WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State rising senior reliever Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North HS) tossed an inning in relief in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League all-star game in Burlington, Vermont on Tuesday, part of what has been a sensational summer for the Owls' closer.
"It was awesome," said Espinola of his all-star game appearance at historic Centennial Field in front of a league record crowd of 4,415 fans. "It was a LOT of people. The league made the game a great experience, there were so many people there, so friendly, cheering everything, and I got to meet a bunch of guys on the team that I didn't know before."
Espinola helped hold the lead as he pitched the third inning for 'Team Mountain', allowing a hit and an unearned run as the Mountain defeated 'Team Lake,' 3-1 in the midseason exhibition.
Espinola rolled into the Futures League off of a good spring with the Owls, where he picked up four saves and four wins with a 2.33 era.
"Coach Bashaw asked me near the end of the season if I was interested in a 10-game temporary contract with the Westfield Starfires to start the year, and I figured why not give it a try."
Futures League players often sign 10-game contracts early in the year as Division I teams generally play later into the spring for the NCAA tournament, which delays players from arriving for the start of summer ball.
Espinola got off to hot start with the Starfires and was offered a full-season contract.
"I originally thought I'd play the 10 games and go home for the summer and work, but after coach (Kyle) Dembrowski offered me the full season, I talked it over with my parents and we thought it was a great opportunity. Coach Dembrowski put his trust in me and I've had the most appearances out of the bullpen of anyone so far."
Espinola said that stepping into the Owls closer role this spring really helped to prepare him for the futures league, which is a blend of high-level collegiate players from Division I, II, and III, NAIA and Junior College programs.
"The spring really helped with my confidence," he said. "Being a closer you are almost always working in stressful moments in tight games or with men on base, and I think I carried that experience into the start of the season here. I wanted to pound the strike zone, and throw strikes, and I haven't walked a hitter yet this summer, so it's working out so far. You really want the team to believe in you, so you pound the zone and get ahead in the count."
Pitching against elite level hitters will also help Espinola in his return to Westfield State next season.
"The best hitters here have different approaches at the plate, they see the ball better. If you don't get ahead in the count, they can really make you pay, so it teaches you to be at your best," said Espinola, who has struck out 27 hitters in 24.1 innings of work for the Starfires, and has a 3-1 record with one save.
"Pitching with the Starfires has been a great experience, he said. "Everyone has been so welcoming, and coach Dembrowski really just wants us all to improve while we are here so we go back to our college programs as better players."
Espinola has several Owls teammates playing with him on the Starfires roster – pitchers Ryan Donahue and Joe Fischer, and IF/OF Dan Burnett.
Espinola said the thing he hopes to take back to the Owls this fall is to "Keep pounding the zone. Free passes really hurt. Being in charge, 0-2, 1-2 on the hitter pays dividends."