According to coach Joe Siciliano, windy conditions may have affected the Tigers in their 6-4 loss to Braintree at home Monday.

However, junior Brendan Ryan, who started, pitched efficiently through seven innings. Ryan gave up only one run in his last inning. “Brendan’s pitching was amazing,” Siciliano said.
Up 3-1 after the seventh, the Tiger bullpen gave up five runs in the eighth. Braintree’s hits of the inning included two triples.

“Our relief pitching wasn’t bad though,” Siciliano said. “Braintree kept hitting those long fly balls, which went over our heads because of the wind. Both of us hit for triples, and I think if conditions were different, those big hits might have been outs.”

Siciliano said that the team’s fielding was also strong. The team turned two double plays early on, and junior Daniel Swain hustled to make many difficult catches in centerfield.
According to Siciliano, if pitchers like Ryan continue to pitch with success, the team will benefit. “If our pitchers stay healthy, it could be a very interesting year,” he said.
To do this, Siciliano said, “We’ll just have to condition, and make sure we don’t over pitch.”
Although Ryan pitched seven innings Monday, he kept the pitch count very low, at 102.