Mainers Clinch Northern Division Title
July 30, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
KEENE, N.H. - After a 7-3 win this afternoon, the Sanford Mainers (26-16) clinched the Northern Division title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming playoffs.
The Mainers played two games, defeating the Valley Blue Sox (22-20) in a 12 PM affair at Goodall Park and again at Keene (18-24), where the Moose fell 9-8 after a thrilling comeback.
With their win over Valley, the Mainers ensured they will face the lowest possible seed in the first round of the NECBL playoffs.
In their 7-3 win, Sanford came back on the Blue Sox multiple times and finally put them away in the 8th inning. Johnny Slater (Michigan) picked up a clutch, two-RBI single, scoring Sam Stauble (Southern Maine) and Chris Gaetano (Monmouth) to temporarily make it 6-3. Sanford added another when Zach Jancarski (Maryland) hit a sacrifice fly to score Michael Young (Massachusetts Lowell) from third base to bring the game to its final score of 7-3.
Earlier in the game, up 3-2, Valley tied the score in the top of the inning when Braxton Morris (Morehead State) singled in a run with the bases loaded to tie the game. Sanford responded with a Todd Czinege (Villanova) single, good enough to score the speedy Jancarski for the Moose to retake the lead.
Troy Miller (Michigan) threw a beauty, going six innings where he allowed three hits, two runs, two earned, four walks and struck out three, earning a no-decision. Cole Townsend (North Carolina Asheville) earned the win in two innings of work, allowing two hits, one run, earned, two walks with two strike outs.
In the nightcap at Keene, the Mainers got down early. The Swamp Bats scored in the 1st inning to take an early 1-0, lead before exploding for four runs in the 2nd. Jamal Wade (Maryland) singled with a man away to get aboard, and was followed by Dom Iero (Kent State) to put two men aboard. Wade scored on an error off the bat of Josh Shaw (St. Johns), just prior to Ryan Costello's (Central Connecticut) three-run home run.
BY the end of the 4th, Keene led 7-0 and any chance of a Sanford victory seemed minimal. In the 7th, the Mainers made their second comeback of six or more runs in two days.
Nelson Mompierre (Miami Dade) singled to lead off, and was quickly joined by Dan Wilson (North Carolina Asheville) and Stauble to load the bases with no one away. A ground out led to the Mainers first run, while Kyle Heath (Southern Maine) and Jordan Powell (Rhode Island) both drove home runs. Jancarski added an RBI-triple.
When the smoke cleared, they had scored seven runs on four hits with a pair of well-timed Swamp Bat errors to tie the game at seven.
The Mainers added the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th when Mompierre doubled and scored on a Stauble single to left field. Keene answered with two in the 9th when the first man reached on an error, and an RBI-double and RBI-single followed, as the Swamp Bats survived to take the win.
Sanford will host the Ocean State Waves tomorrow evening, in their only visit to Goodall Park this season. The Waves come to Sanford battling for a playoff spot in the Southern Division, with first pitch set for 6:30 PM, and pregame coverage beginning at 6;15 PM on the NECBL Broadcast Network.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2016
- Mystic Split Doubleheader - Mystic Schooners
- Swamp Bats Walk Off in Home Finale - Keene Swamp Bats
- Mainers Clinch Northern Division Title - Sanford Mainers
- North Adams Tops Vermont 4-3 - Vermont Mountaineers
- New Bedford Shutouts Newport - New Bedford Bay Sox
- SteepleCats Fall in 13 Innings - North Adams SteepleCats
- Moose Comeback, Walk-Off in 13 to Beat North Adams - Sanford Mainers
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