Mainers Hang On 3-2

Published on July 16, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


North Adams, MA - After Wednesday night's game against Mystic was rained out in a matter of minutes, the SteepleCats returned to Joe Wolfe Field on Friday night to start a series of weekend games at home. It was the first night of Parents Weekend for the organization, which has seen its nine-year run of postseason berths threatened at various points this season. With a day off Thursday, it was time to return to work for Clayton Kuklick's squad, which started the day 5 ½ games back of Vermont for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Division. Given the ‘Cats success against Eastern Division opponents this season, there was a bit more breathing room on Friday night with the Sanford Mainers set to even the regular-season series at one game apiece. After all, North Adams had embarrassed the Mainers when the teams met at Goodall Park in a rain-shortened 12-5 victory back on June 22. Since then, the ‘Cats had been unable to match that offensive output and were coming into the game losers of two straight. Despite four separate two game winning streaks this season, the team has yet to win three straight, a rather tough stat to look at when examining the whole of a 42-game season. Brian Gilbert was coming off two magnificent starts in which he had seen his record level off at 2-2, yet he had not pitched in ten days. Getting the start Friday night, this was the ideal time to start the turnaround that everyone who's followed this team has been waiting for.

Gilbert matched zeroes with Sanford starter Tripp Davis through the first three innings before surrendering the game's first run in the Mainers fourth. After Pat Devlin started the frame with a flyout to center fielder Justin Leeson, shortstop Marlon Calbi singled and moved to second following a passed ball charged to catcher Mike Zavala. Second baseman Brett Mollenhauer knocked Gilbert's 2-0 offering for an RBI base hit, but was thrown out on Zavala's perfect toss moments later when trying to steal second. Center fielder Jack Lupo picked up the third out when he grounded out to shortstop Mike LeBel, who was the ‘Cats only baserunner until the home sixth after picking up a first inning single.

In the meantime, Gilbert quieted the storm and had only allowed one baserunner of his own until the top of the seventh. With two outs, Mainers first baseman Justin Leisenheimer stroked a two out double to right center field that scored Nick LaCroix, who had been on first base after reaching on a fielder's choice groundout. Sanford was now clinging to a 2-0 lead which is never safe at the Joe, for Gilbert had kept the SteepleCats in the game and had done all he could to keep the Mainers off the board. In the bottom of the seventh, Jacob Daniel led off with a single against Davis (2-1) for just the second ‘Cats base hit. Steve Zavala then lined a double down the right field line that would have scored Daniel, but home plate umpire Patrick Sheehan controversially ruled that it was a deadball upon rolling around in the corner in the Mainers bullpen. Both runners were frozen at second and third before Leeson grounded out to third for the first out, unable to bring in a run. Cameron Griffin then took first on an intentional walk, putting the go-ahead runner on base with the tying runs still in scoring position. Mike Zavala, who was already 1-for-2 at this point, rolled a groundball deep in the shortstop hole to score Daniel but Calbi made a nice turn to force Griffin at second for out number two. With runners at the corners and the score now 2-1, Marc Magliaro lined a hot shot down the right field line that was stabbed by Leisenheimer for the final out.

Gilbert (2-3) got the first two outs of the eighth with quick strikeouts, but could not get out of the inning following a Mollenhauer single, grazing Lupo with a payoff pitch, allowing a Paul Kronenfeld RBI single to score Mollenhauer, and a walk to designated hitter Matt Verrier that loaded the bases. Junior Matt Hinkle smoothly stepped in from the bullpen and induced an easy flyball to right off the bat of LaCroix, thus preventing the Mainers from opening up their lead beyond 3-1. North Adams trimmed the deficit to one run again when Mack led off against Mainers reliever Jason Patten with an infield single in the eighth. Mack moved to second on an errant pickoff throw and then advanced to third when LeBel placed a groundball to second for the first out. With Drew Gadaire at the plate, Patten fired a wild pitch passed catcher Tim Panetta that scored Mack to made the score 3-2. Gadaire walked, stole second, and was the tying run in scoring position with one out. But Mainers' closer Tyler Mizenko was then brought in and was dominant in striking out Daniel and Steve Zavala to end the inning.

Gray Carden struck out two Mainers in a 1-2-3 side to force the bottom of the ninth and the ‘Cats down to three final outs trailing 3-2. Leeson got things started with a single before Griffin pushed his bunt attempt into the air for Leisenheimer to catch for the first out. Leeson stole second before Mike Zavala struck out swinging on a 3-2 count, which brought up pinch-hitter Brett Frantini, who had come in to replace number nine hitter Marc Magliaro. After a brief battle, Mizenko nailed down his sixth save of the year with a strikeout to end the game.

Parents Weekend continues at the Joe Saturday night when the SteepleCats (10-18) host the Danbury Westerners (16-9) at 6:30. Come on out to Joe Wolfe Field to support your SteepleCats, otherwise, make sure you listen to or watch the game by accessing the TeamLine link at the bottom of the team's website at www.steeplecats.com.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 16, 2011


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