'Cats Storm Back to Top Mountaineers, 6-2, Fridy at Home

July 5, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - For the second night in a row, North Adams found itself behind in a ballgame heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, and for the second night in a row, the SteepleCats stormed back from a two-run deficit, using a three-spot in the seventh and three more in the eighth to stun Vermont, 6-2, in an NECBL Westesrn Division showdown on Friday night at Joe Wolfe Field.

Moving back to .500 on the year, the SteepleCats (10-10) were held to just two hits through their first six at-bats, but just like last night, the home side exploded late in the game, this time snapping the Mountaineers' (14-5) five-game winning streak in the process.

Thanks to starter Cameron Sorgie's strong efforts, North Adams was kept in check on offense through six innings. But in the seventh, leadoff hitter Bryan Soloman (Eastern Kentucky) started the rally with a single. Following a double off the bat of freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine), the 'Cats had the tying runs in scoring position with one out, as Vermont turned to reliever Joey Graziano who had been brilliant over the last two weeks.

But in a span of moments, North Adams tied it up on sophomore John Razzino's (Franklin Pierce) two-RBI single and moved to third after an error in center. Moments later, pinch hitter Dominic Severino (CCSU) promptly gave the home side the lead on his deciding RBI single, and just like that the SteepleCats owned a 3-2 lead after seven innings.

Meanwhile, after struggling early, sophomore ace Scott Squier (Hawaii) made sure the late-game surge on offense would hold, retiring the Mountaineers in order in the eighth before allowing his offense another chance at some insurance runs.

The home side did just that, as junior Garrett Tuck (UC San Diego) knocked in another run with men at second and third before pinch hitter Jacob Huckabay (UT-Pan American) ended the onslaught with another two-RBI double, accounting for the final margin of victory.

In the ninth, sophomore Joeanthony Rivera (Barry) faced the minimum in a non-save situation, wrapping up the Mountaineers with back-to-back strikeouts to seal another comeback win.

In total, North Adams finished with a 10-4 edge in hits after trailing, 4-2, entering the seventh. Junior Joe Landi (URI) enjoyed a big night at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Huckabay led the way with two RBI.

Squier would wind up with the win (1-1) after tossing eight innings of four-hit ball, allowing two runs with five strikeouts and two walks. The southpaw retired the final 13 batters he faced, and overall, he and Rivera combined to sit down the last 16 Vermont batters from the top of the fourth inning onward.

Following a scoreless first, Vermont tagged Squier for a pair of hits to take a one-run lead in the second. Kenny Towns led off the frame with a hit, moved to second on a walk and took third on a sacrifice before Josh Nethaway singled him home, putting the visitors on top, 1-0, after two innings.

Vermont added to that lead after Kyle Smith doubled with two outs in the fourth, and a batter later Brad Kaczka drove him home on a base knock to center field.

But following one more walk, that would be the last time a Mountaineer would reach base on the night, as North Adams waited until the final third of the contest to explode back for the second night in a row.

The SteepleCats hit the road to round out the week at Keene tomorrow (July 6). The two teams will play a makeup, seven-inning doubleheader after an earlier contest was rained out. First pitch from Alumni Field is set for 5 p.m.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 5, 2013


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