was doubly sweet as it not only moves the young Woolies (14-9) into the Division 4 quarterfinals but it came against a Spartan squad that had beaten Millbury twice in the regular season.
The game-winning rally came almost seemingly out of left field as both teams couldn’t get much going against starters Jack Nummela of Uxbridge and Millbury’s James Donnelly.
A leadoff walk to Nick Kolifrath gave the Woolies a chance in the seventh and spelled the end of Nummela’s outing. Grady Walsh came on in relief and promptly walked Matteus Mateo and Aidan Dubois to load the bases.
Havalotti wasted little time in giving his team the lead as he stroked an 0-1 pitch into left, scoring Kolifrath and Mateo to make it 3-1. Walsh got the next three batters to keep it a two-run gap and give his team a chance to try and rally against Donnelly, who had only allowed a first-inning RBI double to Talen Rosborough to that point.
Aiden Blood got the Uxbridge seventh started with a single. Dylan Donnelly followed with an infield hit and the tying runs were aboard. A fielder’s choice and a wild pitch gave Uxbridge two in scoring position with one out. Tanner Gauthier cut the lead to 3-2 with a sacrifice fly but Donnelly bore down and fanned Braden Cammuso to end the game and spark a huge celebration for those clad in maroon and gold.
“James is just a gamer,” Silvestri said. “I knew that he was going to come out and do a great job. That’s just his makeup.”
This day, however, was all about Silvestri, who acknowledged that he is very happy to join a privileged group of coaches.
“There are some great coaches in that 600 and 700 win club. I am just humbled to be a part of it,” Silvestri said.