WP Ethan Ferreira allows no earned runs while Brett Fonseca, Nate Ladeira deliver RBI hits

Greg Sullivan Herald News Staff Reporter

FALL RIVER – Durfee followed through on this threat.

The Hilltoppers rallied for three seventh-inning runs without an out recorded to walk off with a 3-2 baseball win over Barnstable on Wednesday at sunny and warm Skip Lewis Field.


Brett Fonseca single ties game for Durfee. Hilltoppers do all their scoring bottom 7th to defeat Barnstable 3-2. @DurfeeAthletics pic.twitter.com/DbqLQmrxwD


— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN) May 23, 2018//
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Durfee had failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the sixth. And that wasn’t the season’s first fizzled late-game rally attempt for the up-and-down Hilltoppers (9-7), now one win short of qualifying for the Division 1 South playoffs.

“As a group, I think this is the one we’ve been looking for all year,” Durfee coach Dave Ulmschneider said. “We’ve had a lot of one-run games that didn’t go our way. And I think this is the first that one we came from behind and fought and clawed. And it’s a sign of a good team. When they click on all cylinders, they’re a really good team.”

Through little fault of complete-game winning pitcher Ethan Ferreira (5 hits, 0 earned runs), the Hilltoppers came to the home half of the seventh down 2-0 and with three hits off Barnstable’s fast-working righthander Zach Nelson.

Curtis Perry led the Durfee seventh with a line single to left and Tommy Lambert followed with an infield single, a grounder which third baseman Colby Burke gloved with a dive to his left. Looking to sacrifice, Jose Arrieta out-did himself, dropping a picture bunt down the third base line and reaching safely as Barnstable failed to cover first base.

Leadoff batter Matt Saunders drew a four-pitch walk to make the score 2-1 and mark the end of Nelson’s day.

Brett Fonseca (2-for-4) tied the game by scorching a 2-0 fast ball from reliever Casey Brown for a single to left field. Ulmscheider said he gave no thought to giving Fonseca the take sign after Burke threw the two balls.

“He’s been one of our more consistent guys all year,” Ulmschneider said. “So on that count you think you’re going to get a fast ball down the middle and I’m not going to hamstring him.”

The game lasted two pitches longer. With the infield in, Nate Ladeira lined a 1-0 delivery single to right-center. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit, and he gave me one,” Ladeira said.


Nate Ladeira RBI single caps 3-run Durfee rally in bottom 7th as Hilltoppers win 3-2 over Barnstable. @DurfeeAthletics pic.twitter.com/uEsETzxSBR


— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN) May 23, 2018//
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Barnstable (8-8) collected four of its five hits over the first two innings. The Red Raiders scored both runs in the second inning. With two down, a soft single, a walk and an infield single load the bases. An infield error and a hit batsman forced in the runs.

Ferreira walked two, struck out five, stranded six runners and benefited from catch Zak Souza throwing out two Red Raiders trying to steal second.


Durfee's Nate Ladeira after his game-winning walkoff single against Barnstable @DurfeeAthletics pic.twitter.com/V0v8KFgISE


— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN) May 24, 2018

“He (Ferreira) was unbelievable,” Ulmschneider said. “He has been very consistent all year long. He just pounds the zone. He can throw three pitches for strikes. He had the really good changeup today. He was able to keep them off balance. They’re a good fast-ball hitting team.”

While limiting Durfee to one hit through the first four innings, Nelson was aided by three fine catches by Pat Sheran in deep center field. Saunders, Durfee’s center fielder, made a superb catch of a deep Alex Novocan blast to end the second inning with the bases loaded.

Durfee was coming off Tuesday’s 9-0 win over Bishop Connolly in which Cameron Macedo spun a complete-game two-hitter.

Ladeira was 2-for-2 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. He belted the first pitch he saw for a two-run home run in the home half of the first inning.

Teammate Matt Saunders was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and an RBI. Remy Dumont blasted a solo home run in the fifth inning. Thomas Johnston (double, single) had both hits for Bishop Connolly (1-13).

Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.