Bravehearts

Worcester Takes Game One in the Vineyard

Bravehearts one game away from third FCBL title in five years 




 Oak Bluffs, MA - The Bravehearts traveled to Martha’s Vineyard on Friday night to take on the Sharks in game one of a best-of-three FCBL Championship series. Despite not having the lead until the seventh inning, Worcester was able to pull away with a 10-6 victory. 




The Sharks jumped on Worcester early, scoring two runs off of Henry Ennen in the first inning. It took the Bravehearts a while to get the scoring going, however they responded in the fourth inning. After a Brett Coffel walk, designated hitter Paul Gozzo lifted a two-run home run over the left field fence to tie the game at two. Gozzo finished the game 2 for 5 with 3 RBI. 




Just as the Bravehearts answered in the top of the inning, the Sharks answered in the bottom adding two more runs as Tate Hogan scored on a wild pitch, followed by Colin Shapiro scoring on a single off the bat of Nick Raposo. 




Once again Worcester was able to answer in the fifth. After Joe Pesce led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, Idelson Taveras singled. Mariano Ricciardi then laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt. The catcher Raposo then threw the ball away allowing Pesce to score and Taveras to advance to third. Edward Haus then singled to left allowing Taveras to score and tie the game. 




The Sharks took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a Colin Shapiro walk, Nick Raposo hit a double down the left field line, scoring Shapiro. 




The following inning, Worcester played catch-up and grabbed the lead right back. Back-to-back singles by Taveras and Ricciardi followed by a walk by Haus loaded the bases with no outs. Dustin Harris then grounded to Kolwyck at second who flipped to Hatheway at short for the force out. Hatheway then attempted to get Harris for the double play but threw wide-left of first base allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score for Worcester. The inning continued with a Brett Coffel single, followed by an RBI single by Paul Gozzo, increasing the lead to 7-5. With runners on first and second, Kirk Sidwell stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run, increasing the lead to 10-5. 




The Sharks scored another run in the seventh, and loaded the bases in the eighth but could not get anything else across. 




Worcester will return home tomorrow for game two of the FCBL Championship Series. With a win, Worcester will clinch their third FCBL title in five years. With a loss, Worcester will head back to the Vineyard on Sundaynight in a winner-take-all matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.