The Futures League

 

June 4, 2018

 

The 2018 Futures League Season Opening weekend concluded with four great games across the league. The Worcester Bravehearts welcomed the Pittsfield Suns to Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. The Nashua Silver Knights faced the Brockton Rox at Holman Stadium and the North Shore Navigators headed to Muzzy Field to play a doubleheader versus the Bristol Blues.

 

The Worcester Bravehearts welcomed the Pittsfield Suns to Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. The Worcester Bravehearts were led by a solid outing from starting pitcher Patrick Gallagher (Wagner) who pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 unearned runs, with 4 strike-outs in the victory. The Bravehearts scored 1 run in each of the first innings to put them ahead 4-0. Then the Suns put a run on the board following a couple of errors from the Bravehearts and Jack Culumovic (College of Charleston) scored the Suns only run. The Bravehearts’ offense was led by Derek Adamson (Assumption College) who went 1-for-2 with a homerun and 2 walks, and Chris Rinaldi (Holy Cross) who went 2-for-4 scoring 3 runs and stole 3 bases.

 

The Brockton Rox traveled to Holman Stadium to take on the Nashua Silver Knights. The Rox were led by relief pitcher Shane Kittila (Franklin Pierce University) who entered the game in the 5^th inning pitched 4 innings allowing only 1 hit and 1 unearned run while striking out 5 in his first win of the season. The Nashua Silver Knights got on the board in the first inning after a RBI single from Ryan Berardino (Bentley) scored Tom Blandini (SNHU). The Rox answered with a 1-run fifth inning and then pulled away in the 6^th inning scoring three runs. A RBI single from Kalen Puckett (Georgia State University) scoring Matt Ronai (Merrimack University) and then RBI single from Joe Lomuscio (Brown University) scoring Jack Arend (Bates College) and Vinnie Pallisco (University of Connecticut).

 

The Bristol Blues and the North Shore Navigators faced off in a doubleheader at Muzzy Field. Game 1 of the doubleheader was a thriller as the Navigators defeated Bristol 3-2 after scoring two runs in the final inning to take the lead. North Shore got on the board first in the 2^nd inning after Corey DiLoreto (Northeastern University) scored on a wild pitch. Bristol went on to score 1 run in the 4^th inning to tie things up with a RBI single from Peyton Stephens (Central Connecticut State University) brought home Richard Brereton (Emory). Then the Blues took the lead in the 6^th inning. Then in the 7^th and final inning the Navigators scored twice to take the lead. Corey DiLoreto (Northeastern University) came around and scored to tie things up. Then an obstruction call brought home JP Knight (Tufts University) to take a 1-run lead heading into the final frame. Navigators’ pitcher Justin Foley (Bates College) was credited with the win after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one earned run, while striking out two.

Game 2 of the doubleheader had more excitement than game 1 as Bristol defeated North Shore 1-0 after a walk-off single in the 7^th inning. Game 2 was a pitchers’ duel as both starting pitchers were solid. Bristol’s starting pitcher Jared Kollar (Seton Hill University) went 5 innings allowing 2 hits with 7 strikeouts in a no-decision. Relief pitcher Casey Elbin (West Virginia University Institute of Technology) pitched 2 innings of relief and struck out 2 in the win. The Navigators’ pitcher Dylan Gaita (Plymouth State University) pitched 6.2 innings, struck out 6, with one earned run. The only run allowed came in the bottom of the 7^th inning with two outs as Ian Ostberg (Quinnipiac University) hit a bases-loaded walk-off RBI single scoring Dylan Reynolds (Fairfield University).