Veteran group wins first 12 District 4 games

By Chris Villani

Milford Legion Manager Steve DiVitto has one of the most experienced rosters he has ever had this summer, and the results have shown through on the field. Post 59 raced out to a 12-0 start in its district and won 15 of its first 16 games overall. All but four of Milford’s players either just completed their senior year in high school or their freshman year in college.

“We have six college players this year,” DiVitto said. “In legion baseball, in any sport, the older you are, the more seasoned you are and the more leadership you are going to have.”

Players like Keith Lee, who hit four home runs through the first 16 games, Sean McGee, who is batting nearly .400, and Jack Krauss, who gets on base half the times he is at the plate, have been with the program for several years.

DiVitto does not mince words about his lineup, calling it one of the strongest he has seen at the legion level with no discernible weaknesses. Even some of the players who are reserves on Post 59 were middle-of-the-order hitters on their high school teams. 

Post 59 hit 16 home runs as a team through its first 15 games despite playing in the vast expanse of Fino Field and scored 43 more runs than the next highest scoring District 4 team.

Hopedale product Brayden Lewis is “absolutely tearing the cover off the ball,” his coach said. Through his first 13 games, Lewis hit .571 with 13 extra-base hits, including four home runs.

Brayden Lewis has been the top hitter in a very strong Milford lineup. Photo credit: Roger Zaleski

 On the mound, Nipmuc’s Dan Heisler has been a key cog both as a starter and out of the bullpen. Josh Giancola, another Nipmuc product who is drawing interest from several colleges, earned wins in each of his first three decisions with an ERA of only 0.97. Derek Hatherly, a Hopkinton resident, and Milford’s Tyler Ballard are two more strong arms for a staff that has allowed fewer runs than any other team in the Zone.

Even with the red-hot start, DiVitto said Post 59 approaches each game like its record is 0-0 and is working hard to make sure they do not peak now, but when the playoffs roll around during the latter half of July.

“It’s a deep lineup, it’s a deep roster, and it’s a really good group of guys,” he said. “They have bonded quickly and they are in it for an overall purpose and a team goal, and they’ve done a great job so far.”