The Worcester Bravehearts began the week with their usual Monday off, and then headed to Brockton for a doubleheader on Tuesday. Things didn’t go exactly according to plan for Wooball, who ended up being swept by the Rox. The first game took an extra inning, but Worcester eventually found itself on the wrong end of a 2-1 final.
The Bravehearts were down a run heading into the seventh frame, but got it back to even when Christian Siciliano doubled. Pinch-runner Randy Flores advanced to third on a long fly-out and then scored on an infield error. But Brockton was able to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth and scored the game winner on a wild pitch.
Game two started with the Rox putting up four runs in the bottom of the first and they made that hold up in a 4-1 final. WooBall’s run came in the sixth when Michael Perales scored on a passed ball.
Wednesday had the expansion Vermont Lake Monsters visiting Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, and despite falling behind early the Bravehearts would battle back to take an 8-6 final score. Down four entering the home half of the fourth WooBall’s bats put them into the lead with a six-spot. A Christian Siciliano bases-loaded triple scored three, and then Jonathan Santucci doubled to score Siciliano. Nick Martin followed with a two-run moonshot to make it 6-4.
Vermont tied it 6-6 after five, but in the seventh Dakota Harris homered to give the Bravehearts the lead back, and an El Rico Riley double added an insurance run. Tyler Mudd earned his first FCBL win with four great innings of relief, allowing just a single hit while striking out six.
It was Vermont at the HIP again on Thursday and after a five-run fourth frame there was no looking back for Worcester as they took a 9-3 final over the Lake Monsters. Sebastian Salado began the scoring in the inning with an RBI-single, and after a run scored on a wild pitch Zach DeMattio earned an RBI on an infield out. Nick Martin capped the scoring with a two-run single.
Both clubs scored three in the fifth, with Tayven Kelley‘s two-run shot and a Salado solo shot making it 8-3 after the frame. A Kelley RBI-single in the sixth made it the 9-3 final. Jared Kapurch earned the win in relief, with LJ Keevan and Brian Robertson combining for three scoreless frames.
Worcester traveled south to Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut Friday night to take on the Sea Unicorns, and again the bats were most of the story in an 8-5 win. WooBall opened the scoring in the third on a Dakota Harris RBI-double and a run scored on an infield out. In the fifth, a Harris RBI-single made it 3-0 and three batters later a Gavin Noriega single scored two more. A Christian Siciliano run-scoring single made it 6-0 after the half-frame.
Norwich got two in the home half, but the Bravehearts got those runs back in the top of the sixth on RBI singles by Tayven Kelley and Sebastian Salado. The Sea Unicorns tried to make it a game with three runs in the late innings, but Wooball was able to hold on for the win. Croix Jenkins earned the victory in relief, striking out three of the six batters he faced.
Brockton was the visitor at the HIP on Saturday, and this writer’s first appearance at the ballpark this season. The Bravehearts obviously knew it was a special occasion and went out and won 4-2 to celebrate. WooBall got on the board first on Nic Britt‘s RBI single. After a third-inning Dakota Harris double Tayven Kelley tripled to right to score a run, and then scored on a Sebastian Salado sacrifice fly. In the sixth Zach DeMattio crushed a solo shot to left to make it 4-0. The Rox made a game of it with runs in the eighth and ninth, but Worcester held on for the 4-2 win.
Alex Amalfi improved his record to 2-1 with the victory, striking out six and allowing three hits in six innings. LJ Keevan tacked on a scoreless seventh inning.
WooBall went west on Sunday to face Pittsfield at Wahconah Park, and despite a late Bravehearts rally Worcester dropped a 4-2 contest. It was all Suns through eight as they took a 4-0 lead into the ninth, where WooBall managed to grab a couple runs on RBI singles by Kenny Mallory Jr. and Christian Siciliano before being retired by Pittsfield.
Bravehearts starter Tyler Nielsen needed just 5 pitches to retire the side in the bottom of the 3rd, tying the franchise record. He is the 5th WooBall pitcher to accomplish the feat.
210Sports’ Bravehearts of the week
Pitcher: Tyler Mudd is the winner this week, earning a win in two releif stints. He struck out seven and allowed just one hit in five innings of work.
Batter: Tayven Kelley gets the nod this week, going 7-25 with a double, triple, and two home runs. He had nine RBI and scored seven runs.
This week’s opponents
Monday off
Tuesday vs New Britain, 6:30pm
Wednesday at Brockton, 5pm
Thursday vs Nashua, 6:30pm
Friday vs Westfield, 6:30pm (Firework Friday)
Saturday at New Britain, 6:30pm
Sunday vs Nashua, 4pm
Tickets to Bravehearts home games can be purchased online or by calling (508) 438-3773.
Around the FCBL
Tuesday
@New Britain 7, Pittsfield 3
Vermont 5, @Nashua 3
@Norwhich 9, Westfield 1
Wednesday
@Brockton 10, New Britain 5 (8 innings, darkness)
@Norwich 6, Nashua 1
Thursday
Pittsfield 8, @Nashua 2
@Westfield 12, Brockton 2 (8 innings, mercy)
@Norwich 8, New Britain 2
Friday
@Pittsfield 9, Westfield 5 (game 1, 7 innings)
Westfield 9, @Pittsfield 6 (game 2, 8 innings)
@New Britain 13, Brockton 1 (7 innings, mercy)
@Nashua 3, Vermont 2 (10 innings)
Saturday
Westfield 8, @Vermont 3
@New Britain 7, Pittsfield 6
Nashua @ Norwich, pdd, rain
Sunday
@New Britain 5, Brockton 4 (game 1, 7 innings)
Brockton 11, @New Britain 0 (game 2, 7 innings)
Norwich 3, @Nashua 0
Westfield @ Vermont, late
For frequent updates on the Worcester Bravehearts follow @210Darryl on twitter.
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