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Doonan's Walk-Off Sends Rox To Third Straight Win

July 27, 2012 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Old Orchard Beach News Release


Brockton, Mass. - Tied at three in the bottom of the 11th, Cohasset's Brendan Doonan (Rhode Island) smacked a two-out single into right field to score Tanner Reibenspies (San Diego State) and send the Brockton Rox to a 4-3 victory over the Martha's Vineyard Sharks on Friday night at Campanelli Stadium in Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) action.

It was quite the night for Doonan on Friday; not only did he notch the game-winning single, but the right-hander also recorded the win (2-1) after tossing three shutout innings of relief. Doonan stymied Martha's Vineyard (22-16) through the final three frames, surrendering just one hit and one walk along the way.

After neither team had scratched a run since the sixth inning, Brockton (20-20) threatened in the bottom of the 11th inning when Reibenspies ripped a one-out single to left field. Moments later, Reibenspies stole second to get into scoring position, which set the stage for Doonan's two-out, walk-off single that propelled the Rox to their third-straight victory.

The Sharks jumped out to the early lead after Jack Colton (Harvard) came around to score on an error in the first inning, but Brockton answered back an inning later to tie the game when Reibenspies laced a double to left field that scored East Bridgewater's Greg Baggett (Bentley).

Martha's Vineyard regained the lead in the fourth thanks to some heads up base-running from Apolinar De La Cruz (Wheaton) made it, 2-1. With runners on the corners, Eric Brenk (Wofford) took off for second base and was promptly caught in a pickle following the throw down to second. However, as Brockton was in the midst of tagging out Brenk, De La Cruz scampered home to score before Brenk was tagged out and give the visitors the one-run lead.

Yet, just as they did all game long, the Rox answered right back in the bottom half of the frame after an RBI double from Luis Gonzalez (Concordia) plated Baggett and knotted the game at two.

The back and forth action continued in the top of the fifth as the Sharks once again regained the lead thanks to an RBI single from Karl Kapinos (Holyoke C.C.). Brockton soon bounced back to tie the game in the sixth after an RBI fielder's choice from Mike Lupia (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) plated Baggett and made it, 3-3.

Following six stellar innings from Vito Perna (Southeastern Louisiana), the Brockton bullpen stole the show late in the game to keep the Sharks off the scoreboard and keep the Rox in the game. After Kyle Capaldo (Fairfield) struck out the side in the sixth, Westwood's John Sheehan (William and Mary) dominated Martha's Vineyard in the seventh and the eighth, fanning five batters in two flawless frames.

In his first start since July 15th, Perna allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk, while his counterpart, Dan Weigel (Bucknell), conceded three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks in seven strong innings of work for Martha's Vineyard.

The Sharks also received an excellent effort from reliever Kyle Brenner (Brandeis) as the right-hander struck out three while allowing just two hits in three scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Ronnie Rosario (Franklin Pierce) was tagged with the loss (0-1) after surrendering one run on two hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of work.

The Rox were led offensively by Baggett, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, and three runs scored. Reibenspies was outstanding as well for the hosts as the shortstop went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, a stolen base, and the game-winning run. A.J. Lardo (Maryland) and Norton's Sean Ryan (Wheaton) also finished with a pair of hits to highlight Brockton's night at the plate.

On the other end, Colton, Kapinos, and Cale Hanson (Yale) each finished with a pair of hits to pace Martha's Vineyard offensively.

The Rox hit the road to face the North Shore Navigators on Saturday night at 7 p.m., while the Sharks return home to face the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide at 5 p.m.

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