MILTON, Mass. – Senior Chris Scarola (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three runs batted in, while junior Chris Judd (Peabody, Mass.) was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored as the top-seeded Curry baseball team used seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings to break the game open and defeat eighth-seeded Wentworth, 11-7, in an opening round game of the 2007 Commonwealth Coast Conference Baseball Tournament.

The Colonels looked poised to score in the opening inning, as Judd led off the game with a walk. With one out he moved to second on an errant pickoff throw. After Scarola walked, junior David Vincent (Grafton, Mass.) reached on a fielder’s choice, which retired Scarola and moved Judd to third. The Leopards induced a groundout to end the inning before Curry could score.

Curry would crack the scoring column in the home half of the second, scoring a pair of runs. Junior Bill Galvin (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) led off with a single, and with one out, sophomore Jim Simon (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) was hit by a pitch, which was followed by freshman Tim Sweeney (Walpole, Mass.) reaching on an error to load the bases. Judd would single up the middle, plating Galvin, and, with two outs, Scarola reached on an infield single that would score Simon. Wentworth rookie starter Chris Sandini (Upton, Mass.) induced a flyout to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

Wentworth mounted a threat in the top of the third as sophomore Mike Roberts (Chelmsford, Mass.) hit a two-out single and stole second. Freshman Pete Oggeri (Sandy Hook, Conn.) reached on a fielder’s choice, as Roberts was caught in a rundown, and would take second on an error. However freshman starter Gary Hines (Duxbury, Mass.) got the next batter to strike out to end the inning.

Leading 2-0 heading into the home half of the fourth inning, the hosts would score seven times over the next two innings by way of six hits and aided by three Wentworth errors. In the fourth, Scarola and Galvin each drove in a run, and Scarola would score on an error. An inning later freshman Tony Luciani (Weymouth, Mass.) drove in a pair with a double, while Scarola would drive in another run with a single and would score on an RBI single from freshman Rick Vail (Lynnfield, Mass.).

Wentworth broke into the scoring column with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Oggeri was hit by a pitch with one out and would score on a freshman Anthony Carbone (Goshen, Conn.) double. Sophomore Nick Cunningham (Pembroke, Mass.) would follow with a single, placing runners at first and third with one out. Sophomore Phil Costello (Medford, Mass.) plated Carbone, however the scoring would end on an inning-ending double play.

Curry added a run in the home half of the fifth to take a 10-2 lead as sophomore Ralph Renzulli (Rowley, Mass.) led off with a single to left field. After a pair of flyouts, he would move to third on a single by Judd and would score on a wild pitch.

The Leopards would trim the lead to 10-3 in the top of the seventh when freshman Matt Dannenhoffer (Bethany, Conn.) singled home junior Jarrett Ament (Boylston, Mass.), who has led off with a double to deep center. However, the Leopards would leave the bases loaded, ending the threat. Curry would add an unearned run in the home half of the seventh when Scarola led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. After a strikeout, he would steal third and Vail would walk. Renzulli then reached on an error, scoring Scarola.

The top of the eighth saw the Leopards score three times as Costello drew a leadoff walk and stole second. He would move up 90 feet on a freshman Chris Carbone (Goshen, Conn.) single and would score on a sacrifice fly by Ament. After freshman Mo Gardner (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) walked, Dannenhoffer doubled to left center, scoring Chris Carbone and moving Gardner to third. Sophomore Mike Roberts (Chelmsford, Mass.) followed with an RBI ground out, but a strikeout ended the inning. Wentworth trimmed the lead to 11-7 in the top of the ninth when Chris Carbone had an RBI groundout, which plated Cunningham.

Hines remained undefeated on the season (6-0), allowing three runs on six hits in six-plus innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Freshman Ben Howrigan (Fairfield, Vt.) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking four and striking out one. Junior Matt Wile (Newburyport, Mass.) pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on a pair of hits and striking out two. At the plate Luciani helped the cause with two hits, two runs, and two RBI.

Sandini fell to 3-4 after allowing nine runs (five earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings. He walked four and struck out eight, but also hit three batters. Freshman Matt Vezina (Uxbridge, Mass.) pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one run one three hits, while sophomore Matt Chymbor (Meriden, Conn.) allowed one unearned run on one hit and struck out a pair in an inning of work. Senior Kraig Moody (Enfield, Conn.) needed just eight pitches in the eighth to retire all three batters he faced. At the plate, Costello was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Dannenhoffer was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Cunningham and Roberts each had two hits.

Curry improves to 24-7 and hosts fourth-seeded Roger Williams tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in a winner’s bracket game. Wentworth (12-17) sees its two-game win streak come to an end and will travel to Eastern Nazarene tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in an elimination game.

Curry 11, Wentworth 7 (May 01, 2007 at Milton, Mass.)
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Wentworth........... 000 002 131 - 7 12 6 (12-17)
Curry............... 020 341 10X - 11 12 1 (24-7)
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Wentworth - Chris Sandini, Matt Vezina (5), Matt Chymbor (7), Kraig Moody (8) and Pete Oggeri, Mo Gardner (6); Curry - Gary Hines; Ben Howrigan (7), Matt Wile (8) and Bill Galvin
Win-Hines (6-0), Loss-Sandini (3-4); T-2:44, A-125
Hines faced 1 batter in the 7th.