Mainers Are in the Playoffs
August 4, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Just a week ago, no one would have thought that the Mainers would be able to overcome a 3.5 game deficit in the NECBL's East Division. After winning four of their last five games, the Mainers had to take on the Laconia Muskrats for a one game play-in for a chance at the final playoff spot in the division. With timely hitting in the second half of the game, the Mainers went on to win 4-2, sending them to the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Strong pitching through the first 4.5 innings described the quick start to the contest. Charlie Butler got his first start of the year, pitching five innings, giving up five hits, and two runs. Evan Phillips and Nicholas Kevlin combined for 5.2 innings, nine hits, and four runs. The four runs came only at the end of Kevlin's outing.
The offense started for the Mainers in the bottom of the fifth when they scored two runs on a costly error. Scott Heath smacked a one-out double to left and advanced to third when Billy Bereszniewicz hit an infield single to short, but Carter White overthrew first allowing both runners to advance up one base. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Troy Black hit a ground ball to short, but reached safely when White overthrew first base once again, this time allowing both Heath and Bereszniewicz to score.
Just a half inning later, the Muskrats fought back for two of their own to tie it at two. White hit a line drive to center to lead off and was followed by Nick Freeberger who hit a ground ball through the left side. After one out, Rob Koski grounded out to second allowing White to come into score the Muskrats first run after stealing third. On the next play Jacob Moody got his third hit of the game, plating Freeberger to tie it.
The Mainers answered in the sixth to take the lead. Anthony Papio singled to right to lead off the inning. Matt Verrier put down a sacrifice bunt pushing Papio up to second. Nic Wilson flied out for the second out, but Nate LaPointe hit a hard ground ball down the left field line scoring Papio. Heath liked what he did in his last at bat and switched places with LaPointe with another double to jump the Mainers ahead 4-2.
In the top of the ninth, the Muskrats showed signs of last hope. Both Koski and Moody singled to lead off the inning. Andrew Gallagher who came into the game after the first single gave up a sacrifice bunt to Eddie Macaluso to push both runners in scoring position. He then got AJ Longoria on strikes for the second out and finished off the game getting Luke Stephenson to ground out to short.
With the victory the Mainers move on to the 2013 NECBL playoffs, facing the Newport Gulls in the first round. Game one will be on Sunday in Newport. James Bourque will be given the ball for game one. First pitch is slated for 6:35pm.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 4, 2013
- Late Hitting And Sportman's Heroics Give Keene 5-4 Victory - Keene Swamp Bats
- Gulls Take 1-0 Series Lead with 11-4 Win vs. Sanford - Newport Gulls
- Three-Run Sixth Powers Mountaineers to Game 1 Win, 4-1, Sunday Night - North Adams SteepleCats
- NECBL Playoffs Start Sunday - NECBL
- Mainers Are in the Playoffs - Sanford Mainers
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