Despite another strong outing from Bromfield pitcher Andrei Weber and back-to-back home runs from Ben Veno and Zane Atwood, Bromfield fell short against St. Bernard’s, losing 5–4 in a Tuesday afternoon game at home.
Weber pitched a clean first inning, as did Joe Feckley of St. Bernard’s. However, the second inning proved to be quite different for Weber as he was touched up by a leadoff double from Zach Merchant and a base hit from Adam Hyde that moved Merchant to third. Merchant scored on a steal that moved Hyde to second. After an error put men on the corners again, Bromfield turned a 4-6-3 double play to escape the inning without any further damage.
As the game remained 1-0 going into the third inning, Weber ran into trouble after allowing two walks with only one out. After a fielder’s choice to second base for a second out, and then a stolen base, Merchant struck again with a two-run double, making the score 3–0 St. Bernard’s. Weber buckled down and got out of the inning, but his teammates were unable to score for him in the bottom half of the inning.
St. Bernard’s added another run in the fifth after a double by Dan Grammel led to a run scored on a fielder’s choice. Weber gave up one more run in the sixth after an error allowed Hyde to reach first, and then an infield hit with two outs by Nathan Alsdorf brought him in to make it 5-0 as the top of the sixth came to a close.
With only two base hits through five innings, Bromfield began to shift the momentum with a leadoff base hit in the bottom of the sixth by Brendon Keady. Then Tommy Jackovitz was able to get on base after an error by the shortstop, putting runners on first and second with nobody out for Veno. Veno drove a shot deep into left field for a three-run homer that cut the lead for St. Bernard’s down to 2. Then, after fouling off several pitches, Atwood delivered his first home run of the season, just out of the reach of the left fielder, making it 5–4. Feckley was taken out, and the rest of the order went down on strikeouts.
After pitching through a scoreless seventh to keep the lead at one run, Weber finished his night with 6 strikeouts as he kept his team in the game. Bromfield couldn’t get the job done as they went down in order in the seventh, ending the wild ride of a game at 5–4, St. Bernard’s.
Bromfield’s next game is against Ayer-Shirley at home on Friday, May 9. With a 3–6 record, Bromfield is currently fifth in the Wachusett League D standings behind Tahanto.
