WILBRAHAM - The game wasn't a close shave, although Mike Krupczak could have given himself one after he pitched his team to a berth in the Tri-County Baseball League finals.
Krupczak allowed just three hits over seven innings Friday as Wilbraham Funeral Home topped the visiting Chicopee Falls Tigers 6-1 to sweep their best-of-three TCL semifinal series at Farrell Field at Spec Pond.
Following Krupczak's gem, as he was speaking to a reporter, one of his teammates smeared Krupczak's face with shaving cream in mid-sentence.
"That was probably the last thing I was expecting," the former Cathedral High School and current Stonehill College standout said as he wiped the cream out of his eyes.
The winning pitcher took it in stride - all part of the experience with one of the league's closest-knit squads. A third-year player like Krupczak benefits from grizzled TCL veterans like longtime catcher Anthony Gorneault.
"You've got experience back there, especially Ant. I love throwing to him, and he always knows what he's doing back there," Krupczak said after his six-strikeout, no-walk performance. "It's great to have a vet like that back there. It means a lot to a lot of guys out there, so I'm just going out there to try to help this team."
WIlbraham Funeral Home must wait until at least Saturday night to find out its next opponent and until at least Monday to play. PeoplesBank and St. Joseph's opened their series Friday, and the league hopes to give the teams a day off between series.
Chicopee Falls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Zach Theulen. However, Wilbraham broke the game open with four runs in their half of the inning.
The first six batters reached base, and Greg Heineman drove in the first two runs on a deep shot to center field that was misplayed for an error. A fielder's choice by Brady Forrest and an RBI groundout by Gorneault plated the other two runs.
"It helps you focus more to just throw strikes," Krupczak said of the cushion. "I got to use my defense more instead of having to place every pitch perfectly."
Krupczak got out of the second after Marcus MacDonald - who was pinch running after Nick Dowell pulled a hamstring on a double - was picked off and Jeremy Hartbarger grounded out.
From there, Krupczak allowed only one other baserunner - Hartbarger on a fifth-inning error.
"I was just going out throwing strikes," Krupczak said. "I had a fantastic team behind me. Kevin (Baker) made a couple of nice plays at short, and we got the job done, thankfully."
Mike Bombard went 2 for 2 with a double to deep center in the third. He scored on Forrest's double. Bombard scored the final run after Chicopee Falls reliever Alex DeVivo balked with Forrest at the plate.
Tigers starter Kenny Vautrin struck out Ted Lerud to start the fifth but left with elbow soreness after one pitch to the next batter. Vautrin shook off the rough first inning by retiring Wilbraham in order in the second.
Source: http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/07/wilbraham_funeral_home_punches.html
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