Bravehearts

New Britain, CT - A grand slam from Tyler Patane (Franklin Pierce) in the third inning was the highlight of Worcester’s 8-5 win as they were able to defeat the Bees in New Britain. Two walks to Danny Torres (Saint Leo) and Aiden Wilde (Stonehill), and a single by Ben Rice loaded the bases for Patane who blasted a shot out to right field to give Worcester a 5-1 lead at the time.

It was Rice (Dartmouth) who jump-started the Worcester offense with a solo home run in the first inning. With the home run, Rice extended his league-lead in the category with nine, as well as carrying a streak of now three consecutive games with a home run, tying the Bravehearts all-time record in that category. 

In the bottom of the second another chapter of the odd 2020 season was written. Because of the recent storm Isaias, which took out the left field wall of New Britain Stadium, there was a make-shift fence 15 feet in-front of the debris. With one out and a runner on first, Matthew Donlan hit a deep fly ball to the make-shift fence. Donnie Cahoon (Hartford) leaped to make the catch, and crashed into it, taking a piece of the new fence down with him. Because Cahoon was ruled out of play, Noah Martinez who was on first, advanced to second. Derek Tenney then singled home Martinez to tie the game at 1. 

After the grand slam, the team tacked on one more in the fourth after Trevor Johnson (Dartmouth) tripled and was brought home by an EJ Exposito (NYIT) single. 

The Bees added a run in the eighth but could not get anything else in the inning. A sac fly by Martinez scored Ryan Bagdasarian to make the score 6-2. 

The Bravehearts got some insurance in the top of the ninth with two sacrifice flies off the bats of Rice and Patane scoring Torres and Exposito to give them an 8-2 lead. The Bees comeback attempt in the ninth ultimately fell short as Jakob Barker (Valdosta) slammed the door to earn the save after relieving Brad Marchetti (Tufts) for an 8-5 final.

For Worcester, it was Christopher Mott getting the win going four innings giving up four hits three walks and one run while striking out six.

The Bravehearts return home to face the Starfires tomorrow. They then go on the road Saturday to face the Rox at 1 pm. That Saturday matinee will be broadcasted on NESN. Worcester will be back at Doyle Field on Sunday with their 2019 championship ring ceremony coming prior to their 4pm start.