Bravehearts

The Worcester Bravehearts rallied to beat the Norwich Sea Unicorns 9-8 in Wednesday’s “You-Choose-The-Rules” exhibition at Fitton Field. 

Wednesday’s contest was the second “You-Choose-The-Rules” game of 2022, featuring seven more rules across seven innings of play, along with a home run derby after the seventh inning. 

In front of 3,385 fans, both Norwich and Worcester scored a run apiece in the first inning on steals of home, which saw pitchers and hitters throw with their opposite hand and bat in the opposite stance. 

After a scoreless second inning, the Sea Unicorns rallied to score two runs in the top of the third, when each batter started their plate appearance with a 3-2 count. The Bravehearts scored a run in the bottom half of the frame to make the score 3-2. 

The Sea Unicorns extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs while playing kickball. 

The Bravehearts took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth thanks to five runs in their portion of the “rock-paper-scissors inning,” including a Ben Smith (Worcester State) inside-the-park home run in which he won rock-paper-scissors to score the go-ahead run. 

Norwich rallied to score two runs in the top of the seventh inning, and the two teams entered the game-deciding home run derby tied 8-8. 

After Norwich was unable to muster anything in its half of the derby, Cam Seymour (Southern Maine) hit the only home run the Bravehearts would need, powering them to the 9-8 win. 

The Bravehearts return to Fitton Field tomorrow evening for a Thursday night matchup with the Vermont Lake Monsters. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30.