News from our members

Bravehearts out last Dirt Dawgs 8-5

Worcester leads wire-to-wire to take the 8-5 win over the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs in critical western division matchup on Monday night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

 

The Basics

Score: Worcester Bravehearts 8, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 5

Records: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (22-19) | Worcester Bravehearts (19-22)

 

How it Happened

Worcester got on the board in the bottom of the second inning as they plated two unearned runs with two outs in the frame. The Bravehearts extend their lead in the third inning as they scored three runs to push their lead to 5-0.

 

The Dawgs got on the score board in the top of the fourth inning as they scored four runs on a single by Jake Byrne (Assumption) and a three run shot to right field by Nolan Kessinger (UMass Amherst).

 

The Bravehearts added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, before Zach Tower (Franklin Pierce) hit a solo homerun to left field to lead off the sixth inning.

 

Worcester added some more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they plated two runs

Inside the Numbers

  • Tower has now hit three homeruns in the last two days here in Worcester.
  • Four of the five Dirt Dawgs drove in a run on the night.

 

Up Next

The Dirt Dawgs continue their five game road trip as they take the trip down to Bristol, Connecticut to take on the Blues, with a 11:00am first pitch.

Enhancing the Workforce event August 8th at Mount Wachusett Community College

North Central Mass Chamber members are especially welcome to attend:

 

Enhancing the Workforce event, August 8 from 3:00 – 4:30 at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA. Refreshments will be served.

 

Event Description:

 

Melissa Fama, Vice President of Academic Affairs, will describe that the college has recently developed several academic programs in response to employer demand, and is looking for new input from the community about certificate and degree programs that would be of interest.

 

Rachel Frick Cardelle, Assistant Vice President of Contract Development & Client Training, will describe new non-credit workforce development programs and will detail the process to apply for workforce training grants.

 

Kindly RSVP:

 

Please RSVP by Friday, July 25 at mwcc.edu/career-ready

Or by email to April Ondis at aondis@mwcc.mass.edu

Zack Tower loves hitting in Worcester as he crushed another two home runs to lead the Dirt Dawgs to a 18-8.

 

The Basics

Score: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 18, Worcester Bravehearts 8

Records: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (22-18) | Worcester Bravehearts (18-22)

 

How it Happened

The Dirt Dawgs were paced offensively by Tower’s great performance at the plate going 3-6 with 6 RBIs and Sean Webster who contributed a 3-4 performance with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

 

The Bravehearts offense was lead by Rafael Bournigal who had a 4-6 performance putting together a couple of RBI hits. Leadoff hitter Kevin Doody contributed a three hit performance as well.

 

The Dirt Dawgs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard and struck for six runs in the first inning. Jack Gethings (Fairfield) and Bradley Wood (Northern Illinois) began the game with back to back singles and Mike Coggeshall (Assumption) lifted a sac-fly to start the scoring. Then Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) launched a two-run homer to give the Dawgs a 3-0 lead. They weren’t done yet though as Sean Webster (SNHU) delivered a two out double to score three more for the Dawgs. Once again in the third Webster delivered a double to add to the Dawgs lead and make it 7-0.

 

The Bravehearts would use the bottom of the third to inch back into the game by plating two runs. The first on a pair of defensive miscues for the Dawgs and the second on an RBI single by Pat Demarco.

 

The Dirt Dawgs would tally six more runs in the 5th on a slew of hits by the Dawgs. Also aided by a couple of Worcester errors. Coggeshall and Kyle Cala (Wagner) added an RBI double a piece and Bradley Wood contributed an RBI single to give the Dawgs a 13-2 lead.

 

An eventful sixth inning saw the Dirt Dawgs notch a run on an RBI single by Tower. The Bravehearts quickly responded by plating two in their half of the inning making the score 14-5.

 

The scoring for both teams picked back up in the eighth as the Dawgs scored four more times on hits by Coggeshall and another home run by Tower. The Bravehearts answered with a pair of hits by Bournigal and Kocinski.

 

That would conclude the scoring and on the mound Willie Krajnik (St.Peters) would pick up his 6th win tossing five innings and picking up four strikeouts.

 

Inside the Numbers

The Dirt Dawgs rattled off a 17 hit performance.

Willie Krajnik is now second amongst Futures League pitchers with 5.

 

Up Next

The Dirt Dawgs and Bravehearts square off again tomorrow evening in Worcester. The game will begin at 7:05 at Fitton Baseball Field.

Sharks two big innings sink Dawgs 14-5

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks used two massive inning to defeat the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs Thursday Night 14-5 at the Shark Tank on the Vineyard to open up the second half of the season.

The Basics
Score:  Martha’s Vineyard Sharks 14, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 5
Records:  Dirt Dawgs (20-16) | Sharks (17-20)

 

How it Happened

Jon Gegetskas (Westfield State) got the start for the Dawgs, going 4.0 innings with four hits and two strikeouts. Andrew Bene (Shippensburg) lead the Dirt Dawgs offense by going 2-for-4 at the plate with one walk and one run driven in.

 

The Sharks started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning as Troy Stefanski (UConn) hit a two run homerun to put Martha’s Vineyard up 2-0 in the early goings. The Dirt Dawgs showed their patience at the plate in the fifth inning, as they combined to draw five walks and had two singles to take a 4-2 lead.

 

The Sharks would have a big inning of their own in the home half of the fifth, as they scored five times to regain the lead. Martha’s Vineyard used five hits of their own and capitalized on two Wachusett errors to cap off the inning. The Sharks would use another monster inning to pull away as they plated seven runs in the bottom half of the seventh.

 

The Dirt Dawgs answered with one run in the top of the eighth as Mike Coggeshall (Assumption) drove in Bradley Wood (Northern Ill) on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Inside the Numbers

  • This is the fourth time this season that the Dawgs have allowed 10 or more runs, and this is the first time they have lost.
  • For the second time this season Wachusett has drew 10 or more walks in a game. The team drew 11.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs stick to the road as they head down I-190 to take on the Worcester Bravehearts tomorrow for a 7:05pm first pitch at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. The Sharks start a four game road trip as they take on the North Shore Navigators from Fraser Field tomorrow night, starting at 7:00pm.

Moon Hill Brewing Co. Needs Your Vote

Our brewery, your brewery, Moon Hill Brewing Co., is in a desperate race to become one of Massachusetts’ top 10 breweries.  It’s a popular vote and we don’t have a chance in hell!  However, if we can score high enough, say in the top 20 it will be HUGE, to coin a popular political phrase.

Will you vote for us?  You can vote once a day until the 26th of this month.  Yes!  You can stuff the ballot box!  And I see that I don’t have the whole fam’s email addresses, so can you pass this on to the cousins etc?

Also, please forward this email to friends who know me and friends who would like to know me. Go team!

Some of you may recall doing this for Sean (Nagle) for his hamburger restaurant.  in Northampton. Now we must add beer!

Vote here if  you can! Every day until the 26th

http://www.masslive.com/bestofmass/index.ssf/2017/07/best_of_mass_breweries_vote_yo.html

Nashua hold off Dawgs 7-6

Nashua plates one run in the top of the ninth inning on a flair to left field to give the Silver Knights the lead, and they hold off the Dawgs 7-6 in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action, Monday Night at Historic Doyle Field.

The Basics
Score:  Nashua Silver Knights 7, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 6
Records:  Dirt Dawgs (20-15) | Silver Knights (18-20)

 

How it Happened

The Dawgs struck in the bottom of the first innings, as Sean Webster (SNHU) had leadoff the innings with a triple to center field, before Bradley Wood (Northern Ill) had a base knock. Wood would score later in the inning on a double play. John Stanton (SNHU) extended the Dirt Dawgs lead to 3-0 with a solo shot off the left field scoreboard in the second inning.

 

Nashua cut the Wachusett lead down to 3-2 by plating one run in both the third and the fourth inning, and would take the lead in the fifth as they scored three runs on five straight hits.

 

The Dirt Dawgs regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Jack Gethings (Fairfield) singled home Wood. Gethings trotted home on Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) 11th homerun of the summer to left field.

Nashua threatened in the top of the eighth inning, as they loaded the bases with one out in the inning, but Sam Steeve (Franklin Pierce) induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

 

Nashua tied the game in the top of the seventh, as Ryan Sullivan (SNHU) hit a solo shot to left field. In the top of the ninth, Nashua took the lead on a bases-loaded single.

 

Inside the Numbers

  • With two homeruns tonight, the Dirt Dawgs now have 50 on the season.

Up Next
Both teams head into the All-Star break as they travel to Bristol, Conn. with the game starting at 7:10pm.

Upcoming events at Gallery Sitka

Join us Thursday Night for
Al Fresco Fitchburg

and an art raffle for work by
Iphigenia Gossios Burg
5-10 PM
Gallery Sitka
454 Main St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420

Join us Friday, July 28th for
Paint Night with Ylenia Mino
Purchase Tickets Here:
Tickets
7-9 PM
Gallery Sitka
454 Main St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420

SAVE THE DATE:
August 12

One-Liners | The Art of Irony

Saturday, August 12
2-4 PM

Gallery Sitka
454 Main St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420

Dawgs rout the Mavericks 17-3

The Dirt Dawgs flex their muscles as they slug a franchise record seven home run to defeat the Seacoast Mavericks 17-3, Sunday night at Leary Field.

The Basics
Score:  Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 17, Seacoast Mavericks 3
Records:  Dirt Dawgs (20-15) | Mavericks (16-19)

 

How it Happened

Eddie Baram (Adelphi) got the start for Wachusett, going 6.0 innings with five strikeouts, but did not allow a base runner until the fifth inning. Sean Webster (SNHU) had himself a career day, going 3-for-6 with three homeruns and eight runs batted in.

 

Wachusett got the scoring started in the top of the third inning, as Webster launched a two run shot. The lead would quickly expand in the fifth inning as Dawgs went deep four times in the inning, as John Stanton (SNHU), Webster, Bradley Wood (Northern Ill) and Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) all went yard.

 

In the sixth inning, Wood went deep for the second time in the game, as he hit a three run shot to push the lead to 12-0. In the home half of the inning, Sean Sullivan (Dartmouth) got the first hit for the Mavericks on the day, as he had a leadoff single to break up Baram’s perfect game.

 

Seacoast got on the board in the seventh inning, as Tyler Soloman (Vanderbilt) hit a two run shot with two outs in the frame. The Dirt Dawgs added five runs in the eighth, as it was capped off by Webster’s third long ball of the game with a grand slam.

 

Inside the Numbers

  • The Dawgs combined to hit seven homeruns today, which is a franchise record for Wachusett.
  • Besides going 1-for-2 at the plate for the Wachusett, Tower drew three walks.
  • Every single Dirt Dawgs who got the start registered at least one run and one hit.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs return home tomorrow as they play host to the Nashua Silver Knights for Library Night at Doyle Field with first schedule for 6:35pm. Seacoast hits the road as they travel to Lynn, Mass. as they have a 7:00pm matchup with the North Shore Navigators.

Dirt Dawgs well represented at 2017 FCBL All Star Game

A record setting seven Wachusett Dirt Dawgs players were recognized by Future Collegiate Baseball League office on Friday morning, as the league announced its 2017 League All-Stars for the 2017 All-Star Game at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. Tuesday.

All seven Dirt Dawgs Andrew Bene (Shippensburg), Mike Demarest (Adephi), Jon Gegetskas (Westfield State), Jack Gethings (Fairfield), Eddie Santiago (Michell), Joe Simeone (UConn) and Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) were named to the Western All-Star team as voted upon by the FCBL head coaches.

 

Bene has appeared in 17 games behind the plate for Wachusett. He maintains a .306 batting average, and is in the midst of a 10 game hitting streak, raising his batting average .194 points over that stretch. The catcher has two home runs and has driven in nine runs. On the defensive end, Bene leads the FCBL with 18 assists.

 

Demarest has been a major pair of the Wachusetts bullpen who has been lights out this season. In 16.2 innings pitched, the Adelphi Panther product has struck out 25 batters, to just six walks. After starting the season with 14.0 shutout innings, his ERA sits at a baffling 1.08.

 

Gegetskas has been one of the FCBL best pitcher’s this season, the southpaw has pitched in 5.0 innings in all of his appearances and allowed with less than five or more hits all but once. Gegetskas has gone 3-2 this season, with a 3.16 ERA and a team leading 36 strikeouts. 11 of those strikeouts came against the Seacoast Mavericks back on July 3rd.

Out of the leadoff spot, Gethings has been a consistent force for the Dirt Dawgs. He is currently tied for seventh in the Futures League with 37 base hits and a .339 batting average. Gethings also has three home runs, 21 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.   Against Team USA, Gethings went 2-for-3 with a walk in the exhibition for the FCBL prospect team.

 

Santiago has made the successful switch from the bullpen to the starting rotation for Wachusett. Since the change in late June, the Mitchell southpaw has lowered his ERA from 2.79 to 2.13. In 25.1 innings this season, Santiago has a 3-1 record with one save, and 23 strikeouts to just six hits. Over his last four outings, Eddie is 2-0 in 15.2 innings pitched , with 11 strikeouts to just four walks, and a 1.78 ERA.

 

Since joining the Dirt Dawgs in early June, Simeone has made an immediate impact in the back end of the bullpen. He has appeared in 10 games, with six save and two wins. His ERA is a baffling 0.79, while he has 23 strikeouts to just four walks and six hits. This past Tuesday, Simeone pitched a perfect sixth inning for the FCBL prospects as they took on Team USA.

 

Tower has been terrorizing opposing FCBL pitching staffs for the last four season. This season he is on pace for his best statistical season yet.  He currently has a .330 batting average, and leads the team with 23 runs batted in, while he is tied for the Leagues lead with nine homeruns. In the Blast Motion Homerun Derby to decide the game, Tower has 23 homeruns in the two Dawgs win in those games.

 

Kyle Cala (Wagner) is on the ballot for the fan’s vote. Cala this season has been a major part of the Dirt Dawgs outfield. This season the to-be senior is batting .294 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in. Cala has seven multi-hit games, including a 3-for-5 effort against the Pittsfield Suns on July 2nd, where he hit two homeruns and drove in seven runs too.

 

Coach Dan Generalli earned the nod to coach the West Team on Tuesday as the West team takes on the East All-Stars. He is currently leading the Dawgs to one of their best seasons since their inception back in 2012, and first place seeding in the Western Division. The team is on pace for 31 win this season, breaking the old team record of 26 wins back in 2014. A pitcher by trade, he has lead one of the most potent offense in the FCBL this season. The Dawgs lead the league in both homeruns (41) and stolen bases (76).