Bravehearts

Worcester, MA – The Bravehearts and the Starfires each hit two homeruns apiece Friday night, but dingers off the bat of Riley Livingston and Ben McNeill gave Worcester life in the middle innings as the ‘Hearts powered past Westfield 7-4.

The Starfires (6-18) scored first with two runs in the fourth inning, but the Bravehearts (11-12) immediately cut the deficit in half thanks to the Livingston homer. The solo shot to left field was the catcher’s first of the season.

Two innings later with Worcester on top 4-3, McNeill gave the Bravehearts some breathing room. John Thrasher reached on an error, and for the second consecutive game, McNeill went yard to left to extend the Worcester lead to 6-3.

In between the two homeruns, Worcester scored three runs in the fifth inning. Thrasher led off the inning with a double and later scored on a Mack Cheli single. Tyler Becker followed with a double, setting runners up on second and third. Cheli and Becker would both score on a Paul Coumoulos single.

The homeruns for Westfield came in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively. Thomas Joyce went yard in the sixth inning, and his teammate Devin Kellogg followed suit in the eighth. Westfield scored in the fourth thanks to two singles from Joyce and Danny Crossen, who both later scored on a Tommy Quinn two-RBI double.

Overall, Worcester racked up 15 hits. McNeill finished 3 for 5, and Cheli, Coumoulos and Becker all recorded a multi-hit day as well. Joyce was the star for the Starfires with a 3 for 4 showing.

Angelo Baez picked up the win for the Bravehearts. The righty tossed five innings of two-run baseball while striking out ten. Stephen Fleury lasted just 4.1 innings the Starfires and allowed four runs. Bryce Hellgeth picked up the save for Worcester with a scoreless ninth inning.

Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field and the FCBL welcomed the two millionth fan to attend a game in league history. Among other prizes, Ryan Carroll and his family received an all-expense paid trip to this year’s All-Star game in Pittsfield.

Worcester wraps up the home stand tomorrow night versus Bristol. The Bravehearts will commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Brady Bunch with a Fuzzy Bunch Mascot t-shirt for the first 500 fans. First pitch is at 7pm.