Bravehearts

Oak Bluffs, MA – In a game that saw the Worcester Bravehearts and the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks combine to issue twenty-three free passes via walk or hit batsmen, it was the Bravehearts who prevailed with a 17-11 win that lasted almost four hours. With the win, Worcester improves to 14-13 on the season and gets its first victory against the Sharks in 2018 after dropping the previous four contests.

Northeastern’s Kyle Angel got the start for Worcester, going an inning and a third while surrendering three runs (two earned) on three hits, three hit batters, and one walk. Holy Cross’ Rob Stone and SUNY-Albany’s Brenden Cournoyer each tossed an inning and a third, with Stone giving up four runs on one hit, three walks, and two hit batters, and Cournoyer giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk.

Florida Gulf Coast’s Sebastian Gruszecki, typically a starter, provided some stability on the mound for the Bravehearts, pitching four innings while surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits, a walk, and an error charged to first baseman Mack Cheli (Chapman), en route to picking up the win. U-Mass Lowell’s Kendall Pomeroy would finish the game off by working a perfect ninth and picking up two strikeouts.
           
As the game developed into a slug-fest, the Worcester offense was able to answer the call by posting seventeen runs. The Bravehearts’ offensive assault was led by Kirk Sidwell (Stetson), Jon Hansen (West Chester), Michael Dellicarri (SUNY-Oswego), Brett Coffel (St. Leo), and Eddie Haus (St. Mary’s College). Sidwell was 2-5 with a three-run homerun in the second that gave Worcester a 3-1 lead at the time. Hansen was 1-5 with a bases-clearing double in the fourth that gave the Bravehearts a 10-7 lead. Dellicarri went 3-6 with 4 RBIs and had a seventh inning homerun that gave the Bravehearts a 13-11 lead that would not be relinquished. Coffel would put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, sending a three-run homer over the fence in left-center to extend the lead to 17-11. Haus finished 2-3 with two singles and three walks, reaching base five times and coming around to score each time. His five runs scored in a single game sets a Worcester Bravehearts franchise record.
            
The Bravehearts are back in action on Wednesday, July 4 against the Nashua Silver Knights for a 1:05 game at Hanover Insurance Park. Worcester will look to extend its win streak to five games.