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Landi, 'Cats Top Westerners, 5-4, in Extras Thursday at Rogers Park

July 18, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


DANBURY, Conn. - With the game all even at four aside heading to extra innings, junior Joe Landi (URI) led off the frame with one of his four hits on the night and eventually scored, and that was enough for North Adams to top Danbury, 5-4, in extra innings in a NECBL Western Division battle on Thursday night at Rogers Park.

Playing just their second game of the season against Danbury and their second such extra-inning contest, the SteepleCats (13-16) were bolstered by a three-run home run from freshman Kevin Martir (Maryland) midway through the game and withheld the Westerners (12-17) in their final at-bat of the night to improve to 2-0 on the year against Danbury.

But it was Landi's heroics in the 10th that proved to be the difference, as the rising senior laid down a bunt single - his second of the night - in the top of the 10th to lead the frame off. Then, after a sacrifice bunt, the speedster stole third base with one out - his third stolen bag of the night - before eventually coming in on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the 10th, fellow NECBL All-Star Joeanthony Rivera (Barry) worked around a leadoff single, striking out one and using a pickoff to nab a potential stolen base before snagging a line drive back to the mound to pick up his third win of the season.

Junior right-hander Anthony Mannuccia (Hartford) pitched well over five innings, giving up three runs - two earned - while striking out six and yielding four hits and one walk. He was in line for the win until Danbury tied the contest in the bottom of the seventh against southpaw Steve Frey (Monmouth), who gave up a run on two hits over two innings.

For the Westerners, Steven Ascher was in line for the loss but his offense took him off the hook with some late offense. The southpaw finished with four runs allowed on seven hits and added six strikeouts. Jamie Pashuk took the loss out of the bullpen, giving up the one earned run on two hits while striking out five over three innings.

In total, North Adams finished with nine hits to Danbury's seven with Landi leading the way with four; Zachary Blanden, meanwhile, led the way with two hits for the home side.

North Adams struck early for a run in the first inning, as Landi led off the game with a single before a sacrifice moved him to second and a steal brought him to third, allowing freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) drove in the game's first run to make it 1-0 SteepleCats after the first.

But after two scoreless frames, the hosts bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bryan Perlmutter led off the inning with a walk and Daniel Spingola singled after him. Following a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alexander Cruz tied the match before the go-ahead run scored on an error.

Down by a run, the SteepleCats took the lead right back thanks to Martir's three-run homer. Freshman Jose Cuas (Maryland) helped the cause with a one-out single before Landi followed with a bunt hit, and with two outs, Martir blasted his first long ball over the left field wall to put the visitors on top, 4-2.

Danbury would get another run back in the home half of the inning, as Jonathan Testani reached on a hit by pitch before eventually scoring on an error following a dropped third strike. Then, two innings later, the resilient Westerners tied the match thanks to a pair of doubles, including the game-tying two-bagger from leadoff man Blanden, to even the contest at 4-4 after seven innings.

From there on out, both sides would put up zeroes until Landi's game-deciding run in the top of the 10th.

Next up, the SteepleCats return home for a Friday (July 19) home bout against Holyoke. First pitch from Joe Wolfe Field is set for 6:30 p.m.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 18, 2013


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