The Worcester Bravehearts began their ninth summer campaign this past week looking to get off to a good start right out of the gate and wearing new jerseys WooBall overcame an opening night loss to end the week with a 2-1 record.
Thursday saw the Bravehearts open their season at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton against the Rox, but a slow start put them in a hole too deep to climb out of in an 8-4 loss. Down 5-0 entering the fourth Worcester got two runs on a Matt Livingston bases-loaded single followed by a Justin King RBI walk. They also scored two in the sixth off a passed ball and a Connor Peek RBI single. TJ Wachter scored two of the Bravehearts’ four runs.
It was the home opener for Worcester Friday as they took on Nashua at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, and it was all Bravehearts as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in 12-2 win. Andrew Chronister got Worcester on the board in the second inning when his bases-loaded fly ball was misplayed by the Silver Knights’ left field and two runs scored. Currently, Chronister is not listed as having an RBI on the play but scoring rules show he should get one for the muffed sacrifice fly. After an infield out scored another run Matty Warren doubled in the fourth run of the frame. He also wasn’t credited with an RBI. Hopefully, both scoring errors will be fixed.
In the third Cam Seymour crushed a solo home run to right, and in the sixth a Chronister RBI single and passed ball made it a 7-2 WooBall lead. In the seventh Worcester loaded the bases, and in one of the oddest things you’ll ever see in a baseball game, the Silver Knights’ pitcher threw three consecutive wild pitches to clear the bases. Later in the frame a passed ball and a Joe Pesce sacrifice fly made it the 12-2 final.
Tanner Smith earned the win, striking out eight in five innings while allowing just three hits and a run. Sean Scanlon (K), Axel Johnson (2K), and Seymour (3K) each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Rain got in the way of the rematch between the Bravehearts and Silver Knights in Nashua Saturday night, so Sunday it was back to the HIP as Worcester took on visiting Norwich. The Bravehearts weren’t hospitable hosts as they cruised to an 8-2 win over the Sea Unicorns.
Norwich got on the board first with a run in the top of the second, but in the home half WooBall all put the game away with a five-spot in the frame. Kosta Drosidis had the big hit of the inning with a bases-loaded double that scored three. After the Bravehearts loaded the bases again Gavin Noriega earned a painful RBI by being hit by a pitch and then Andrew Chronister walked to force in another run. In the sixth Worcester scored a run on a wild pitch, and after a Norwich run in the top of the seventh WooBall grabbed two in their half on a double-play ball and a Matty Warren single.
Clay Robbins earned the win with the five inning start, scattering four hits while allowing an unearned run while striking out three. Tyson Luna, Tommy Leimkuhler, Nate Novia, and Austin Stone all pitched a solid inning each.
210Sports’ Bravehearts of the week
Pitcher: Tanner Smith is the opening week winner, earning a win while striking out eight in five innings.
Batter: Andrew Chronister gets the nod this week, going 3-6 in two games while walking twice. He’s currently listed with two RBI but that should change to three, and scored two runs.
This week’s opponents
Monday vs Pittsfield, 1pm
Tuesday at New Britain, 10:30am
Wednesday vs Brockton, 6:30pm
Thursday at Norwich, 6:30pm
Friday at Norwich, 6:30pm
Saturday vs Brockton, 6:30pm
Sunday at Brockton, 1:30pm
Tickets to Bravehearts home games can be purchased online or by calling (508) 438-3773.
Around the FCBL
Thursday
@Westfield 6, Vermont 6 (WST wins HRD 2-1)
@Nashua 13, Pittsfield 7
Norwich 11, @New Britain 5
Friday
Brockton 4, @New Britain 4 (BRO wins HRD 5-3)
Westfield 10, @Vermont 7 (10 innings)
@Pittsfield 5, Norwich 4
Saturday
@Westfield 15, Pittsfield 2 (7 innings/mercy)
New Britain 5, @Vermont 3
Norwich @ Brockton, ppd, rain (7 innings/mercy)
Sunday
@Brockton 9, Nashua 6
@Vermont 7, New Britain 2
Westfield 14, @Pittsfield 3
For frequent updates on the Worcester Bravehearts follow @210Darryl on twitter.
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