Malden Baseball Team wins Serino Memorial Tournament title for first time since 2018

Tornado senior captain Simpson named Serino Tourney MVP; Bowdridge is All-Tourney Team selectee

By Nick Toscani

Jake Simpson did not sweep the floor, but he did help put the tarp back on the plate after the game. He also did a lot of other stuff to help his Malden team defeat East Boston, 12-2, and propel the Golden Tornado squad to the Christie Serino Memorial Baseball Tournament Championship on Friday at Pine Banks Park in Malden.

Simpson, a senior two-year captain, went two-for-three at the plate (double), drove in four runs and scored three times for Malden. He also pitched four two-hit innings and struck out seven in a solid pitching performance. The veteran righthander, a four-year varsity starter for Malden, improved to 2-0 on the season on the mound and was on the mark all day for the winners.

It was the first time since 2018 that Malden won the title in the Serino Classic and just the second time in seven tries since it came to Malden in 2017.

“Jake [Simpson] had an excellent game against East Boston and a very good tournament overall,” Malden Head Coach Steve Freker said. “Jake is type of player Coach Serino would have loved to coach, tough, hard-nosed and hates losing more than he likes winning.”

“Plus, Jake is also captain of the hockey team!” the Malden coach added, as the late Coach Serino was most well-known in these parts as the former Malden Catholic Athletic Director and former Super 8-winning hockey coach there.

Simpson also had two RBI in the 4-1 win for Malden last Thursday on the road at Greater Lawrence Tech in Andover in the first game of the tournament. The Malden senior shortstop knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly ball and then a second run to make it 3-1 in the fourth inning with an RBI double.

A big highlight of the GL Tech win was the superb pitching of freshman righthander Ryan Bowdridge, who threw a complete game three-hitter with 11 strikeouts. “Ryan was around the plate all day and was spotting up his fastball all game. It was his best outing of the year,” Coach Freker said, noting that the standout effort came despite steady light rain throughout the game.

Malden’s senior captain Ezechiel “Zeke” Noelsaint and junior catcher Bo Bogan Stead also played very well in the Serino Tourney. Bogan Stead threw out two runners trying to steal in the close GL Tech win. Noelsaint, who has 17 stolen bases on the season through nine games for Malden, swiped four bags against GL Tech and three more against East Boston.

On Monday, Malden dropped a 10-6 game to visiting Lynn English at Pine Banks Park. Malden pitching recorded a whopping 13 strikeouts against the Bulldogs with sophomore starter Ryan McMahon with 10 Ks and just four hits, but Lynn English drew 10 walks and capitalized on some sloppy Malden defense in spots.

After a 10-0 shutout win over Everett on Wednesday, Malden is now 6-3 overall and 3-3 Greater Boston League.

The Golden Tornado team plays on the road at Morelli Field in Melrose on Friday night (tonight) at 7:00 p.m.; at Somerville (Trum Field) on Monday at 4:00 p.m. and hosts Chelsea on Wednesday, May 1 at 3:30 p.m.

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