Bravehearts

Bristol, CT —  The heavy rain shortened the game on Wednesday night, but that did not stop the Worcester Bravehearts from stealing one on the road 8-5. Worcester got out to an early eight run lead, which kept the Blues chasing for the entire game.
 
Worcester batted around in the first inning to jump out to an early lead. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Brett Coffel hit a line drive single that ate up the left fielder, and with the ball going under his glove, it allowed for the bases to clear. Jon Hansen and Joe Pesce both had RBI singles up the middle into center field which brought the lead to 5-0.  
 
In the top of the third, after three walks in a row, Joe Pesce stepped in and doubled down the left field line which brought home two more runs. The next batter was Mariano Ricciardi, who sent a ball to deep center and dropped in for an RBI double, scoring the Bravehearts eighth run of the game.
 
The Blues got on the board in the bottom of the third. A one out single from Ian Ostberg, followed by a balk from pitcher Sebastian Gruszecki allowed Ostberg to move to second. Alex Loparco then doubled to left center which scored Ostberg. Patrick Winkle then singled which scored Loparco making the score 8-2. The Blues got three more back, two in the fourth and one in the third from the help of Ian Ostberg who went 3-3 with a two RBI single, and from Richard Brereton who had an RBI single in the fifth.
 
Sebastian Gruszecki got the win for Worcester, going three and a third, allowing four hits, four runs with only two being earned, and had four strike outs. Gruszecki battled the conditions to get out of some tough spots to get his defense off the field. Brenden Cournoyer then came into the game for an inning and helped keep the game in the Bravehearts hands. Cournoyer allowed three hits and just one run. With the Blues threatening and the rain pouring down with one out in the bottom of the fifth, Rob Cerulle came in and threw one pitch that resulted in a double play to end the inning. The umpires called the players off the field shortly after, giving the Bravehearts the win and Cerulle the save.
 
When asked how a big lead helps a pitcher’s mind set throughout the game, Gruszecki had some positive things to touch on. “It was great. The offense came out swinging which made it very easy to work with a big lead. I just had to trust the defense behind me, make my pitches and I knew I would be alright.” Said the Bravehearts starter.
 
Worcester is on the road again tomorrow June 28, 2018 at 6:30 pm as they take on the Pittsfield Suns. The Bravehearts are then back home Friday June 29 at 7:00 pm to face Pittsfield, followed by another home game Saturday June 30 at 7:00 pm as they take on the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.