NEWS

Melissa Barrett

Danbury, CT- Today, the Westerners showed that they are playoff-material with a sweep of the Holyoke Blue Sox in a long doubleheader, winning the first game 5-4 and the second 3-2 in a hot humid day at Rogers Park.

            The story of the first game circled on the hot bats of hitters that had been slightly cool the past week.  Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Rhett Stafford (Marshall) bombed his second home run of the season, a solo bomb, over the left field fence, cutting down the deficit by 1.  The Westerner bats weren’t done there.  In the bottom of the sixth inning Tucker Nathans (Fairfield) hit his league-leading sixth homer of the season, a three-run shot to right-center field, tying the game at four.  It was Nathans’ first home run since July 7th against the North Adams Steeplecats.  We go to the bottom of the eighth, an extra inning in the first doubleheader game.  With one out and nobody on, Alfredo Rodriguez (Maryland) slammed one over left field, his second homer of the year and the game winning shot, giving the Westerners the walkoff 5-4 win.  Closer Ian Gardeck (3-1, Dayton) got the win after holding Holyoke off in the top of the eighth inning, while Blue Sox pitcher Ryan Deeter got the loss.

            The second game played out differently than the first.  Unlike the first game, where hit batters and timely hits plagued the pitchers, this game turned quickly into a pitchers duel through the fifth.  Danbury Newcomer Tim Flight (Charleston Southern) pitched a solid five innings, only giving up three hits, one earned run and struck out three, while Maxx Catapano (L, 4-4), a pitcher who had plagued the Westerners in the past, pitched the entire effort for the Blue Sox.  But this time, Danbury was ready for what Catapano had to offer.  An RBI single by Michael Williams (Kentucky) got the Westerners on the board early 1-0 in the bottom of the second.  The Blue Sox however, struck back with a sacrifice fielder’s choice in the fifth to tie the game; they took the lead with a home run by Angelo Bruno.  The bottom of the seventh, with Catapano on the mound still, went in favor of Danbury.  A pass ball brought home Rodriguez, which got John Gianis (NC State) up to bat.  Gianis lined a hit past the third baseman Frank Hager to bring home Brian Barry (Tulane) and win the second game for the Westerners.  Michael Anarumo (1-0, LeMoyne) got the win after holding down the Blue Sox for the final two innings.  Today was certainly a day that will boost the morale of the Danbury team going into the last week of the final season.

            With the sweep, the Westerners improve to 21-15, still second to the red hot North Adams Steeplecats.  Holyoke drops to 13-23, last place in the Western Division.

            After a much deserved off day Sunday, the Westerners will take on North Shore (21-14) at home.  Danbury will send lefty Dylan Clark (2-1, Elon) to the mound, while North Shore will counter with a to be determined pitcher.  Monday night will be Irish Night at Rogers Park, so wear green and show your Irish and Westerner pride!  Game is set to begin at 6:30pm.