Joe Eramo delivers a pitch. (Photos by Rob Williams)
There is nothing that signifies the opening day of baseball in New England like 40-degree weather on an overcast and windy day. Despite the conditions, the Bromfield Trojans baseball team was happy to finally get a game played last Tuesday, April 10. They made the most of their debut by defeating the Parker Charter School Panthers by a score of 12–0. The game was played in Shirley at the Lura White elementary school field.
The most impressive performer for the Trojans was senior pitcher Joe Eramo of the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Still River. The co-captain and Shirley resident pitched five innings of the home game. During Eramo’s five innings, he gave up no runs on five hits. He struck out eight batters while walking only two. Senior co-captain Tim Smetana pitched the final two innings for the Trojans during the seven-inning contest. He gave up two hits and struck out one batter.
On the offensive side of the ball the Trojans scored 12 runs on seven hits. The Trojans’ aggressive base running set up many potential scoring situations throughout the game. During the second inning Bromfield scored a total of five runs. After walking, Matt Dion and senior co-captain Cam Holland crossed the plate. The next at-bat, sophomore Caleb Frost, dropped a perfect bunt down the left field foul line. He then beat out the throw from the Parker catcher. His small-ball tactic advanced junior Adam Boynton to third base. Fellow junior Nick Kimball then singled to bring Boynton home. The final two runs of the inning were scored on an Eramo single.
Tim Smetana connects for one of his three hits.
During the third inning Holland and Frost walked. When Smetana came up to the plate, with the two men on, he singled to earn two runs batted in. It was his second single of the game. The fourth inning brought four more runs across the plate for the Trojans. Eramo led off the frame with a double. Dion brought his schoolmate home with a single later on in the inning. After a series of walks, which earned Bromfield two additional runs, Smetana flew out to center field allowing another run to score. Later on in the sixth, Smetana struck again with a single to collect his fourth RBI and third hit. Michael Duffy crossed the plate on the play.
The Bromfield defense was equally impressive, giving up only seven hits all game. All of the Trojans were able to play Tuesday. Eramo and Smetana split the pitching duties while senior co-captain Joseph Galeksi and freshman Michael Chadwick both caught. Freshman Stephen Castro played the entire game at first base. Kimball played six innings at second base before being replaced by Chris Duffy. Before pitching, Smetana played five innings at shortstop while Boynton covered the hot corner at third base. The starting outfield consisted of junior James Jarvis, Holland, and Dion from left to right. Freshmen Tom Charron, Ben Landry, and Mario DiVero replaced them later in the game. Finally, Frost and Michael Duffy took swings from the designated-hitter position.
With this positive start to the season, Bromfield baseball will try to have their first nonlosing record since 1985; that Trojan team had eight wins and eight losses. Over April vacation, Bromfield will host Gardner High School Monday, April 16, and Sutton High School Thursday, April 19.
