Make the016.com a preferred choice with Google by clicking here
Worcester enters Saturday’s meeting with New Britain 1 game back of Bees
WORCESTER — The Worcester Bravehearts swept a doubleheader against the Brockton Rox Friday at Fitton Field. Worcester claimed a 5-3 victory in Game 1 before winning 9-2 in a rain-shortened Game 2.
With the victories and New Britain’s loss at Nashua, Worcester climbs a game behind New Britain for the final Futures Playoff spot.
Brockton struck first in Game 1, jumping ahead 1-0 when Brendan Sencaj grounded an RBI single to left field. Worcester responded with 3 third-inning runs, jumping ahead when Nolan DeAndrade (Franklin Pierce) scored on a wild pitch, Alejandro Soriano (Eastern Connecticut) laced a run-scoring single, and Dylan LaPointe (FAU) drove in a run with a double.
After a second rain delay during the first game, Worcester extended its lead to 5-1, thanks to Ronan Donahue’s (Sacred Heart) dash home on a double steal in the fifth and Jackson Marshall’s (Southern New Hampshire) RBI base hit in the sixth.
Brockton rallied in the seventh, drawing within 2 runs after a pair of RBI singles, but Worcester right-hander James Borsari (Merrimack) stranded the game-tying runs on first and second with a game-ending strikeout.
Worcester was the first to score in Game 2, opening up a 2-0 lead when Donahue flew a first-inning 2-run double to left.
Brockton evened the score at 2 in the third, but LaPointe immediately answered, re-staking his team to a 2-run lead with his fifth home run of the season.
The Bravehearts doubled their advantage in the fourth when Henry DiGiorgio (Northeastern) came home on a Brockton throwing error and Marshall plated a run with an RBI single. The Bravehearts exploded for 5-straight hits in the sixth, taking a 9-2 lead before the game was ruled final due to rain.
The Bravehearts enter Saturday’s matchup with New Britain a game back of the Bees for the final playoff spot. With a win, Worcester will pass New Britain and enter the season’s final day with a half-game hold on fourth place. First pitch between the Bees and Bravehearts is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Fitton Field.
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:12). High of 37 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Driver hospitalized after car crashes into Dollar Tree store in Worcester (:20). Article
-Worcester apartment project on Shrewsbury Street faces parking concerns
-A year after scathing report on use of force, sex acts, Worcester police have new policies
-Worcester Public Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh retires
-TODAY! Guns to Gardens gun buyback
-Related: Radio Worcester (12:45): Dr. Michael Hirsch on Worcester’s “Guns to Gardens” program
-TODAY! The final Village Marketplace of 2025
-Worcester police officers honored at City Hall promotion ceremony
-Proposed development would bring 270 units, supermarket and a half-dozen other businesses to abandoned Shrewsbury factory site
-Dark Downeast Podcast (35:45): The murder of John E. Volungis Jr.
-Worcester Guardian week in review: Legacy businesses, tax rate debate, winter prep
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (49:36): Worcester snowstorm response, police oversight & affordability
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (27:03): Tax rates, infrastructure challenges and a major coaching milestone
>DINING OUT: Table Hoppin': Bonchon, from owners of Gong cha, sees crowds, lines
-ICYMI: Couple arrested after 5-hour standoff in Worcester (1:37). Article
-Related: Worcester officers treated for hypothermia after standoff
-Water restored as crews continue work on Shore Drive in Worcester
-Winter homeless shelter to open at former Quality Inn near Lincoln Plaza
-Worcester woman wins Lucky for Life, takes lump sum of $390,000
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo: Phone-free school by 2026? The newest phone policy controversy
-Merry Christmas from Lamoureux Ford! (:47)
-Chief Tim Sherblom sworn in as head of Central Mass. Chiefs of Police Association
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Pedestrian struck and killed on Providence Road in Northbridge
-Police determine threat at Sterling school not legitimate
-West Boylston town administrator, hired after flag controversy, headed to Rutland
-TODAY! Santa visits Paxton Fire Department
-Apple store opens in Millbury
-Disabled veteran tax exemption available in Shrewsbury
-Kindled Planning hopes to "spark" more for customers
-The Item's calendar of events
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Assabet Valley Mastersingers, High Command and more ...
-"Sister's Christmas Catechism" coming to Worcester
-"Night Lights" named best holiday garden display in nation
-Anxious Taylor Swift was scared to continue Eras Tour after Vienna terror threat
>OPINION: Tom Marino: Extremist views of Worcester’s self-proclaimed moderates
-WCCA-TV's Soapbox No. 1399 (24:41): John Stanford, Executive Director, Incubate
-Unity Radio's The Susanity Life (59:28)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Professor Emerita at UMass Medical School
>SPORTS: What’s impressed Josh McDaniels the most about Drake Maye this season
-Jayson Tatum looks spry in latest workout videos amid injury recovery
-Holy Cross baseball, men's lacrosse announce schedules
-A banner day: St. Paul honors championship history of former high schools
>CARS: List of the most stolen cars in 2025 revealed
>NATIONAL: Terrifying gas explosion caught on doorbell cam (:49). Article
-The 10 richest states in America
-Tragic: 8 high school athletes injured during training run after car veers onto sidewalk in suspected D.U.I. crash
>NEW ENGLAND: Brian Walshe trial recap (21:57): After closing statements, the jury deliberates
-Driver shaken after alleged road rage shooting on I-495 (1:47)
>COLLEGES: WPI professor named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
-Assumption named peacebuilder and conflict-resolution expert Alice Nderitu Civic Friendship Fellow
-Late-night breakfast at Clark, in photos
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Where to go in Charlevoix, a French-Canadian snow globe
>BUSINESS: Lawmakers mull action on "dynamic" A.I.-powered pricing in wake of "shocking" Instacart report
-Open AI, Microsoft face lawsuit over ChatGPT’s alleged role in Conn. murder-suicide
-Radio Worcester (7:03): Holiday spending budgeting and scam-proofing advice
-Former Worcester City Councilor candidate founds organization to address systemic oppressions
>HOMES: Foreclosures are soaring in the U.S.: study
>SHOPPING: Shoppers say ’tis the season for inflation, poll finds
>HEALTH: Tips to protect your sleep during the holidays (4:56)
-Under 7 hours of sleep shortens your life — 5 tricks to snooze faster
>TV/STREAMING: How to stream Taylor Swift docuseries, "The End of an Era," on Disney+
>MOVIES: New movies on streaming: "Die My Love," "Christy," and more
>CELEBRITY: Jason Bateman makes eyebrow-raising remark about sister Justine
-Judi Dench believes Harvey Weinstein has "done his time" for sexual assault, says she forgives him
>ANIMALS: Bear cub runs across frozen Hubbardston pond (:37)
>HISTORY: Then & Now: 187 Washington St., Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: Steve Hartman’s 10 most memorable stories over the years (29:41)
-Meanwhile, escaped horse visits New York's J.F.K. Airport
Latest obituaries | | Friday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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 | | Help Wanted | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather