Bees Lose to the Rox in a Home Run Derby

(NEW BRITAIN, CT) -- The first night game of the 2022 season at New Britain Stadium saw The New Britain Bees hosting the Brockton Rox on a cloudy, overcast, and wild Friday evening. 2,147 fans came out to the park to watch the Bees fall to the Rox in a home run derby. 

Chris Gibbs (Mitchell College/New Britain, CT) got the start for his hometown New Britain Bees. The New Britain native allowed 3 runs over 3.2 innings of work, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out two batters. He struggled with command in the later innings before manager Donnie Mckillop pulled him for Justin Lessing (Middlebury College/Westport, CT) in the fourth. 

Brockton opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the third inning. Chris Markovich (Boston College/Lebanon, NJ) and Jaden Sheffield (Georgetown University/Tampa, FL) each had an RBI in the inning to make it a 2-0 game.

The Bees answered right back in the bottom of the third, scoring two on a booming two-run double to the center field wall off the bat of catcher Chris Corliss (UMASS Boston/Hopkinton, MA). 

The Rox would take a 3-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI single from Peter Messervy (Harvard University/Weston, MA).

Brockton’s starter Tristen Spalter (Babson College, Sergeantsville, NJ) held New Britain to just two runs over five innings of work.

Matthew DeRosa (Quinnipiac University/North Haven, CT) tied the game at three in the bottom of the seventh with a huge RBI single off Brockton reliever Ben Spencer (Clark University/New Holland, PA). 

New Britain relievers Lessing, Davis Hanson (Yale University/Winston Salem, NC) combined for 5.1 shutout innings in relief, striking out seven batters.

Chris Benton (College of the Holy Cross/Southport, CT) gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth on a wild pitch, allowing Markovich to score and giving Brockton a 4-3 lead. 

The Bees still had fight left in them. After back-to-back walks in the bottom of the inning, Keegan O’Connor laced a single to left field. Left fielder Peter Messervy (Harvard University/ Weston, MA) could not pick up the ball, which allowed CJ Brito-Trinidad (Bowdoin College/South Kent, CT) to score and tie the game at 4.

10 innings was not enough for these two teams and a home run derby would happen to determine the winner. The rules are simple: hit as many home runs before recording 10 outs.

Brockton sent Manny Ramirez Jr. (Tallahassee Community College/ Weston, FL) and New Britain sent Matt Goehrig (Post University/Clifton, NJ) to take swings. Both players hit two home runs, which sent things into an extra round; now only five outs are being recorded.

Ramirez and Goehrig took the swings again in round two. Ramirez hit three home runs, including two off the scoreboard, to win the game for the Rox. Goehrig would hit one. 

New Britain travels to Burlington Vermont tomorrow night to take on the Vermont Lake Monsters at Centennial Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM. The Bees return home on Tuesday, May 31st to host the Worcester Bravehearts at 10:35 AM with a school day promotion.