'Cats Upend Raging Tide 7-4

Published on July 18, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


North Adams, MA - It had been a rather disappointing Parents Weekend up until Sunday afternoon at Joe Wolfe Field because the SteepleCats had lost two straight in contrasting fashions. On Friday night, the Mainers came into town and hung on to win 3-2 as the 'Cats squandered several opportunities to take control of the game in the final three innings. The following night against Western Division leader Danbury, North Adams had lost its fourth straight game to the Westerners after a four-run top of the eighth opened up the gap to 7-2 in what was, up until that point, the most contested meeting between the teams this season. For the second time in as many weeks, Clayton Kuklick had given his team time to think about what had transpired over the previous 24 hours. Therefore, when the Raging Tide arrived at the ballpark shortly after 5:00, they saw that the field was clear for them to get about thirty minutes of batting practice in before the game. Several SteepleCats did soft toss drills and hit off tees in the batting cage behind the third-base side of Joe Wolfe Field, while others sat down the left field line and ate a quick pre-game meal in the twilight of the season. The last time Kuklick had instructed his players to reflect and not take batting practice and infield-outfield, it was after a season-worst 17-4 loss in Vermont that came via seven errors. The following night, the boys in black and yellow rallied from 6-0 down to defeat Laconia at the Joe 10-8.

After Tim Thiesing worked a flawless top of the first, the SteepleCats struck first after Mike LeBel and Drew Gadaire provided back-to-back singles with one out. Cleanup hitter Jacob Daniel got jammed inside and rolled a fastball through the right side that snuck through to bring home LeBel. On the next pitch from Raging Tide starter Louis Concato, DH Steve Zavala grounded into an inning-ending 6-6-3 double play that was handled by shortstop Robbie Trask. In the bottom of the second, Cameron Griffin was hit by a Concato fastball on the second pitch of the frame. Justin Leeson stayed hot at the plate with a single, putting runners at first and second with nobody out after just four pitches. Mike Zavala then grounded into a fielder's choice 6-4 that put runners at the corners with one out for number 9 hitter Marc Magliaro. The 'Cats second baseman followed in Zavala's footsteps by reaching on a fielder's choice 6-4 that brought in the second run of the game. After Gadaire led off the third with a strikeout, Daniel collected his second straight base hit and quickly stole second off Raging Tide catcher Steven Wadsworth. Steve Zavala then sent a grounder to Kyle Stearns, who never looked comfortable fielding the ball and sent the throw to first wildly into the Old Orchard Beach dugout, scoring Daniel to give North Adams a 3-0 lead. That would be the last run Concato would allow, and he was pulled from the game shortly after his only 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. The Tide wasted no time in tying the game at 3 in the fourth thanks to four base hits and a walk off Thiesing, including a two run single by Trask and an RBI double by leadoff hitter Billy Bereszniewicz. With two outs and Bereszniewicz at second and Trask at third, Mike Fransoso lined a sinking line drive into right field that was caught by Daniel with a feet first slide to keep the game tied at 3. James Roche then crushed Thiesing's (2-3) second pitch of the fifth for a home run to left center, giving the Raging Tide their first lead at 4-3 and the second home run at the Joe in as many days. In the bottom half of the inning, Gadaire led off against Concato with a single before the Raging Tide right-hander walked Daniel on five pitches in what would be his last hitter of the game. Matt Cook (0-2) then plunked Steve Zavala to load the bases before walking Nico Hernandez to even the score (note: Hernandez had entered the game in Griffin's spot in the order in the top of the fourth, moving Magliaro from second to third). After Leeson fanned looking for the first out, Mike Zavala grounded out into a fielder's choice from third base to home that kept the bases loaded with two outs. Magliaro tallied his second straight RBI with a base hit to make it 5-4 before Chantz Mack provided the big blow with a two run single that would ultimately be the final scoring of the game.

SteepleCats Bullpen Notes:

-Trent Franzago was terrific in his first relief outing of the year since being re-assigned from the starting rotation. Franzago allowed just one hit and struck out three in the sixth and seventh innings, with his parents Chuck and Sandy in town from Georgia.

-Bryant Guilmette produced three groundouts in an easy 1-2-3 eighth inning.

-Gray Carden allowed back-to-back singles to Trask and Bereszniewicz with one out in the ninth; they moved to second and third on a passed ball. Fransoso then struck out swinging before Roche flew out to Leeson in center to give Carden his sixth save of the season.

The SteepleCats (11-19) will head to Newport to take on the Eastern Division leading Gulls (17-10) for the only time this season with a first pitch at Cardines Field coming at 6:30. You can catch all the action by accessing the TeamLine link at the bottom of the 'Cats website by visiting www.steeplecats.com. All broadcasts courtesy of the NECBL Broadcast Network.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 18, 2011


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