Box Score

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (July 6, 2022) – The Westfield Starfires used dominant pitching to defeat the New Britain Bees 4-1 in a Futures Collegiate Baseball League matchup on Wednesday night.

With the win, the Starfires move to 18-17 on the season.

Westfield had a chance to take the lead early in the game, as they had two on and one out after a pair of second-inning walks, but a great throw from Teddy Schoenfeld in left field cut a runner down at home after Noah Campanelli singled through the left side.

The Bees likewise squandered a chance to take the lead; they filled the bases with no outs in the fourth, only to leave empty handed thanks to a popout and a double play.

The Starfires’ half of the inning finally featured runs. Jack Power walked, and Daniel Burnett singled before Power advanced on a flyout and Burnett stole second. Both runners then came home to score on a double to left by Brendan Jones, making the score 2-0 Starfires.

“With one out the whole plan is to see something in the zone you can get in the air and get an RBI. I took a couple pitches away; I was kind of looking in that area and I was able to get a hanging curveball that I put in the gap,” Jones said about his double.

The Bees reloaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but John DiGirolamo struck out the next two batters before Justin Emanuel was brought in and induced a grounder to second to end the threat.

In the sixth inning, Bullens Magic was in full effect as the Starfires doubled their lead. Gunnar Johnson doubled on a line drive off the left-center field wall, Jones walked, and Noah Campanelli singled to load the bases for Nicholas Alonso. Alonso hit a ball toward third that was just out of the reach of the third baseman, and although he was able to get a force out at second, that allowed Johnson to score. Jones also came in after the throw from second back to the plate went awry, giving the Starfires a 4-0 lead.

The Bees were able to get one run across in the top of the ninth when Joel Lara hit a two-out single to drive in Craig Corliss, but despite breaking the shutout and bringing the tying run to the plate, the lone run was all they scored.

Starfires starting pitcher Max Moss cruised through three innings, only giving up two hits and one walk with two strikeouts. DiGirolamo pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, walking four and striking out two batters. Emanuel pitched 1.1 innings, only allowing one hit. Tim Krol pitched two innings, allowing one hit, and struck out four batters. Audet pitched the ninth inning, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout.

The Starfires will close out the week on the road with four games, first facing the Pittsfield Suns at Wahconah Park tomorrow evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

“Going into any ballpark and getting a win is tough so being able to do what we do at home is huge for us. We definitely have our work cut out for us, but I think we’ll be able to do it,” Jones said about the upcoming road trip.

For the latest on the team, be sure to follow the Starfires on Twitter and Instagram @starfiresbb, and visit us on the web at westfieldstarfires.com.