Mountaineers Blank Westerners 5-0 to End Skid

Published on June 27, 2012 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


Montpelier, Vt. - Alex Haines (Greensboro, Pa./Seton Hill) pitched six scoreless innings allowing just four baserunners as Vermont defeated the Danbury Westerners 5-0 at Montpelier Recreation Field on Wednesday night in New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) action. The victory snapped a three game losing skid for the Mountaineers (7-8).

The game began as an impressive pitchers duel as Danbury (6-9) starter Ben Brewster went four solid innings giving up only one hit and one walk in his first start of the summer. He struck out four batters and retired seven of the last eight men he faced.

Stephen Catalina would come on in relief for the Westerners and face immediate trouble. After a routine pop-out in the bottom of the fifth, he hit Greg Partyka in the helmet and then gave up a walk and single to load the bases with one out. PJ Jones (Vancouver, Wash./Washington State) would follow with a fly ball to medium right field. Partyka (Bartlett, Ill./Bradley) tagged on the catch but was gunned down at home by Andrew Garner to leave the Mountaineers begging.

In the bottom of the sixth, Catalina seemed to gain some composure getting the first two outs of the inning. However, Rob Kelly (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Saint Anslem) ripped a double to right center field, extending his on-base streak to 12 straight games with hits in nine. On the next pitch, Brett Johnson hit a bloop single to centerfield plating Kelly and giving Vermont the 1-0 lead.

Haines did not dominate the Westerners like his previous start, but was still able to avoid a big inning before setting down seven in a row to end his outing. Relief pitcher Tyler Rogers (Littleton, Colo./Austin Peay) pitched the top of the seventh and allowed runners to get to first and third with nobody out to begin the inning. Rogers then struck out Chase Butler and Kyle Wernicki before getting Daniel Spingola to ground out to the end the frame.

The Mountaineers extended their lead in the seventh as Partyka hit a leadoff single. He was pinch run for by Ricky Boas (Wildomar, Calif./Saint Mary's) who stole second and third. With two outs, Jones got his first hit of the summer on a single to left scoring Boas and pushing Vermont ahead 2-0. Kellen Urbon (San Diego, Calif./Cornell) worked a perfect eighth for the Mountaineers on the hill in relief.

In the home half of the eight Catalina gave up a walk to Michael White (East Orange, N.J./Louisville) who then advanced to second on a wild pitch with nobody out. Aaron Barbosa would follow with a bunt single that allowed White to reach third before a throwing error from Chase Butler gave him the opportunity to score Vermont's third run of the game. The inning would continue as Johnson (Little Elm, Texas/TCU) hit a soft single to put runners at first and third. After a strikeout put two on and two out, Johnson made a break for second base. As he slowed up to delay a tag, Barbosa (Dracut, Mass./Northeastern) raced home and scored without a throw while Johnson was able to avoid a tag and safely regain first base. After advancing to second on a balk, Johnson scored on a Boas single giving the Mountaineers a 5-0 advantage.

In the top of the ninth, Kyle Grana (St. Louis, Mo./Bellarmine) gave up a lead off walk and a two out hit before striking out Kyle Wernicki to end the game and preserve the win. Haines (2-1) pitched six scoreless giving up three hits and one walk while striking out five to get his second straight win. Catalina (0-2) was charged with the loss tossing three innings giving up three runs on five hits.

Vermont is back in action on Thursday June 28, as the host the Sanford Mainers in a make up from Tuesday night's rain out. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. and all the live action can be heard on ESPN 1240, WSKI and online at www.thevermontmountaineers.com.

Game Notes: Ryan Karl (Towaco, N.J./Louisville) hit a single in the second inning extending his hit streak to now 10 games...The Mountaineers had four stolen bases as a team giving them a league leading 63 swipes.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 27, 2012


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