Post 59 again one of state’s best

Just past the midway point of the season, the Milford Legion baseball team has established itself as one of the area’s top squads. Post 59 rattled off 12 wins in its first 14 games, many of them by double-digit margins that meant the game ended before the regulation seven innings. 

Head coach Steve DiVitto said he is hoping the best is yet to come. “I don’t want to be playing our best baseball at the beginning of the year,” he said. “We have bigger goals in mind than just gathering a lot of regular season wins.”

Milford rolled through the regular season a year ago undefeated, only to be knocked out early in the postseason. This year, Post 59 is guaranteed a spot in the state tournament by virtue of being the tournament host, and has several key cogs who could help the team make a lot of noise in its own tournament. 

Hopedale’s Brayden Lewis committed to play at Northeastern this month after starting his college career at Wheaton, and DiVitto said he has been a leader at the plate.

“He is one of the best hitters that I have seen,” DiVitto said. “He has incredible pop and speed on the base paths, it’s fun to watch.”

Milford High graduate Joey McGee has been a standout on defense in the middle infield. A natural shortstop, DiVitto said McGee has made a seamless transition to second base.

“I don’t remember having someone with his ability at second base,” the coach said. “He is a phenomenal athlete, and he gives us an incredible fielding presence.”

On the mound, Milford High graduate Tyler Ballard has been an ace. DiVitto said the coaching staff has been working on getting his pitch count up because he didn’t throw a ton of innings in the spring.

“We are getting him ready to go deeper into the season,” DiVitto said.

The night-in, night-out legion schedule comes on the heels of either high school or college seasons for most of the players, and injuries have impacted the team this summer.

Hopedale’s Brady Wajda has seen time on the mound and in the infield in an effort to fill in wherever he’s needed.

Milford’s outfield is another strength. In addition to Lewis, Hopkinton’s Nick Pedroli is a college player and a strong leader. Milford’s Jackson Fournier, a St. John’s rising senior, is a player DiVitto calls a “stud.”

“He changes the lineup with his ability to have outstanding at bats and how he approaches the game,” DiVitto said. “It’s hard to explain how impressive he is.”

DiVitto hopes this will be a team poised for a strong showing in the states.

“We are excited about the state tournament,” he said. “It’ll be a great thing for not just Milford, but for the surrounding towns as well. We have to do our best to be playing our best baseball.”