The Somerville Alibrandis are going strong heading into mid-summer play.

By Benjamin Klein

The first-place Somerville Alibrandis finished June with two wins and now have a four-game winning streak after defeating the Malden Bulldogs and South Boston Saints to start July.

Somerville welcomed the second-place Bulldogs to Trum Field last Monday and, just like they have for most of the season, the Alibrandis scored first with a run in the first inning. Malden would respond with a run of their own in the top of the second, but Somerville struck for three in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.

The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh inning with Malden down to its final three outs. The Bulldogs would score twice but couldn’t squander a third run as Somerville took the second match-up of the season between the two teams.

Anthony Del Prete, making his season debut, went all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out nine. Mike Maguire continued his hot hitting at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.

Somerville again was tested as the South Boston Saints came close to knocking off the Alibrandis late in the game. The Alibrandis scored at least one run in each of the first four innings to give themselves a 5-3 lead.

South Boston was able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Brian Tanguy held the Saints scoreless in the seventh to secure the victory. John Morse picked up his second win of the year, going three innings of relief behind John Nicklas. Maguire and Mark Annese each went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Maguire is now hitting .404 on the season, which leads all Somerville hitters. He also leads the team in doubles with seven and is tied for the lead in extra-base hits with nine.

Somerville is scheduled to play three games next week, two at home against the Medford Maddogs and Brighton Black Sox and one on the road against the Savin Hill Hornets.