The Worcester Bravehearts took to the road for five of their six contests last week and all was going well until the weekend came where WooBall was outscored 14-3 and suddenly had issues getting opposing batters out.
It was off to Campanelli Stadium in Brockton Tuesday for a match-up against the Rox, and the Bravehearts came out of the gates flying and never looked back in a 7-3 win. Worcester got on the board first with a run on a double-play ball and in the third Gavin Noriega‘s sacrifice fly made it 2-0. In the fourth Cam Seymour doubled that lead with a two-run blast to right field.
Brockton would score three runs in the fifth to make it 4-3. Kosta Drosidis‘ sac fly in the seventh gave WooBall a little breathing room, and in the ninth, the Bravehearts would add runs on a double-play ball and a wild pitch for the 7-3 final. Jack Sefrino would get the win, striking out five. Sean Scanlon earned a three-inning save.
The Sea Unicorns were the hosts on Wednesday as WooBall made the trek to Dodd Stadium, and used a three-run eighth inning to defeat Norwich 4-2. A Jake Marquez RBI single in the fifth put Worcester up 1-0, but the Sea Unicorns would grab a two run lead after seven frames. Norwich played some Bad News Bears defense in the eighth, with Gavin Noriega reaching second on a single and an error.
Two batters later Lewis Barnum‘s attempted sacrifice bunt was misplayed, scoring Noriega. WooBall added a run on a misplayed double-play attempt, and three batters later Matty Warren walked with the bases loaded to make it the 4-2 final. Jared Kapurch earned the win in relief.
On Thursday the Bravehearts went west to take on Westfield at Bullens Field, and just completely overwhelmed the Starfires 10-2. It was scoreless through three when Cam Seymour doubled and scored on David Pedanou RBI single in the fourth. With two on the fifth Sal Grinstead ripped a single to right that Westfield misplayed into two more Worcester runs.
Sebastian Mexico earned an RBI in the sixth with a single, with the Starfires botching another play allowing a second run to score. Jake Marquez‘s sacrifice fly then made it 6-0. In the seventh TJ Wachter added a sac fly of his own, and Grinstead earned an RBI for a single to right in the eighth. Westfield would grab a couple runs in the ninth for the 10-2 final.
Kyle Rizy earned his first FCBL win, scattering five hits over six innings while striking out ten. Axel Johnson pitched well in relief, allowing just one hit in two innings while fanning three.
The two squads met again Friday at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, where Worcester jumped out to a pretty big lead and then held off a Westfield comeback to win 7-5. Back to back doubles by Sal Grinstead and Jake Marquez in the third opened the scoring for the Bravehearts. Three batters later Lewis Barnum singled in a run, and then David Pedanou doubled him home.
After a Starfires run in the top of the fifth Worcester answered back with three of their own in the home half, with a Barnum double scoring two. Two batters later Andrew Chronister tacked on a sacrifice fly. In the sixth, the teams exchanged runs, with WooBall’s coming on a Grinstead RBI single. Westfield made it 7-5 putting up three in the eighth, but that was as close as they’d get.
Tanner Smith improved his record to 2-1 with a seven-inning win, striking out eight. Austin Stone earned the save with a perfect ninth inning, throwing just five pitches.
Worcester was riding a four-game winning streak into Wahconah Park in Pittsfield Saturday, and unfortunately left on a one-game skid after WooBall was burned by the Suns 6-1. The Bravehearts’ lone run came in the top of the sixth on a Kosta Drosidis RBI single.
Sunday was a trip south to New Britain Stadium to take on the Bees, and the Bravehearts were sailing right along until the eighth inning when they surrendered eight runs to end up losing 8-2. Andrew Chronister got WooBall on the board in the fourth with an RBI double, and in the fifth Lewis Barnum doubled in a second run. It stayed 2-0 until the eighth when the wheels fell off for Worcester. Joe Hauser got the start for the Bravehearts and was outstanding, scattering three hits over five innings while striking out eight.
210Sports’ Bravehearts of the week
Pitcher: Kyle Rizy is the winner for the second week in a row, winning his one start while not allowing a run and striking out ten in six innings.
Batter: Sal Grinstead gets the nod this week, going 9-21 with four doubles. He also walked twice, had two RBI, stole two bases, and scored three runs.
This week’s opponents (Schedule subject to change)
Monday off
Tuesday at New Britain, 6:30pm
Wednesday at Westfield, 6:30pm
Thursday at Norwich, 6:30pm
Friday at New Britain, 6:30pm
Saturday at Norwich, 6:30pm
Sunday vs Brockton, 4pm
Tickets to Bravehearts home games can be purchased online or by calling (508) 438-3773.
Around the FCBL
Tuesday
@New Britain 7, Nashua 6
@Pittsfield 4, Vermont 1
@Norwich 9, Westfield 6
Wednesday
Vermont 10, @Pittsfield 8
@new Britain 8, Nashua 7
@Brockton 3, Westfield 2
Thursday
@Nashua 11, Brockton 7
@Vermont 10, Norwich 4
@Pittsfield 5, New Britain 1
Friday
@Nashua 1, New Britain 1 (HRD, Nashua 3-1)
@Vermont 11, Norwich 1 (7 innings, mercy)
Pittsfield 9, @Brockton 7
Saturday
@New Britain 13, Vermont 12 (8 innings, rain)
Nashua 6, @Westfield 3 (7 innings, rain)
Norwich 10, Brockton 5
Sunday
@Nashua 5, Pittsfield 0
Westfield 14, @Brockton 5
Vermont 9, @Norwich 5
For frequent updates on the Worcester Bravehearts follow @210Darryl on twitter.
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