Starfires’ Aidan Dunn (East Conn. State), of Westfield winds up for a pitch against the Vermont Lake Monsters Saturday at Bullens Field. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Starfires pitcher Aidan Dunn, of Westfield made his season debut for the team Saturday against the Vermont Lake Monsters.
Dunn, who enjoyed a remarkable season on the mound for Eastern Connecticut State this past season, allowed seven hits, three walks and three runs (all earned) in a relief appearance as Westfield fell to Vermont 11-8. Dunn struck out 10 batters.
Starfires starting pitcher Shayne Audet was tagged for six runs. He walked six batters and was credited with the loss. Dunn entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the first inning.
“I put Aidan into a tough spot,” said Starfires manager Tony Deshler. “I didn’t want to put him in that spot. He got into a rhythm pumping the zone and had hitters guessing. Aidan had a breakout season pitching for Eastern Connecticut State. From what I saw in that short outing (Saturday), I could see why.”
It was the first live pitching outing for Audet, a pro prospect who is returning from two Tommy John surgeries.
The Starfires offense racked up several hits but could not overcome such a big deficit early on. Cody Bey (Wagner College) went 3-for-5 for Westfield with a run scored; Springfield native Liam Sears (Bentley) went 2-for-3 with a triple, two walks, one run, and four RBIs; and Sean Burychka (Babson) homered. Burycha finished 2-for-4 with a walk, run, and two RBIs.
Vermont completed the weekend sweep of Westfield on Sunday with a 6-3 victory. It was the fifth straight loss for the Starfires, who opened the season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Vermont.
“In four games we lost, we hit about 50 batters,” Deshler said. “I’m not too worried about the record but more about the quality of baseball we are playing and how we’re doing it. Hopefully we will be on the other side of it soon.”
– – –
2021 FUTURES COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS
(as of Sun., June 6)
Brockton Rox 7-1
Pittsfield Suns 6-4
New Britain Bees 5-4
Worcester Bravehearts 5-4
Vermont Lake Monsters 4-5
Nashua Silver Knights 3-5
Norwich Sea Unicorns 4-7
Westfield Starfires 1-5
Weekend Results
Sat., June 5
Vermont Lake Monsters 11, Westfield Starfires 8
Sun., June 6
Vermont Lake Monsters 6, Westfield Starfires 3
– – –
2021 WESTFIELD STARFIRES SCHEDULE
Wed., June 9
Starfires vs. Brockton Rox, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
Starfires vs. Worcester Bravehearts, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Fri., June 11
Starfires vs. Nashua Silver Knights, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sat., June 12
Starfires @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Sun., June 13
Starfires vs. Vermont Lake Monsters, 3 p.m.
Mon., June 14
OFF
Tues., June 15
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Wed., June 16
Starfires @ Pittsfield Suns
Thurs., June 17
Starfires vs. Brockton Rox, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Fri., June 18
Starfires @ Pittsfield Suns
Sat., June 19
Starfires @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Sun., June 20
Starfires @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Mon., June 21
OFF
Tues., June 22
Starfires @ Pittsfield Suns
Wed., June 23
Starfires vs. Pittsfield Suns, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs., June 24
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Fri., June 25
Starfires @ Worcester Bravehearts
Sat., June 26
Starfires vs. Nashua Silver Knights, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sun., June 27
Starfires vs. Norwich Sea Unicorns, 3 p.m.
Mon., June 28
OFF
Tues., June 29
Starfires @ Brockton Rox
Wed., June 30
Starfires vs. Pittsfield Suns, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs., July 1
Starfies @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Fri., July 2
Starfires vs. Nashua Silver Knights, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sat., July 3
Starfires @ New Britain Bees
Sun., July 4
Starfires vs. New Britain Bees, Bullens Field, 3 p.m.
Mon., July 5
OFF
Tues., July 6
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Wed., July 7
Starfires @ Worcester Bravehearts
Thurs., July 8
Starfires vs. Worcester Bravehearts, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Fri., July 9
Starfires @ Brockton Rox
Sat., July 10
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Sun., July 11
Starfires vs. New Britain Bees, Bullens Field, 3 p.m.
Mon., July 12
OFF
Tues., July 13
ALL-STAR BREAK
Wed., July 14
ALL-STAR BREAK
Thurs., July 15
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Fri., July 16
Starfires vs. Brockton Rox, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sat., July 17
Starfires vs. New Britain Bees, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sun., July 18
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Mon., July 19
OFF
Tues., July 20
Starfires vs. New Britain Bees, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Wed., July 21
Starfires vs. Worcester Bravehearts, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs., July 22
Starfires @ Pittsfield Suns
Fri., July 23
Starfires @ New Britain Bees
Sat., July 24
Starfires @ Worcester Bravehearts
Sun., July 25
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Mon., July 26
OFF
Tues., July 27
Starfires vs. Pittsfield Suns, Bullens Field, 10:30 a.m.
Wed., July 28
Starfires @ Pittsfield Suns
Thurs., July 29
Starfires vs. Pittsfield Suns, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Fri., July 30
Starfires @ Nashua Silver Knights
Sat., July 31
Starfires @ New Britain Bees
Sun., Aug. 1
Starfires @ Nashua Silver Knights
Mon., Aug. 2
OFF
Tues., Aug. 3
Starfires vs. Vermont Lake Monsters, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 4
Starfires vs. Vermont Lake Monsters, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 5
Starfires @ Nashua Silver Knights
Fri., Aug. 6
Starfires vs. Worcester Bravehearts, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 7
Starfires vs. Brockton Rox, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 8
Starfires vs. Pittsfield Suns, Bullens Field, 3 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 9
OFF
Tues., Aug. 10
Starfires @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Wed., Aug. 11
Starfires @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Thurs., Aug. 12
Starfires @ Norwich Sea Unicorns
Fri., Aug. 13
Starfires vs. Norwich Sea Unicorns, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 14-19
PLAYOFFS
