SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Senior centerfielder Andrew Fatse (Hampden, MA) reached base all seven times as the Western New England baseball team opened its home season with an 8-1, 10-3 doubleheader sweep over Curry Thursday afternoon at Trelease Park. The Golden Bears raised their record to 8-4 and stayed perfect in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) with a 4-0 mark. The Colonels drop to 5-8 and 1-3 in the conference.
GAME ONE
Box Score
Western New England scored three times in the second inning and broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth. Sophomore shortstop Kyle McKelvey (Schenectady, NY) had a clutch two-run single with two outs in the sixth. Sophomore left-fielder Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) followed with a RBI single before sophomore right-fielder Casey Dadio (Branford, CT) and sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) added run-scoring doubles.
Anthonis, Dadio, and senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT) each finished with two hits. Fatse had a single, walk, hit pitch, and scored twice.
Senior pitcher Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, RI) picked-up his second win in three decisions going six innings allowing Sven hits with a run, strikeout, and three walks.
Curry took a 1-0 lead when senior centerfielder Sean Jackman (Stoughton, MA) opened the second with a single and moved to second on an error. He advanced to third on a single by junior second baseman David Stevens (Deerfield Beach, FL) and came home when Stevens was caught in a rundown trying to steal second. Senior pitcher Mike Hughes (Middleboro, MA) (1-1) took the loss.
GAME TWO
Box Score
Fatse went 4-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI to lead the 13-hit attack. Dudzinski also collected two hits and had a stolen base. Junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) hit a towering three-run homer in the third for the team's first home run of the season. Sophomore pitcher Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) evened his record at 2-2.
Sophomore right-fielder Sam Barron (Florence, MA) had a pair of singles and a run-batted-in for the Colonels. Junior Joe Carrig (Irvine, CA) (0-2) was the losing pitcher. (Game recaps courtesy of WNEC Sports Information)