Danbury holds on to defeat Keene 9-8 in playoff series opener
Published on August 7, 2012 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
Keene N.H. - In a nail-biter with many offensive rallies and great defensive plays, the Danbury Westerners came up on top in the Western Division Finals series opener against Keene, defeating the Swamp Bats 9-8.
After Keene starter Ryan Horstman (St. John's) struck out the side in the top of the first, the Swamp Bats and the Westerners proceeded to exchange runs throughout the game.
Keene scored in the first off an RBI single from Grant Kay (Iowa Western Community College). Danbury answered in the second with a leadoff home run from Andrew Garner (Tulane) and a two-run homer by Tyler Gurman (Westchester Community College) to give the Westerners a 3-1 lead.
Danbury continued its powerful hitting in the third, pulling ahead 6-1 on a two-run home run by Zach Shank (Marist) and a solo homer from Jake Stinnett (Maryland). The Swamp Bats answered in the bottom of the inning on a Kay RBI single and a Jared Walsh (Georgia) two-out-two-run single to put Keene within two.
The Westerners added a run on a homer from Michael Thomas (Kentucky) in the top of the fourth off of Keene reliever Joshua Ingham (Central Connecticut St.). It is the first time this summer that Thomas has gone deep, and the hit put Danbury up 7-4 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Dylan Moore (Cypress Community College) led off with a single and Dylan Delacruz (Central Connecticut St.) singled to advance Moore to third base. Kay followed with a two-out RBI single, chasing Danbury starter David Gibson (Southern N.H.) off the mound. John Porter (Fordham) entered and proceeded to strike out JP Sportman (Central Connecticut St.). The pitch got by the Westerners' catcher and Sportman reached first to load the bases. Porter then hit Frankie Schwindel (St. John's) to plate Mike Papi (Virginia) and make the score 7-6.
Keene's Brett Barrett (Southern Maine) tied the game in the fifth inning on a leadoff home run. Danbury's Tom Zengel (North Carolina) answered with an RBI double in the sixth to regain the lead.
The Swamp Bats rallied in the seventh inning off of Westerner reliever Eric Luksis (Tampa). Walsh led off with a single, and one out later Fran Whitten (Maine) singled. Moore bunted to load the bases for Papi. Papi earned a seven pitch walk to score Walsh, tie the game, and force Luksis off the rubber with just one out. Tom Coughlin (Central Connecticut St.) replaced Luksis and retired the next two batters, preventing any go-ahead runs to score.
Walsh toed the rubber for the eighth and struck out the side. Coughlin did his job as well, retiring the side in the bottom of the inning. Heading into the ninth, the score was knotted at 8-8.
Daniel Spingola (Georgia Tech) hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth to put Danbury up 9-8. Moore then converted an impressive backhanded 6-4-3 double play with Kay and Barrett to get out of the inning, but the damage was done, as the Swamp Bats went into the bottom of the inning trailing by one.
Keene was unable to reach base against closer Stinnett, dropping game one of the best of three playoff series 9-8. Stinnett earns the win and Walsh earns the loss.
The Swamp Bats head to Danbury, CT Wednesday night in must-win situation. First pitch at Rogers Park is scheduled for 6:30pm.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 7, 2012
- Newport Gulls Advance to NECBL Championship Series - Newport Gulls
- Danbury holds on to defeat Keene 9-8 in playoff series opener - Keene Swamp Bats
- Newport Stamps Mainers Season End in Game Three - Sanford Mainers
- Top 4 Seeds Advance in NECBL First Round Playoffs - NECBL
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