Mainers Comeback in Late Innings
July 21, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Things were finally looking up for the Mainers after winning their last two games and that feeling can continue for the Moose as they defeated the Laconia Muskrats on Saturday 11-6 in a wild comeback game.
It started off to be a pitchers duel when Mainers starter James Bourque and Muskrats starter Dylan Parker retired respective line-ups in order through the first two innings, with Bourque doing it again in the third.
The Muskrats grabbed a couple of runs in the fourth to take the lead 2-0. Tyler Campbell singled to center with one out and then advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch. Bourque walked Joey Bielek and then served up a double to Carter White down the right field line scoring Campbell. Kaleb Barlow then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Barlow from third.
Three innings later, the Muskrats extended their lead to 6-0 when Barlow walked to lead off the seventh. He was followed by Pete Leonello who singled to center. With runners at the corners and no one out, reliever Andrew Gallagher got Nick Freeberger to strike out for the first out. Gallagher intentionally put on Ryan McBroom to load the bases, but then Kennard McDowell hit a single through the left side scoring Barlow. During the next at bat, Jordan Lee roped a line drive down the right field line for a stand up triple, clearing the bases.
Just when Mainers fans though the game was out of reach, the Moose proved them wrong. Connor Castellano got things started in the bottom of the seventh with a one out single and then advanced to second on a walk to Matt Verrier. Anthony Papio followed with a walk of his own. Nate LaPointe put the Mainers on the board when he reached out and pulled the ball through the left side for an RBI single. Billy Bereszniewicz lined a single over McDowell's head at short scoring Verrier.
The Mainers now had a pair of runs on the board, but were able to grab three more in the inning when Troy Black hit an RBI ground out to second for the second out of the inning. Sam Balzano reached on an infield single that allowed LaPointe to score. Bereszniewicz who reached third on the play charged home on a passed ball to White bringing the game within one.
One inning later, the Mainers went to work scoring six more times on a pair of throwing errors and three hits. The Mainers were able to take the lead after tying it when Robert Wayman put down a pinch hit bunt, but when Muskrat reliever Adrian Longoria over threw second on the attempted fielder's choice Castellano took off for third but came into score when Leonello over threw third from the outfield. Wayman ended up on third on the play, but scored when Longorio threw a wild pitch to the backstop. Black had a two-RBI double, while Balzano followed with an RBI single.
Steven Rice came into the game in the ninth and struck out the side to seal the comback victory. The Mainers improve to 15-18 on the season and are currently riding a three game winning streak. The NECBL All-Star game will take place on Sunday in Laconia, New Hampshire. For the full itinerary of Sunday's events you can visit HYPERLINK "http://www.necbl.com/" www.necbl.com. Troy Black, Cole Martin, and Steven Rice will be representing the Mainers in the All-Star game with Nate LaPointe competing in the Home Run Derby.
The Mainers season will continue after the brief break on Tuesday when they hit the road to take on the Mystic Schooners. Game time is set for 6:05pm with Evan Hill getting the start for the Moose.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 21, 2013
- East Outduels West in NECBL All-Star Game, 2-1, Sunday in Laconia - North Adams SteepleCats
- All-Star Game Update - New Bedford Bay Sox
- NECBL Weekly - NECBL
- Mainers Comeback in Late Innings - Sanford Mainers
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