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| Former Chase Collegiate standout Kyle Bonicki hit .429 in five playoff games for the Nashua Silver Knights, who captured their second straight FCBL championship. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, 2017 file photo) |
The Nashua Silver Knights entered the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Playoffs as the defending champion.
They also entered as the No. 5 seed out of six teams, meaning it would be a longer road to a repeat. Nashua pulled it off, and Kyle Bonicki got to bask in championship glory after the Silver Knights defeated the Worcester Bravehearts 2-0 Saturday at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H., to sweep the best-of-three series.
Nashua began its run with a 5-2 road win over the No. 4 Pittsfield Suns at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Mass. Next up were the No. 2 Bristol Blues, who had a first round bye.
Enter Bonicki.
Bonicki went 4-for-5, including a double and triple, drove in three runs and scored three more in a wild 10-9 victory over the Blues at Holman. In the decisive eighth inning, Bonicki singled and later scored the go-ahead run behind Cam Cook on a single from Anthony Meduri.
Game 2 was at Bristol’s Muzzy Field, not far from where Bonicki played his high school baseball, Chase Collegiate in Waterbury. Bonicki singled and scored in the top of the third inning as the Silver Knights opened up a 3-0 lead. Bonicki reached base twice in the game. Nashua scored a single run in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and sweep the series.
Game 1 of the championship series was played at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass. Nashua and Worcester were deadlocked at 1-1 entering the top of the sixth inning. Bonicki singled with one out, then Ryan Sullivan blasted a two-run home run to put the Silver Knights ahead 3-1. Nashua tacked on another run in the ninth for a 4-1 victory.
The Silver Knights returned home to the raucous Holman Stadium, and they captured a second straight league championship for the 2,469 in attendance with a 2-0 victory.
Nashua was up 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bonicki stepped to the plate with Ted Williams on second base. Bonicki’s single scored Williams and gave the Silver Knights a 2-0 cushion. Four Nashua pitchers made the lead stand up, and the home side celebrated a championship with its fans.
Bonicki hit .429 in the championship and semifinal series, and that wound up being his average for the entire postseason (9-for-21). He drove in four runs and scored five more.
