Editor's note: here on HamletHub, we will be sharing news and updates from the Danbury Westerners, Western Connecticut's Premier College Summer League Team baseball team. Enjoy and get yourself some tickets to one of the ballgames!
It is fitting that a Danbury native gave the Danbury Westerners their first win of the season. Facing a full count in the bottom of the ninth with two outs in a tie ballgame, the Jacksonville State senior hit his second home run of the game over the left field fence as the Westerners walked off on Opening Day 7-6 against the Ocean State Waves.
“It feels great,” Hernandez said about his game-winning longball, acknowledging the home crowd. “Two home runs is not really part of my game.”
Danbury starts their seventh straight campaign 1-0 with the win, beating Ocean State at the Roadhouse at Rogers Park on June 7 for the second year in a row. With the walk-off loss, the Waves are 0-1 for the fourth consecutive summer dating back to 2019.
Hernandez, the Westerners’ player of the game, finished 3-5 with a single on top of his two homers. Luke Boynton nearly had a home run as well, but when his 1-2 pitch ricocheted off the top of the fence and landed in the outfield, he settled for a double as part of a 2-4 night in his long-awaited Hat City debut.
While Boynton bashed and Hernandez became the hometown hero, Danbury’s bullpen contained the Ocean State offense after starter Pat Gleason allowed five runs (four earned) across the first four innings. While Nolan Lincoln earned the win after pitching the ninth, Tyler Roche conceded one run against his former NECBL team in four innings of relief, striking out seven batters while allowing just three of the 15 batters he faced to reach base.
“The bullpen really came in when we needed it,” Westerners manager Conor Farrell said after the game. “Roche came in and kept it close, [which] gave us the opportunity to do exactly what we do.”
Emotions were high all game long, even with the smoke from the Canadian wildfires casting a smoky haze at Rogers Park. On top of the annual Opening Day traditions of Dave King performing the “Danbury Westerners Theme” in front of the Danbury faithful and international opera star Perry Price belting the national anthem, the Westerners held a moment of silence for Melissa Barbagallo, an energetic and vibrant volunteer who passed away after a brief illness. Barbagallo’s daughter, Olivia, capped off the Opening Day festivities by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Danbury appeared to run away with the contest after the second inning as Waves’ starter Kyle Rossy surrendered five walks in a five-run frame. Daniel Labrador got the Westerners on the board after walking and advancing to second on a wild pitch, scoring when Brant Baughcum grounded into a double play. Mike Becchetti advanced from second to third on that play, touching home plate on a wild pitch two batters later. Having flied out just shy of the outfield fence in the first inning, Hernandez sent the first pitch he saw close to the ditch for a three-run jack.