Cadet Rox (Brockton @ Tri-City, 6/13/25)

 The Brockton Rox are making their final trip into Troy this season, barring playoffs, and it seemed fitting that the series started on Friday the 13th, though there really weren't any supernatural shenanigans in this game.

Albany Academy graduate Brett Young (VMI/Siena/George Washington) got the start at 3rd base for the Rox, playing in his backyard, if you will, for the first time since his senior year at Academy, and being back at home certainly lifted his spirits.

Early on, however, it didn't seem that way.

With one out in the home 2nd inning, Young misplayed a bad hop, allowing David Glancy to reach. Tri-City's Jeff Leslie had done the same thing in the Brockton 1st, but the Rox couldn't capitalize. However, the 'Cats did cash in on the error. After a walk to Josue Urdaneta, Leslie hit a ground ball, which Glancy hurdled in order to avoid being hit by the ball, and Young's throw to 2nd was a shade late, leaving the bases loaded. With two out, Javeyan Williams singled, bringing Glancy & Urdaneta home, giving the hosts an early 2-0 lead.

In the visiting 3rd, Keagan Calero doubled, and scored on a groundout by Evan Giordano to trim the lead to 2-1.

We move now to the top of the 4th. Hemmanuel Rosario led off with a double. Derek Bender (Albany Academy/Coastal Carolina) brought him home with a single, but got careless, and was cut down trying to stretch it into a double. Still, that tied the game at 2.. JR DiSarcina then put Brockton in front with a solo homer to make it 3-2.

In the home 4th, Glancy walked to lead off, but Bender cut him down trying to steal. Urdaneta doubled, and scored on a single by Leslie. Dylan Broderick then doubled to bring home Leslie. Williams then reached on an error by DiSarcina, plating Broderick. Unfortunately for the home fans, the inning ended with Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa/Wake Forest) hitting into a double play to end the frame with Tri-City now up, 5-3.

It stayed that way until the 7th inning. Tri-City starter Connor Wilford was tiring, and the Rox capitalized. With two out and two on, Jack-Thomas Wold crushed a 3 run homer to give Brockton a 6-5 lead. A Rosario double finished Wilford's night, and it would soon become a battle of the bullpens. However, in the home 7th, Brockton reliever Thomas Nelson walked the bases loaded. Brendan Bell relieved Nelson, and promptly walked Broderick, forcing in Ian Walters to tie the game at 6-6.

And so, we went to extra innings. With Rosario the free runner at 2nd, Bender singled, but Rosario could only go as far as 3rd. After a walk to Tommy Kretzler, DiSarcina brought Rosario home with the game winner on a sacrifice fly. Young added an insurance run, atoning for his miscues earlier, doubling home Bender. In the home 10th, with Broderick as the free runner, Oscar Campos singled with one out, getting Tri-City within one, but that was as close as they'd get, as Walters lined out to DiSarcina to end it, with Brockton picking up a hard-fought 8-7 win.

Nearly 4700 fans took in the thriller on Youth Softball & Wizards Night, and were treated to a post-game fireworks show. Today, the teams will play a doubleheader starting at 5 pm, making up a rainout from last month.