Moose Charge, Waves Hold On 6-5
July 17, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
As the 2013 NECBL season enters into its final weeks of the schedule, the Sanford Mainers have found themselves in a tough position. Sitting at fifth place in the East and three games behind the final playoff spot in the division, the Moose had a lot of work to do. However, the work will continue as the Ocean State Waves were able to hold off the Mainers middle-inning surge 6-5.
The game was moving quickly until the bottom of the fifth when the Waves got to Mainers starter Scott Heath. They were already up 1-0 in the ballgame, but added five more runs. Evan Ocello led things off by getting hit by a pitch. He ended up on third after Cole Martin overthrew second base on a steal attempt. On the next play, Reed Gamache doubled down the left field line scoring Ocello. Christian Muscarello was hit on the hands and then advanced to third on a double to right by Mike Gerber who nearly missed a home run. With the score now at 3-0, Caden Bailey grounded out to short scoring Muscarello and then was followed by Nick Sebastian who homered to left to put the Waves up 6-0.
The game seemed out of reach as Waves' starter Jimmy Duff had the Mainers shut down through five. However, the Mainers still had life in them. Duff quickly loaded the bases in the top of the sixth when he walked Sam Balzano, hit Conor Castellano, and walked Nic Wilson. He was then taken out of the game and replaced by Zach Soulier who wasn't able to get the job done either, giving up three straight RBI singles to Martin, Nate LaPointe, and Anthony Simon and just like that the lead was cut in half 6-3.
Just an inning later Matt Cook came into the game for the Waves to try and figure out the Mainers, but he gave up a lead off walk to Troy Black and a single to Balzano. He then hit Castellano who was already hit an inning earlier to load the bases. Wilson drew his second walk of the game to force in Black. Nicholas Cooney replaced Cook and got his team out of the inning without any more damage done. The Mainers were able to scrape out one more run in the top of the eighth when Kyle Moore came around to score on an RBI single by Black.
That was all the boys in green and yellow were able to get as the the Waves bullpen held on for the victory. Andrew Gallagher came into the game for Heath in the fifth and pitched 3.1 strong innings, retiring every batter he faced while striking out three.
The Mainers travel to Newport on Wednesday to take on the Gulls for the third time in as many days after a double header on Monday. EJ Ashworth will make his sixth start of the season and will look to put the Mainers back on track. Game time is slated for 6:35pm.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 17, 2013
- Newport Shuts out Sanford 8-0 - Newport Gulls
- Muskrats Swamp Bay Sox - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Schooners nip Waves, 3-2, on Wednesday - Ocean State Waves
- O'Grady Homer Gives Bats 1-0 Victory over Plymouth - Keene Swamp Bats
- Moose Charge, Waves Hold On 6-5 - Sanford Mainers
- Bay Sox to the All-Star Game - New Bedford Bay Sox
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