The Worcester Bravehearts sent thousands of kids home this week excited to have seen a baseball game, but in the standings they weren’t quite as successful as they had their first losing week of the 2022 campaign.
Tuesday was the first of two Baseball in Education morning games for the Bravehearts, and the Nashua Silver Knights were the visitor. While they used a different modified rule for each inning it was still baseball all the way through, with the game counting in the standings. Unfortunately it ended in in a 9-8 loss for WooBall.
Worcester got on the board first with a run on an infield out in the home half of the opening inning, and in the fourth frame, Nashua scored two to take the lead. The Bravehearts followed with three in the sixth, starting with a bases-loaded walk by Gavin Noriega. Three batters later Cam Seymour ripped an infield single that scored two to make it a 4-2 game.
One of the rules for the game was there would be a metal bat home run derby at the end of the seventh, with the runs counting to determine the final score. The Silver Knights out-homered Worcester to win the game 9-8.
They were all exhibition games in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Wednesday, with WooBall hosting Norwich. The Bravehearts tweeted some photos of the action, which might give you some idea as to why the game didn’t count in the standings. Based on social media posts, the kids absolutely loved it.
Vermont was the visitor at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field Thursday and the high-flying Lake Monsters came out of the gates quickly and the Bravehearts never recovered in a 6-4 loss. Down 3-0 after a half-inning Worcester got one back in the home half on a TJ Wachter RBI single.
It was 5-1 in the sixth when David Pedanou drove in WooBall’s second run with a single, and in the seventh Mark Darakjy homered and Matty Warren scored on an infield out to make it 5-4. Vermont grabbed an insurance run in the eighth for the 6-4 final.
Norwich was in town Friday night and Wooball pitchers Tanner Smith, Tyson Luna, and Sean Scanlon heald the Sea Unicorns to just two hits, but unfortunately the Worcester bats were nowhere to be found in a 1-0 loss. Joe Pesce had two of the Bravehearts four hits.
Saturday was Worcester Tornadoes night at the HIP, with the Bravehearts donning Tornadoes jerseys in their contest against the Pittsfield Suns, and for the first time since August 3, 2019 WooBall walked off with a win when TJ Wachter‘s 10th inning bases-loaded single drove in the game-winner for the 8-7 victory.
Wachter’s first-inning single got the Bravehearts on the board early, and after Pittsfield tied it in the third Worcester put up a four-spot to take a 5-1 lead. After a run on an infield out Jake Marquez laced a double to left to score two, and two batters later Andrew Chronister tacked on a sacrifice fly. The Suns would go on to grab the next six runs of the contest to take a 7-5 lead after the top of the eighth.
In the home half of the frame, WooBall tied it on another Chronister sac fly and a Kosta Drosidis RBI single. After having the winning run thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth Worcester loaded the bases in the tenth, setting up Wachter’s heroics.
New Britain was at the HIP to close out Worcester’s six-game homestand, and the Bees scored early and WooBall never got on track in dropping Sunday’s contest 5-1. The Bravehearts’ lone run came in the fourth inning off a Joe Pesce RBI double.
210Sports’ Bravehearts of the week
Pitcher: Kyle Rizy gets the nod, striking out four while scattering three hits over five innings. He did not allow an earned run in two outings.
Batter: Jake Marquez gets the win this week, going 4-10 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBI in three games. He also stole two bases.
This week’s opponents (Schedule subject to change)
Monday off
Tuesday at Brockton, 7:30pm
Wednesday at Norwich, 6:30pm
Thursday at Westfield, 6:30pm
Friday vs Westfield, 6:30
Saturday at Pittsfield, 6pm
Sunday at new Britain, 1:30pm
Tickets to Bravehearts home games can be purchased online or by calling (508) 438-3773.
Around the FCBL
Tuesday
@New Britain 8, Brockton 2
@Westfield 8, Norwich 1
@Vermont 8, Pittsfield 7 (10 innings)
Wednesday
All games exhibition
Thursday
@Norwich 8, Nashua 4
@Westfield 7, Pittsfield 5
New Britain @ Brockton, ppd, field conditions
Friday
@Pittsfield 5, Westfield 3
@New Britain 12, Nashua 4
Vermont 7, @Brockton 1
Saturday
@Vermont 5, Nashua 4
New Britain 4, Norwich 2
Westfield 8, Brockton 4
Sunday
@Westfield 12, Pittsfield 5
@Norwich 7, Brockton 5
@Vermont 9, Nashua 5
For frequent updates on the Worcester Bravehearts follow @210Darryl on twitter.
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