Bravehearts

Sharks Stay Alive With Win Over Bravehearts

Bravehearts Will Head to Vineyard for Game 3

 

 

Martha’s Vineyard scored four runs over the course of the first three innings, and that was enough as Sharks defeated the Bravehearts, 4-2, in Game Two of the FCBL Championship series at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field on Sunday afternoon.

 

The Sharks were hot from the get-go. Tyler Wincig and Matt Oldham reached base with one out in the top of the first. Kellen Hatheway popped out for the second out, but Worcester’s starter Makenzie Stills could not get out of the inning. Jackson Raper doubled home one run, followed by a Nick Raposo two-run single to account for three runs overall.

 

Martha’s Vineyard scored again in the third inning. Three straight singles from Raposo, Luke Hartman, and Tate Kolwyck plated another run for the Sharks. That third inning was the last for Stills. The right-hander took the loss allowing four runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out five.

 

Worcester’s offense was very quiet with the exception of a few small outbursts. In the bottom of the second inning, Bravehearts’ catcher Brett Coffel unloaded on a Bryan Ketchie offering and sent it over the left field fence, which at the time cut the deficit to just two runs. The Bravehearts scored again in the seventh inning thanks to a Kirk Sidwell RBI-single that scored Coffel, who reached earlier in the inning on an infield single.

 

Ketchie started but only pitched two innings for Martha’s Vineyard. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one. Devon Dimascio threw five solid innings of relief. Dimascio allowed one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked one. Matt Mikulski picked up the two-inning save, striking out three along the way.

 

The Bravehearts bullpen was impressive after Stills exited. Sebastian Gruszecki pitched four scoreless innings despite walking four batters. Tyler Patane struck out six in just two innings of work.

Worcester recorded just five hits all game. Coffel and Sidwell each had two apiece, while Edward Haus recorded the only other base knock for the Bravehearts. All but two Sharks had a hit. Raposo led the way with a 2-5 showing and two RBI.

 

The 2018 FCBL Championship comes down to a Game Three tomorrow. The series shifts back to Martha’s Vineyard again for a 7 o’clock first pitch. Worcester won Game One on the road Friday night, and the teams each won two games at the Shark Tank during the regular season.