Box Score

NORWICH, Connecticut  (June 10, 2023) – The Westfield Starfires scrapped for a 10-inning, 3-2 win over the Norwich Sea Unicorns at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut on Saturday, June 10 in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action.

Westfield is now 9-8 on the season.

Back-to-back singles by Ray Leonzi and Matthew Bucciero put two on for the hosts in the second inning, and though the next two batters struck out, Dean Ferrara singled to bring Leonzi home on an 0-2 pitch. However, Bucciero was thrown out trying to take third on the hit to end the inning.

The teams traded runs in the fifth. Ryan Molinari worked a walk, and Owen Arias followed with an infield single. Molinari advanced on a groundout, and then scored on a wild pitch. However, Norwich scored on a bases-loaded hit batsman to put Norwich back ahead 2-1.

That lead was short-lived. Josh Frometa was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth, and then went first-to-third on a stolen base and error as the pickoff throw sailed into the outfield. Nick Serce then singled on a flare over the infield, plating American International College student-athlete and Chicopee native Frometa to draw the score level.

The game remained tied through regulation as the Westfield bullpen was able to shut down the opposition; Westfield State University’s Joe Espinola went three frames, scattering two hits before giving way to Ryan Robb, who navigated past a one-out Zack Kovalchik double to force extras.

In the 10th frame, Western New England University’s Aaron Cole drew a one-out walk, and Michael Breen followed with a single to put men on the corners. That brought AIC’s Kiernan Caffrey to the dish, and the first pitch to him bounced in front of home plate and rolled to the backstop, allowing Cole to score the go-ahead run.

Caffrey also figured prominently in the bottom of the inning. After Zachary Zyons was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Johnny Knox came to the plate and drove the first pitch to left field. Caffrey snared the sinking liner and fired a strike back to first, doubling off Zyons. Two batters later, Robb caused Leonzi to fly out to center, ending the game in a Westfield win.

The Starfires return to the Pioneer Valley on Sunday, June 11 at 5:00 p.m. to face the Brockton Rox at the Richards Jewelers Diamond at Billy Bullens Field.