Mainers keep pace with 7-5 victory against Laconia
July 24, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Sanford, ME- The Sanford Mainers (20-12) took an early 3-to-0 lead on the Laconia Muskrats (16-17) in the bottom of the first inning, Drake Parker (Vandy) worked a leadoff walk then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cory Raley (Texas Tech) started his 2-for-5 day with an RBI single, Stevie Berman (Santa Clara) ripped a double that drove in another RBI, Matt Pagano (Marist) worked another walk, followed by the third walk of the inning to Caden Bailey (Georgia State) and Matt Harris (St. John's) grounded into a fielder's choice 4-to-6 which brings in Berman to put the score at 3-to-0 after 1 inning of play.
Laconia would answer back in the top of the 4th inning, Braxton Martinez hits a single to right to lead off the inning, Colton Bottomley drives a double to left field scoring Martinez. Ben Miller would come up and line a single to left bringing in Bottomley to cut the lead to 3-to-2 Mainers. After the first the Mainers were only able to muster 3 hits against reliever Mariano Rivera, who replaced Muskrats starter Jason Carmichael in the first inning, heading into the 4th inning. The 'Rats would score two more runs in the top of the 5th to take a 4-to-3 lead.
The Mainers would immediately erase that lead in the bottom half of the 5th with 2 runs on 1 hit. Raley would lead off with a bunt single and moved all the way around to third on a throwing error to catcher Jake Henson that sailed all the way to the Muskrats bullpen and into the far corner in foul territory down the right field line. Berman walked, Pagano's suicide squeeze bunt attempt caught Raley at home on a nice play by Braxton Martinez, Bailey walked, Kendall Patrick (Michigan) walked with the bases loaded scoring a run, Sam Balzano (UMaine) walked bringing in the 5th run making it a 5-to-5 game.
The Mainers would fall behind in the top of the 7th inning 6-to-5 and storm back in the bottom of the 7th, Drake Parker would once again come up huge for the Mainers with two runners on, driving in two runs on an single to center field bringing home Pagano and Walker Pennington (TCU) to put the Moose up for good, 7-to-5.
Rich Vrana struggled at the onset for the Mainers allowing 4 earned runs in 4.1 innings on 10 hits moving his 0.40 ERA to 1.67. The bullpen was called upon again and did just enough to complete a victory. Cody Dube (Keene State College) gets the win working 0.1 innings recording one strikeout, allowing just one hit and no runs dropping his ERA to 1.93 on the season. It is Cody's first win of the season (1-0). Cam Hatch ties for the lead league in saves with his 7th pitching the top of the 9th recording 1 strikeout to put away Joey Bielek and the Muskrats 7-to-5.
Drake Parker finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI's, Cory Raley went 2-for-5 with 1 RBI, Stevie Berman scored two runs and drove in one RBI during his 1-for-4 night, Caden Bailey went 1-for-1, Matt Harris plated an RBI, as did Kendall Patrick and Sam Balzano finished 1-for-1 with a couple of walks and an RBI.
• Discuss this story on the New England Collegiate Baseball League message board...
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 24, 2014
- VT Mountaineers defeat Plymouth Pilgrims 2-1 - Vermont Mountaineers
- Mainers keep pace with 7-5 victory against Laconia - Sanford Mainers
- Sosebee shuts down Newport in 1-0 Swamp Bats victory - Keene Swamp Bats
- Sanford vs Vermont Double Header July 28 - Sanford Mainers
- Swamp Bats vs. Ocean State Game Suspended - Keene Swamp Bats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
