Fans packed into Bullens Field on Friday, August 8 hoping to hear Boston Bruins Anthem Performer Todd Angilly sing the Star-Spangled Banner and see Boston Red Sox legend Jonathan Papelbon throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
They got that, seven more pitches from the 2007 World Series Champion, and a thrilling game ultimately decided by a hometown player who has become synonymous with the franchise, as Josh Frometa’s seventh-inning solo shot was the difference in a 4-3 Westfield Starfires win over the Nashua Silver Knights.
Westfield improves to 17-41-2 on the season, while the Silver Knights drop to 23-36-0.
A few in the crowd might have picked up that something was brewing when Papelbon was introduced for his first pitch to the tune of Dirty Water by The Standells. Appropriate though it was as the victory song for Boston teams, it was not Shipping Up To Boston, his normal entrance song.
But after his initial pitch and Angilly’s Anthem showing, the familiar notes of the Dropkick Murphy’s tune played, and Papelbon jogged back out to the mound, turning an autograph session into his Starfires debut.
Nashua sent their lone player connected to Western Massachusetts to the plate to face Papelbon, American International College’s Cole Patterson. The Yellow Jackets center fielder worked a walk against Papelbon, and Keene State University’s Tommy Ahlers followed by hitting an 0-1 pitch on a line to left field.
Starfires Manager Paul Bonfiglio made a call to the bullpen, bringing on Nolan Geisler. The UMass-Lowell River Hawk plunked the first hitter he faced to load the bases with no outs, then, imitating Papelbon in his prime, promptly escaped, inducing a shallow popout and then striking out the next two hitters, blowing them both away with fastballs to leave the bases loaded.
The score remained empty until the third, when Ahlers hit a one-out single, stole second, and came around on Jack Kidwell’s base hit to right.
That lead lasted until just past the midpoint of the game. Otis Follet, also of Keene State, led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, and Boston College’s Ben Williams then slashed a single to left. Columbia University’s Jimmy Chadwell then walked as well, loading the bases for Frometa.
Nashua made a move to the bullpen, bringing on Nick Willand. As with the prior night, the move was no help. Frometa lined a 1-1 offering into left, scoring Follet and Williams. Chadwell, who advanced to third, later scored on a passed ball to give the Starfires a 3-1 edge.
Scott Donahue pulled Nashua within one in the next frame with a solo home run, a line drive just to the left of the Bullens Field scoreboard. Westfield nearly countered, as Iona University’s Cole Silvia walked and stole second, and Follet followed with a single to center, but Brenden Walsh’s throw home beat Silvia to the dish, keeping the game 3-2.
Walsh then tied the game up, leading off the seventh with a perfect bunt single. He took second on a wild pitch and came home as Ahlers smacked his fourth hit of the night, a single to center.
In the home half, Charlie Cariello took the hill for the visitors. He was able to strike out the first two men he faced, but Frometa came through with the heroics, launching his fourth home run of the season over the left-field fence and putting the Starfires back on top.
The bullpen handled business from there. New York University’s Tyler Tedeschi sat down the side in order in the eighth for the hold, and Boston College’s John Mass put away pinch hitter Patrick Shrake, the FCBL’s batting average leader, on the first pitch before striking out Walsh and getting Ahlers to pop out to end the game.
Geisler fanned a season-best 10 in 5.1 innings of work. Sullivan Quirk, out of Western New England University, allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in grabbing the win.
Westfield closes the 2025 season on Saturday, August 9 with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early for the team’s end-of-season awards ceremony. It will also be Host Family Night, and additionally the Starfires are partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for a Mental Health Awareness Night. A 50/50 raffle at the game will benefit AFSP.
