Bravehearts

Worcester, MA – A three-run homerun off the bat of Sal Frelick in the top of the sixth inning – part of a four-run inning overall – gave North Shore a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game, as the Navigators topped the Bravehearts, 14-7, at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field on Saturday night.

The win snapped Worcester’s six-game winning streak.

The Bravehearts scored first and held a lead for most of the early innings. Edward Haus drove in Idelson Taveras with an RBI-single in the first inning to get on the board. Taveras finished 1-3 in his Bravehearts debut.

The Navigators (12-18) tied the game at one run apiece in the top of the third, but Worcester (17-14) regained the lead in the home half of the inning thanks to a Mack Cheli RBI-double. Worcester added to that lead the following inning. Paul Gozzo ripped an RBI-single to put Worcester on top, 3-1. Gozzo started behind the plate and finished his Bravehearts’ debut 2-4 with an RBI.

Each team scored a run in the fifth inning, but the floodgates opened in the sixth. Worcester’s Brenden Cournoyer came in to relieve Rob Cerulle. Cournoyer got the first two batters out before allowing back-to-back singles to Michael Wynne and Andrew Olszak. Corey DiLoreto followed with an RBI-single before the Frelick three-run bomb.

North Shore tacked on another five runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a two-run double from Olszak and a bases-clearing double from Joey Murphy. All five runs in that inning were charged to Peter Bovenzi.

Worcester tried to mount a comeback in the ninth with three runs, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

The lopsided middle innings spoiled a good start from Cerulle. The Worcester starter tossed five innings of three-hit baseball, allowing just one earned run. The righty walked two and struck out seven Navigators. North Shore starter Zach LeBlanc also went five innings, allowed four earned runs and ten hits, and struck out four.

Haus and Jack Gonzalez each finished with two hits for the Bravehearts. Frelick hit for the cycle, going 4-5 with five RBI. Dominic Keegan, Wynne, and Olszak recorded multi-hit performances as well for North Shore.

Cournoyer took the loss after giving up the lead in the sixth. North Shore’s Garret Keough picked up the win after taking over in the bottom of the sixth. Keough pitched three innings of scoreless relief.

Worcester has a day off on Sunday before hitting the road on Monday and Tuesday. The Bravehearts return home on Wednesday with a 10:30am first pitch versus Pittsfield.