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Led by Rockefeller, Chaumette, and Others, Bay Sox Use Big Innings to Defeat SteepleCats 9-4

July 16, 2019 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
New Bedford Bay Sox News Release


The New Bedford Bay Sox scored four runs in the fifth and eighth innings on Tuesday night, erasing a deficit with the first outburst and putting the game out of reach with the second, as the home team took care of the North Adams SteepleCats 9-4.

Rafe Chaumette (Trinity) had two hits and scored three times, Tommy Seidl (Harvard) reached base three times and drove in a run, and both Thomas Blandini (Southern New Hampshire) and Andrew Rapoza (Barry) struck key RBI hits during the big innings. Jake Rockefeller (Rhode Island) picked up the win in his first start, tossing six strong innings before allowing a two-run homer in the top of the seventh. Rockefeller made eight appearances out of the bullpen this season, but pitched more than 1.2 innings just once prior to Tuesday night's start.

The SteepleCats ran out of a scoring chance in the top of the second inning, making two outs on the bases to help Rockefeller keep the first-place visitors off the board. Cleanup hitter Scout Knotts walked but was thrown out trying to swipe second base for the first out. Shane Muntz followed with a double down the line in left field, but was thrown out at third on a routine grounder to short for the second out of the inning.

The Bay Sox had their own threat end on the bases in the bottom of the third, with North Adams' centerfielder Tre Kirklin making a phenomenal play to start an inning-ending double play. Rapoza drew a one-out walk, and Josh Goldstein (Southern New Hampshire) doubled to left field to place the first two Bay Sox on base and in scoring position. Jack Winkler (San Francisco) - who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two steals - hit a fly ball to short center that looked like it would fall in, but Kirklin made a diving catch and jumped up to easily double up Goldstein at second, as both runners were anticipating the ball dropping and were way off their bases.

The heart of the SteepleCats order broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning, doing damage with two down to scratch across a single run. Knotts walked again, and Muntz followed with another base hit down the left field line. With runners at first and second, Paul Komistek singled to center to plate Knotts for a 1-0 North Adams lead.

North Adams brought another run across the board in the top of the fifth on an odd play at second base. Joseph Porricelli led off with a single to center, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Andrew Pedone bounced a slow grounder near second base, with Goldstein and Winkler colliding in the grass behind the infield. The subsequent throw went to third base, but was behind Porricelli, who had already broke for home and easily scored the second run of the evening. Rockefeller was able to escape the inning with just one run allowed, as the Cats tried to double-steal to plate another run with runners at the corners but Matthew Koperniak was nabbed at second base for the final out.

New Bedford chased starting pitcher Ben Shields with a leadoff single by Chaumette in the bottom of the fifth, then added two consecutive free passes by Seidl and Zach Buck (Holy Cross) packed the sacks with no outs. Rapoza hit a sac fly to right to score Chaumette, then with two outs, Winkler ripped a single over the head of the second baseman to plate Seidl and tie the game at 2-2. A passed ball put runners at second and third for Blandini, who rolled a grounder past second baseman Brian Picone to drive in two and give the home squad their first lead of the night.

The Bay Sox put an insurance run on the board in the sixth, with Chaumette doubling with one out and scoring on a single from Seidl. Seidl swiped two bases, but was stranded at third base after a deep drive to just in front of the warning track in right center field by Rapoza.

Rockefeller pitched into the seventh inning, but may have been left in too long, as Brian Picone doubled to left field, and Porricelli ended Rockefeller's night with a no-doubt blast to left field to cut the Bay Sox lead to 5-4. Christian Rosati (Southeastern) entered, and silenced the SteepleCats' bats in the seventh to preserve the slim lead.

Rosati retired the first five batters he faced, working into the eighth inning, but gave up back-to-back singles before being removed for Matthew Stansky (Bryant), who was able to escape the eighth by getting Picone to line sharply to first base for the final out.

That huge out set the table for the Bay Sox to put the game away, with Buck striking an RBI double to plate Chaumette, who reached on an odd fielder's choice on a dropped ball behind the infield, and Rapoza tripling to score Seidl and Buck then coming home on a throwing error.

The win moves New Bedford to 8-22 on the season, but 7-6 at home, while North Adams falls to 18-11.

The Bay Sox continue their hectic stretch of games this week, as they will host Danbury on Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader that has been moved up to 2pm due to the chance of storms at night. They will also be at home for a makeup game with Ocean State on Thursday, and play Vermont at Paul Walsh Field on Saturday evening.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 16, 2019


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