FCBL Worcester Bravehearts

Bravehearts Win Thriller in Extras

June 24, 2016 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Worcester Bravehearts News Release


Wachusett, Mass. - In what began as a slow, minimal offense game, fans certainly saw their fair share of offense by the end of this long night in Wachusett, Mass. at Doyle Field. In what turned into a late game, extra innings thriller, the Bravehearts saw their bats come alive late to secure the 8-7 win in 12 innings, putting them at 13-5 on the season. For the Bravehearts, we saw starting pitcher Eric Close (West Chester/Berwyn, PA) take the mound and secure the win, while Wachusett's Nick Hornbaker (Lock Haven University/Lancaster, PA) took the L.

With minimal offense early in the game, the Bravehearts were handed a couple lucky breaks with two Dirt Dawg errors in the first three innings, but neither led to a run. The Dirt Dawgs led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and a walk, leaving runners on first and second. A fielder's choice ground out would send one runner across the plate, and after a steal by Wachusett to put a man in scoring position, a poor throw by catcher Nick Rybarczyk (Marist/Chicago, IL) would put the Dirt Dawgs up 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth.

Just moments after his miscue, Rybarczyk would redeem himself with a leadoff single to start the fifth inning. Bravehearts outfielder Joe Mercandante (LIU Brooklyn/Feeding Hills, MA) would follow with a double, putting runners on second and third, allowing a Tom Walraven (New Haven/Thompson Ridge, NY) groundout to send a runner home, cutting the lead to 2-1.

After three straight walks to start the sixth inning, the Bravehearts would call on pitcher Tyler Lonestar (St. Mary's/Danville, CA) with the bases loaded with no outs. After two sac fly RBI's to extend the lead to 4-1, the Bravehearts would get just what they need, a Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce/Auburn, MA) solo home run, cutting the lead to 4-2. The Bravehearts would continue to cut away at the lead as another Tom Walraven RBI cuts the lead to 4-3 Dirt Dawgs in the top of the sixth.

With the Bravehearts walking the bases loaded for the second time tonight to start the seventh, the Dirt Dawgs would cash in on another run with a sac fly, putting the lead back up to two at the end of the seventh. Then, in the eighth, the Bravehearts' bats really came to life as an Austin Lonestar (St. Mary's/Danville, CA) single would set up Rybarczyk for the huge two run homerun to tie the game. Then, Mercadante steps up to the plate and continues his hot night with another Bravehearts homerun, putting them up 6-5 after back-to-back dingers.

After a short lead had the Bravehearts feeling confident, a solo homerun for the Dirt Dawgs in the bottom of the eighth would even the score again, 6-6. As both teams fail to score in the ninth, we're headed to extras here in Wachusett. In the top of the eleventh, Mike Coggeshall (Assumption/Shrewsbury, MA) smacks a two out double to extend his hitting streak to twelve games. Austin Lonestar would then follow him up with a massive RBI triple, putting the Bravehearts on top 7-6. But, the Dirt Dawgs would quickly come back with a run of their own in the bottom of the eleventh, sending this game to the twelfth inning tied at 7.

The Bravehearts start the twelfth off with a leadoff walk for Joe Mercadante, and a perfect sac bunt by Tom Walraven quickly puts a runner in scoring position. Matt Rothenberg (Harvard/Boca Raton, FL) then steps to the plate and slaps a base hit right up the middle scoring the run from second. After a leadoff hit for the Dirt Dawgs to start the bottom of the twelfth, a line out and two quick strikeouts from pitcher Baylor LaPointe (LIU Brooklyn/Amston, CT) will finally put this game to rest, with the Bravehearts winning 8-7.



Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2016


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