DANBURY, CT—A win is a win for the Danbury Westerners as they edged out the Bristol Blues 5-4 at Rogers Park.
Sean Hogan pitched six no-hit innings for Danbury (5-5) and Cam Masterman led the way for the Westerner offense on a two for four night with two RBIs. Bristol (1-10) recovered with four runs across the seventh and eighth innings before Danbury regained the lead on a bases loaded walk to Hank Thomas. Ryan Smith earned his first save of the season after retiring Bristol in order in the ninth to end the game.
Cam Masterman scored Banks Griffith on a 4-3 RBI groundout, and Jack Payton lined an RBI single to right-center field in the bottom of the first inning, giving Danbury an early 2-0 lead. Masterman earned his second RBI and raised the Danbury run total to three on another RBI single to left field that scored John Anderson in the third.
Bristol got on the board when Chris Davis and Brennen Dorighi ran a double steal in the top of the seventh inning. Jack Payton threw the ball past Nick Lorusso into left field, bringing Davis in to score. After the Cam Masterman throw popped out of catcher Jack Payton’s glove, Dorighi moved to third to end the play with the scoreboard reading 3-1 Danbury. Bristol threatened for more with runners on second and third before Michael Farinelli forced an inning ending groundout from Anthony Galason.
After the first two Bristol players were hit to lead off the eighth Mark Coley got on with a Danbury infield error. Coley came around to score Bristol's third run of the inning on a wild pitch. Danbury brought in Renn Lints from their bullpen. Davis scored on a Brennen Dorighi fielder’s choice but Lucas Stalman struck out swinging to end the inning with a 4-3 Bristol lead.
Banks Griffith and John Anderson both got on for Danbury in the bottom of the eighth on bloop singles to shallow right field. Griffith came around to score from second and Anderson moved to second after a wild pitch from Bristol pitcher Dominic Agron and an error by Bristol catcher Chad Knight.
Danbury filled the bases after Cam Masterman hit a single and Jack Payton walked. After a Justin Kapuscinski strikeout, Hank Thomas worked a five-pitch walk to bring in Anderson, who was the winning run.
The Danbury Westerners travel to Holyoke to take on the Valley Blue Sox (7-3) at Mackenzie Stadium Friday night. The game will be livestreamed on the NECBL Network.
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