Bravehearts

Leominster, MA— Jack Steele pitched 4.2 innings of two-run baseball and three Braveheart players hit home runs to give Worcester a 9-6 win over Westfield on Ring Day at Doyle Field. Bravehearts players, coaches and staff received their 2019 Futures Collegiate Baseball League Championship rings. 

Worcester struck first in the opening frame. After EJ Exposito reached on an error by the third baseman, Ben McNeill laced a two-out single up the middle to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. The Bravehearts would add three more runs in the second inning. With two runners on, Danny Torres singled to give the Bravehearts their second run. After Exposito grounded out, Ben Rice singled to left, scoring Torres and Paul Coumoulos. 

Westfield got on the board in the fifth inning. Michael DeMartino led the inning off with a solo home run.  After Steele walked two batters, Eric Callahan singled to score Braydon Seaburg and make it a 4-2 ball game. Aidan Wilde responded for the Bravehearts in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run. 

 In the top half of the sixth, the Bravehearts pitching staff walked five batters and walked in two runs to make the score 5-4 in favor of Worcester. Exposito hit a solo shot in the bottom half of the frame to extend the Worcester lead. 

Westfield cut the lead to one in the 7^th. With runners on the corners, Brad Marchetti balked and Johnny Tuccillo scored to make it a 6-5 game. However, Zachary DeMattio hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give Worcester a 9-5 lead. It was DeMattio’s first home run as a Braveheart. 

Steele picked up the win for Worcester. He went 4.2 innings, giving up two earned runs off of just two hits. He struck out eight. The loss went to Izaiya Mastre of Westfield, who gave up five runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings pitched, walking one and striking out two. Will Hesslink earned the save, tossing a scoreless ninth while striking out one. 

With the win, Worcester improves to 18-10 on the season, while the Starfires fall to 13-17. The Bravehearts have the day off tomorrow before continuing play on Tuesday in Westfield against the Starfires. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm.