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'Cats Topple Bay Sox, Improve to 3-0 on Young Season

June 9, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Leading by just a run in the bottom of the sixth, North Adams erupted for four runs and survived a late New Bedford rally to topple the Bay Sox, 5-3, and remain undefeated on the young season in a cross-divisional NECBL showdown on Sunday afternoon at Joe Wolfe Field.

Thanks to three hits and four walks issued by the Bay Sox (1-2) pitching staff, the SteepleCats (3-0) turned a one-run lead into a 5-0 advantage after six innings. The visitors would rally with three runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying runs on board, but freshman Trevor Swaney (Wright State) buckled down after some initial trouble before junior Anthony Mannuccia (Hartford) picked up his first save of the year with a perfect ninth.

Those efforts were enough to preserve the win for sophomore starter Casey Brown (Central Connecticut), who kept the Bay Sox bats at bay with six innings of four-hit ball, striking out two and walking two in the process. Swaney finished with three runs allowed over two innings with three strikeouts and three walks before Mannuccia faced the minimum in the ninth.

Bay Sox starter Frank Vilacha (0-1) pitched well but took the tough-luck loss on two runs over five innings and six hits, finishing with three strikeouts and two walks allowed. The New Bedford bullpen struggled after his exit, as Brendan O'Rourke and Aaron Graef allowed three more runs and combined for two hits, four walks and no strikeouts. Colin Brown provided some stability by keeping the SteepleCats off the board over the remainder of the game.

With no score in the fifth, North Adams got aboard after Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) walked and advanced to second on a hit-and-run play to avoid an inning-ending double play. Then, after another walk, sophomore Daniel Bick (Georgia College) ripped a hot shot to short that deflected off the infielder and into center to score the first run of the game.

An inning later, North Adams poured on four runs starting with an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Julian Loret de Mola (Nova Southeastern). Then, with two outs and two on, freshman Jose Cuas (Maryland) drove in his first batter of the summer before three consecutive walks forced in another two SteepleCat runs, making it 5-0 in favor of the home side after six.

But New Bedford fought back with three in the top of the seventh, as Swaney was greeted by a double, a single, a walk and a two-RBI double before he settled down. The right-hander got a strikeout and induced a run-scoring groundout before striking out the final batter of the game looking. From there on out, Swaney yielded just a walk and a fielder's choice before Mannuccia tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to end it.

Looking to match its best start in franchise history with a win tomorrow, the SteepleCats stay at home to host Keene on Monday (June 10). First pitch from Joe Wolfe Field is slated for 6:30 p.m.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 9, 2013


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