Box Score

HARTFORD, Connecticut (July 17, 2024) – In front of a rowdy crowd of 1,802 fans, the Westfield Starfires pitched their way to a 3-1 win against the Futures League Road Warriors in the inaugural Starfires Showdown at Dunkin Park in Hartford, Connecticut, home of the Hartford Yard Goats, on Wednesday, July 17.

Westfield is now 25-18-1, good for a Futures Collegiate Baseball League-high 51 standings points.

The Road Warriors jumped to an early 1-0 lead as Brett Baker beat out an infield single and Liam Foley followed with a hit to right to put men at the corners with no outs. The duo attempted a double steal, and though Foley was cut down at second by catcher Jayden Novak of the College of Charleston, the return throw home was late and Baker crossed safely for a 1-0 lead.

Westfield answered in the home half as the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s Luke Yuhasz sailed a double over the head of Marcus Ollivierre in left, advancing to third on a groundout before Washington State University’s Trey Cruz hit a fly to center field that Yuhasz was able to tag up and score on.

Three walks loaded the bases with two outs for the Road Warriors in the second, and with a 3-1 count to Baker, Long Island University hurler Mason Breton was in danger of giving up the go-ahead run, but was able to get Baker to bounce to first base to escape the jam.

Unlike the visiting side, the Starfires succeeded with the bases loaded in the second. Novak and Central Connecticut State University’s Jackson Haker both were hit by pitches, and Quinnipiac University’s Kyle Garbowski walked. Yuhasz hit a grounder up the middle that was too deep for the Road Warriors defense to find an out with, and Novak came home.

That was all Breton needed. He drew a 3-6-3 double play and a strikeout to face the minimum in the third, worked around a leadoff single in the fourth, and sat down the side in order cleanly in the fifth.

“It felt great. I’ve been working towards that for a long time,” Breton said, noting the “great plays in the field to keep me in the game…I’m glad that they have my back. It means I have more confidence and I can keep going right after them.”

The Starfires also added an insurance run in the fourth, as Novak doubled and then scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball.

In the sixth, manager Paul Bonfiglio turned to CJ Kuentzel, and the Iona University senior frustrated Road Warriors hitters. He closed the game out, throwing the final four innings with just two hits and a walk against a season-best five strikeouts. That total is the most for Kuentzel against collegiate-level competition since a seven-strikeout showing at Canisius University for Iona on April 2, 2023.

After the game, Central Connecticut State’s Gianno Merlonghi noted how great the environment was.

“It was special to be able to play at a stadium like that today. The fans were awesome. It’s always nice to play close to home – and win,” he said.

Breton added, “It’s a great field. It’s an honor to be here and play on this field.”

The Starfires hit the road officially on Thursday, July 18 when they visit the Brockton Rox. The team’s next home game is Friday, July 26, also against the Road Warriors.