Bravehearts

The Worcester Bravehearts fell 9-8 to the Nashua Silver Knights at Fitton Field in the first of two Baseball in Education games.

The loss drops Worcester to 7-4 while Nashua moves up to 4-7. 

Tuesday’s game, in front of a sellout crowd of 3,246, was the first of two “You-Choose-The-Rules” contests of the week. The game featured seven different kid-designed rule changes, including a fourth inning that featured a young fan in the outfield as a fourth outfielder, and batters getting pied in the face after striking out in the fifth. 

Worcester got the scoring started in the first inning. After Matty Warren (Palm Beach Atlantic) led off with a single and stole second, he advanced to third on a Kosta Drosidis (Anna Maria) flyout and scored on a Gavin Noriega (Marist) groundout. 

Nashua came back in the top of the fourth to take the lead. After Will MacLean (UMass) doubled, he scored on an RBI triple by Richie Paltridge (Penn State). Paltridge would come home on a groundout by Pat McConnell (Colby). 

A rally by Worcester in the bottom of the sixth gave the ‘Hearts a 4-2 lead. After Mark Darakjy (Northeastern) reached on a single, Warren got to first on an error, and Drosidis was hit by a pitch. A bases-loaded walk by Noriega scored Darakjy, and a two-run single by Cam Seymour (Southern Maine), put the Bravehearts up by two. 

In the home run derby, MacLean hit seven booming home runs for the Silver Knights to give Nashua a 9-4 lead. TJ Wachter (Fordham) hit four for the Bravehearts but came up one home run short as Worcester fell 9-8. 

The Bravehearts will be back at Fitton Field Wednesday morning for the second Baseball in Education game of the week, an exhibition against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.