Niemiec Shines in Starfires’ Narrow Loss to Bees
NEW BRITAIN, CONN. – In a thrilling season finale at New Britain Stadium, Westfield native and Cornell University freshman Connor Niemiec showcased his talent by delivering five shutout innings during his final start of the 2025 campaign for the Westfield Starfires. Despite Niemiec’s outstanding performance, the Starfires fell short against the New Britain Bees, 3-2.
The Starfires, with a record of 15-41-2, struggled to convert opportunities into runs, while the Bees improved to 27-30-1, clinching a playoff spot with the win. After a scoreless first two innings, Boston College’s Ben Williams ignited the scoring in the third, capitalizing on a passed ball to make it 1-0.
In the fifth inning, Northeastern’s Cooper Tarantino hit a valuable double, allowing another run to cross the plate, bringing the Starfires’ lead to 2-1. However, New Britain responded by loading the bases and tying the game with a sacrifice fly before taking the lead in the eighth inning. Hit by a pitch and followed by singles from Colin Crowley and Caleb Miller, the Bees turned the game in their favor.
Starfires outfielders Evan Menzel, Anthony Ruggiero, and Josh Frometa all reached base multiple times, with Frometa achieving a career milestone of 150 safe reaches. Niemiec, who struck out three and walked no batters, ends the season with 29 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings.
As the Starfires prepare for their final home games on Fan Appreciation Weekend, including special appearances by Boston sports figures, fans can look forward to an exciting conclusion to the 2025 season. Tickets are available at www.westfieldstarfires.com.
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