Bromfield senior Derek Silver shut down the Murdock Blue Devils for his first win of the season, allowing no runs on two hits, with six strikeouts, helping Bromfield to improve to 1-9. Murdock fell to 3-8 after the loss. Bromfield’s success came from Silver’s beautiful performance and Bromfield’s defensive effort, making just one error in 18 chances.
Silver didn’t allow a base runner until the third inning, when Murdock’s nine-hitter, Pat Culverhouse, reached on a dropped third strike wild pitch. With two outs in the bottom of that inning, Bromfield senior Peter Moberly singled to the right side before Silver belted a triple up the left field hill, putting Bromfield ahead 1-0.
Silver gave up his first hit in the fourth, when pitcher Dom Polcari singled into left field. However, Polcari was soon eliminated after Silver picked him off at first base. This was the first of many impressive defensive plays for Bromfield. Silver picked off three base runners in the game, while his catcher, junior Will Byler, threw out Murdock’s only attempted stolen base of the afternoon. Bromfield senior Will Nocka made a spectacular diving catch to end the fifth inning, and third baseman Brett Keating had five assists at the hot corner.
In the fourth inning, consecutive singles from Byler, Miles Jarvis, and Keating led to Bromfield’s second run of the afternoon. Bromfield added five insurance runs in the sixth inning. Jarvis doubled to lead off the inning, and pinch-hitter Jason Frye and Nocka added consecutive doubles of their own, scoring two runs. After a Silver walk, and a Trevor Granville single, Byler hit a bases-clearing triple deep to right field.
Silver threw just 54 pitches in his seven innings of work.
This Bromfield effort followed a heartbreaking loss to the West Boylston Lions the previous Friday. Bromfield lost 8-7 in eight innings in that loss, a significant improvement from their previous 11-1 defeat at the hands of the undefeated Lions.
