SPRINGFIELD – Though Westfield came into Sunday afternoon’s fourth annual Summer Classic against the second-place Worcester Bravehearts on a five-game losing streak, the Starfires showed their hometown faithful their roster still consisted of heart and courage.
Despite being hitless through five innings of action, the Starfires countered by scoring eight combined runs between the seventh and eighth innings to set up a photo finish. The effort wasn’t enough, though, as Mason Bordelon ultimately snapped Westfield’s momentum with a run-scoring single at the top of the ninth inning to ensure the Bravehearts an eventual 11-8 win against the Starfires from Walker Memorial Grandstand at Forest Park.
“I thought today was an exciting game,” Starfires manager Paul Bonfiglio said. “I thought that it was another successful day here at Forest Park. It was beautiful here, and it’s really hard to beat this venue. And I thought that the game and its competitiveness and its kind of quirkiness. So it was a special opportunity for the community here in the Forest Park area of Springfield.”
It was a productive start for Worcester to begin the top of the first inning, as teammates Andrew Schmit earned a one-out walk before Benny Hess hit a single through first and second base to ensure the road team a runner in scoring position. And that proved essential, as Julian Mercado connected for a run-scoring single into right field before Jack Murray worked a bases-loaded walk that helped Mason Bordelon score from third to double the Bravehearts’ lead to 2-0.
Worcester was threatening for more in the top half, but Starfires starting pitcher Cam Fisher forced John Ramsey to chase a low pitch for the final out to ensure the Bravehearts stranded the bases loaded, but not before the road team recorded one walk and three combined hits to move ahead first.
Despite being hitless through five innings of action, the Starfires countered by scoring eight combined runs between the seventh and eighth innings to set up a photo finish. The effort wasn’t enough, though, as Mason Bordelon ultimately snapped Westfield’s momentum with a run-scoring single at the top of the ninth inning to ensure the Bravehearts an eventual 11-8 win against the Starfires from Walker Memorial Grandstand at Forest Park.
“I thought today was an exciting game,” Starfires manager Paul Bonfiglio said. “I thought that it was another successful day here at Forest Park. It was beautiful here, and it’s really hard to beat this venue. And I thought that the game and its competitiveness and its kind of quirkiness. So it was a special opportunity for the community here in the Forest Park area of Springfield.”
It was a productive start for Worcester to begin the top of the first inning, as teammates Andrew Schmit earned a one-out walk before Benny Hess hit a single through first and second base to ensure the road team a runner in scoring position. And that proved essential, as Julian Mercado connected for a run-scoring single into right field before Jack Murray worked a bases-loaded walk that helped Mason Bordelon score from third to double the Bravehearts’ lead to 2-0.
Worcester was threatening for more in the top half, but Starfires starting pitcher Cam Fisher forced John Ramsey to chase a low pitch for the final out to ensure the Bravehearts stranded the bases loaded, but not before the road team recorded one walk and three combined hits to move ahead first.
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