WORCESTER — Max LeFrancois (Assumption), grounded a walk-off single to centerfield, lifting the Worcester Bravehearts to an 8-7 walk-off win over the Westfield Starfires at Fitton Field Sunday. The Worcester native’s game-winning knock helped the Bravehearts stave off a late Starfire comeback, and snapped the ’Hearts’ 5-game losing streak.
After Westfield manager Paul Bonfiglio was ejected 5 pitches into the game for arguing a check swing call, Worcester’s Nik Pavia (Franklin Pierce) and Westfield’s Jake Jachym each fired 3 scoreless innings to start the game. After Pavia held the Starfires scoreless in the top of the fourth inning, the ’Hearts struck first when Max D’Alessandro (Towson) legged out an infield single and Jackson Marshall (Southern New Hampshire) clubbed a 2-run home run, his first of the season, to left field. Marshall will represent the Bravehearts in the 2024 Futures League Home Run Derby at Norwich’s Dodd Stadium Monday.
Westfield responded in the fifth, scoring twice to tie the game at 2, but Worcester re-opened its 2-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth, taking a 4-2 lead after Dylan LaPointe (FAU) and D’Alessandro knocked RBI singles. Again, Westfield responded tying the game on a Luke Masiuk homer against Pavia in the 6th and a Josh Frometa RBI single against Brandon La Mazza (Southern Connecticut) in the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Worcester launched its longest rally of the game, jumping ahead when LaPointe scored on D’Alessandro’s go-ahead double. The Bravehearts tacked on, expanding the lead to 7-4 after Marshall lined a run-scoring single to left and LeFrancois singled home D’Alessandro with an infield hit to shortstop.
In the eighth, Westfield scored twice against ’Hearts reliever Alex Erickson (Union), drawing within a run on Gianno Merlonghi’s run-scoring groundout and Sam Morris’ RBI double to right. Worcester manager Alex Dion called upon Joe Mulhern (Wheaton) to get the final out of the eighth.
The right-hander induced a bases-loaded flout to keep the lead in tact. After failing to score in the bottom of the eighth, Worcester entered the top of the ninth holding a 7-6 lead, but Westfield again completed the comeback to tie the game. After 2 Bravehearts errors put a Starfires runner on third base with 1 out, Worcester Academy graduated Cam Papetti of Westfield grounded a game-tying single off third base.
In the bottom of the ninth, Worcester didn’t record an out, loading the bases when D’Alessandro was hit by a pitch, Marshall walked, and Wyatt Hoffman (Wingate) clubbed a line-drive single, setting the stage for LeFrancois to deliver the walk-off knock, which snapped a season-long 5-game skid for ’Hearts.
After a 2-day all-star break, Worcester returns home to take on the Brockton Rox on Wednesday, July 24th. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Fitton Field.
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:11). High of 78 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Train platform at Union Station closed until May 23rd
+6:00: Singer Roger Salloom comes back to Worcester for show at WCUW
+6:00: Radio Worcester Roundtable (1:26:46): Search for Worcester’s next school superintendent
+Noon: Crumbling stairwell to be replaced at Federal Plaza Garage in Worcester
+Noon: Transportation advocates call for Worcester to adopt bus rapid transit service
+Noon: Veteran rockers hit Palladium for the Chaos & Carnage music festival
-Worcester police looking for missing 16-year-old
-Worcester landlord says he's latest victim of "professional tenants"
-Child bending over to tie shoes struck by pickup in Southbridge parking lot
-Dates announced for 12th annual Worcester Caribbean American Carnival, third annual Kiddies Cultural Festival
-Nominations for Worcester Business Journal's 40 Under Forty awards due Friday
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Worcester proposal to tap college endowments ignites debate
-Joe Cocker, who has many Worcester ties, to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
-Children with disabilities introduced to golf at Northbridge course
-Aislinn Doyle: Worcester Public Schools in Brief for April
-Radio Worcester (23:21): City Manager Batista addresses D.O.J. report, federal funding and town-gown relations
-Radio Worcester (20:21): Mayor Joe Petty announces re-election bid
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): New in the Woo: An authentic Brazilian steakhouse experience
-ICYMI: Following opening of $220 million tower, UMass Memorial E.R. wait times are dropping
-The real story behind Greendale Mall and Amazon’s arrival
-How a student project led by Holy Cross professor and local architect helped tackle food insecurity in Worcester
-As rising health costs hit Hispanic communities hardest, Central Mass. leaders addressing inequities through cultural competency
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-A century of life and changes
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury man recalls meeting Pope Francis in Vatican City
-May 1st Town Meeting in Spencer to vote on appropriations for override, capital items
-Drunken man arrested for disorderly conduct after blocking traffic outside liquor store
-Sterling Street Market opens May 10th
-School Yahd benefits from Wachusett Chamber grant
-Clinton faces huge bump in insurance costs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
-Jazzed Up Trio 6 to 9 Wednesday at 961 at Union Station
>SHOWTIME: 100 FM The Pike (6:01): The Breakdown Lane
-An '80s flashback as Debbie Gibson takes XLO crowd down memory lane
-Gallery: Debbie Gibson performs at 26th annual Awesome '80s Prom
-Worcester Chorus sings works by Handel and Charpentier
>OPINION: Worcesteria: Silent salute at Elm Park to Worcester's Civil War role
-Lauren Cilley: Finding local mom friends
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 461 (27:27): League of Women Voters
-Unity Radio's Unity in the Community (58:16): Keith, a k a KFingers, producer/music engineer for IVOC at South High School
-Green Worcester Summit (39:18): Stormwater & green infrastructure plan
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to local World War II veteran
>SPORTS: Patriots depth chart updated with draft picks, free agent signings
-More on Bill Belichick's cringe-worthy interview: Girlfriend stormed off interview set, report claims
-Holy Cross star Jimmy King named to 2025 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List
-WooSox star Marcelo Mayer named Player of the Week
-210 Sports: Worcester hockey alumni highlights, NHL week 29
-Revolution stun Charlotte, 1-0
>NATIONAL: Administration defends deportation of U.S. citizen children
-U.S.S. Truman aircraft carrier loses $56 million fighter jet after it rolls off ship into Red Sea
>TRAGIC: Twin brothers drown while fishing at lake
>NEW ENGLAND: Child dies after being hit by Boston school bus (5:16)
-Karen Read trial | Battles over experts, phone data as Supreme Court says no (20:39)
>COLLEGES: Nichols holds third annual R.E.A.L. Symposium
-Now entering the (Woo)Tank: WPI student entrepreneurs
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 structures where architecture and nature collide
>BUSINESS: Meta allows Facebook, Instagram A.I. to engage in sex talk with kids: report
-LPL Financial Research: Softer tone on China is encouraging, but some caution still advised
-Katie Najjar: 10 Things I know about ... Building a thriving team culture
>SHOPPING: Our favorite products from Good Housekeeping's Beauty Awards
>HEALTH: Whooping cough cases are rising again in the U.S.
-Misinformation about measles vaccine spreading fast (3:16)
>FOOD: Walmart shoppers stunned to discover elaborate new anti-theft measure on meats
>TV/STREAMING: Frankie Muniz shares first look at "Malcolm in the Middle" reunion with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek
>MOVIES: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" sequel trailer stars Hewitt, Prinze
>CELEBRITY: Heartbreaking love notes found scattered around Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s home
>ANIMALS: 43-pound cat goes on inspirational weight loss journey (6:25)
>HISTORY: Who was Deborah Sampson and why is she so important to our history?
-Meanwhile, in Nevada, wild video shows speedboat flying into the air at 200 mph
Latest obituaries | | Monday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
+Hostess, Shrewsbury Street restaurant
-Part-time recording secretary, Holden Select Board
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather