Bartlett Shuts Down Mainers, Leads Brigade to Victory
July 30, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
On Monday night the Mainers found themselves in similar spot, in a three game losing streak. With only six games left in the season the thought of playoffs was getting more difficult to grasp, and the Saratoga Brigade made it even harder defeating the Mainers 3-1. The story of the game was Brigade starter Dan Bartlett who pitched 7.2 scoreless innings allowing only three hits while striking out two. He allowed only two base runners in the first three innings, giving up a single to Anthony Papio in the second and a walk to Robert Wayman in the third. From that point forward he retired 15 Mainers hitters in a row before giving up a single to Matt Verrier in the eighth.
Cody Dube got the start for the Mainers, his first, and potentially last appearance on the hill for the Moose. The Southern Maine Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year in 2012 looked good through the beginning of the game, retiring the first seven Brigade hitters he faced. In the top of the third Jordan Striegel reached on a bunt single, but took off for second when Dube's throw was off the mark. Craig McConaughy singled up the middle allowing Striegel to come in to score the game's first run.
The Brigade had a 1-0 lead going into the fifth and capitalized again and jumping ahead 3-0. Brian Taylor led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Striegel dropped down a sacrifice bunt pushing Taylor to third. McConaughy then hit a fly ball to center allowing Taylor to score. Gage Green stepped up with the bases empty and one out and was hit by a pitch and immediately scored when Zach Looney hit the Brigade's first triple of the summer to the deepest part of Goodall Park. Charlie Butler came into the game in the sixth and as light's out the rest of the way, tossing four innings in relief surrendering only two hits.
The Mainers put a scare on the Brigade in the ninth when Sam Balzano started the inning with an infield single. Hunter Abbe came into the game and walked Daniel Nevares. Abbe came back and got Nic Wilson and Papio on strikes, but walked Verrier to load the bases. With two outs, Nate LaPointe stepped into the box in a big spot and lined a single to right plating Scott Heath who pinch ran for Balzano for the Mainers first run. Wayman grounded to second to end the game. Now on a four game losing streak, the Mainers find themselves in an unfamiliar spot. If the Moose are unable to reach the last playoff spot, this will be the first time since the inaugiral season that the Mainers will not even have the chance to go on the hunt for the championship trophy. The only other time close to this situation was a one game playoff game in attempt to grab that final spot in 2007.
The Mainers will host the New Bedford Bay Sox on Tuesday night at 6:30pm. Evan Hill will try and mimic his last start in Mystic tonight for the Moose.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2013
- Blue Sox Drop 1-0 Game to Saratoga - Valley Blue Sox
- Gulls Raise over $10,000 for Heather Abbott, Sweep Double Header - Newport Gulls
- Bay Sox Doubled up by Sanford - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Keene Keeps Winning, Defeat North Adams 3-1 - Keene Swamp Bats
- 'Cats Drop Final Contest at Keene, 3-1, Tuesday Night - North Adams SteepleCats
- Bay Sox Power Their Way Past Muskrats, 13-6 - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Bartlett Shuts Down Mainers, Leads Brigade to Victory - Sanford Mainers
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