Bay Sox Edge SteepleCats 3-2

Published on June 26, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


New Bedford, MA - Drew Gadaire watched the line drive sink faster and lower. It's been quite the week for the junior from Davidson College, who watched his average drop to .148 after an 0-for-4 night in Keene on Tuesday. On Friday, Gadaire turned his season around in Laconia with three hits and was just a triple shy of the cycle in a 12-5 SteepleCats victory that saw the offense come alive for the second straight night. On the final night of the four game roadtrip, he was pushed up to the number 3 spot in the order, where he has yet to bat all season. With North Adams trailing 3-2 going into the ninth, the Gainesville, Florida native was already 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Following two out walks to Chantz Mack and Steven Zavala, Gadaire had his opportunity to keep the game going off Bay Sox closer Sam Dodge. He lined the 1-1 offering into right-center field. Note: Anyone in the pressbox at Paul Walsh Field will tell you that off the bat, the ball looked like it would fall for a base hit, allowing Mack to score the tying run. But as Gadaire left the batter's box and approached first base, he was still watching it sink faster and lower. The play and the game both came to a screeching halt when center fielder Colin Gay dove to his left and made the desperation catch to preserve the victory.

Neither the SteepleCats nor the Blue Sox did much offensively through the first five innings as ‘Cats starter Cody Kopilchak (0-1) was impressive for his second straight start, allowing just three hits during that span. Gadaire led off the sixth with a single and stole second off catcher Andy Lalli. Following a Kyle Boudreau strikeout, Cameron Griffin moved Gadaire to third with a hard groundout to second base. Brett Frantini then hit a soft roller to shortstop Graham Tyler, who could not get the ball out of his glove cleanly and was late on the throw to first base. Although the run off Blue Sox left-hander Rick Mangione was unearned, the ‘Cats didn't blink as they had scored the game's first run.

In the home sixth, Kopilchak worked from the stretch early after starting third baseman Bradley Shaban with a five pitch walk. Following a force out at second base off the bat of Gay that put him at first, the SteepleCats lefty produced the second out with a flyball to center from first baseman Dan Haugh. Next came the designated hitter Brandon Miller, who deposited Kopilchak's 1-1 offering over the wall in left center to give New Bedford a 2-1 lead. But North Adams responded to tie the game at 2 in the top of the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Zavala that scored second baseman Nico Hernandez, who began the inning with a walk.

New Bedford would re-take the lead in the home seventh at 3-2 by taking a page out of the SteepleCats Friday night book that opened and closed in Laconia. Kopilchak was dealing at this point, picking up two of his five strikeouts on the night in order against Mike Connolly and Charlie Neil to start the frame. The inning should have ended upon Lalli's groundball to shortstop Marc Magliaro, but the junior threw off his back foot and bounced the throw past Boudreau at first, allowing the Bay Sox catcher to advance to second. As the next hitter in the order, Tyler drove Kopilchak's 2-1 pitch into center field to score Lalli for the game's final run.

The SteepleCats (3-10) close out their weekend against the Eastern Division by returning to Joe Wolfe Field for a 6:30 date with the Newport Gulls (5-3). It's $1 Hot Dog Night at the Joe so make sure you head on out with the family or friends to take advantage of this amazing deal! Additionally, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive SteepleCat Pride bracelets and the 7th inning stretch will feature a special performance by guest artists from Solid Sound 11! Make sure you support the SteepleCats and listen or watch the game by accessing the TeamLine link on the team's website by visiting www.steeplecats.com or the league's website at www.necbl.com.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 26, 2011


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