Post 59 eyes top of Zone 4 standings

By Chris Villani

The Milford Legion baseball team is out to a solid start to the 2024 summer despite a couple of significant injuries, and manager Steve DiVitto said his team should be good enough to compete with the best teams in a very talented zone.

“This is the best zone in the state, we know that it is a highly, highly competitive zone,” DiVitto said. “We are going to compete for it though. We have six teams that make the playoffs this year and there are just as many teams that could win it.”

Milford picked up wins in five of its first eight games despite losing Nick Koch and Louis Consigli to season-ending injuries.

“Those are two outstanding players at the top of our lineup,” DiVitto said. “We are just going to keep batting. The guys have done a great job continuing to play and play hard. We are starting to gel a little bit, which is great.”

Driving the Milford offense has been catcher Keith Lee, a Milford High product. Four of his first seven hits of the season went for extra bases, including three doubles and a home run. 

“The kid just hits,” DiVitto said. “I am not sure the last time I saw someone hit a ball as hard as he does every single time he is up.”

Damien Carter is a player who has caught fire at the plate though the early part of the season and DiVitto praised his contributions on the mound as well. Ian Carter put together a strong pitching outing against Northbridge early in the year and went toe-to-toe with a Hudson starter considered one of the best in the area.

Nipmuc’s Josh Giancola is another strong two-way threat, hitting north of .300 and not surrendering an earned run through his first six innings. “He has done a great job at the plate, and on the mound,” his skipper said.

Sean McGee delivered three extra base hits and a .346 average through the first eight games of the year. DiVitto said McGee is “just rock solid.”

Milford is hoping to drum up significant interest in the team this summer through a number of theme nights at home games, including Alumni Night on July 7. That game will feature a pregame ceremony honoring the 2013 and 2014 Post 59 teams, the last two to win state championships. The evening may provide some inspiration for this year’s team.

“We have been competitive in every game we have been in,” DiVitto said. “We expect to continue to be competitive and compete for a playoff spot and hopefully a chance to win the zone.”