Muskrats Fight Back, Beaten on Gulls Grand Slam

Published on July 12, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Winnipesaukee Muskrats News Release


Newport's Robbie Ort (Indiana St) hit a go-ahead grand slam homerun in the seventh inning and reliever Eddie Campbell (Virginia Tech) pitched three and 2/3 hitless innings to hand the Muskrats a tough 9-5 loss at home Tuesday night.

The wild game started with three solo homeruns in the first inning for Newport, and featured seven total homeruns and seven hit batters. Kyle Johnson (Washington St), Matt Foat (USC) and Tim Kiene (U of Maryland) each hit balls out of the yard in the first. Foat would strike again, while Kiene was neutralized, being hit by a pitch three times by three different pitchers.

The Muskrats got one back in the fourth on an LB Dantzler (State College of Florida) solo homerun out to right field to make it 3-1. But in the top of the fifth, Foat struck again, this time an opposite-field blast with a runner on to make it 5-1.

Laconia then manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning. John Ziznewski (Rockland CC) quickly led off with a double, and reached third on a Kevin Sah (Howard JC) single. Hot-hitting Will Johnson brought Ziznewski home with an RBI groundout and the score was 5-2. The out ended a streak of Johnson reaching base safely in nine-straight at bats, and Johnson did so productively.

In the sixth, Laconia had their third-consecutive scoring inning, this time tying the game back up. Dylan Kelly (Middle Georgia College) hit the game's sixth homerun, a two-run shot out to right, pulling the Muskrats within a run. Chris Burke (Iona) then reached on a hit-by-pitch, and the day was done for Gulls starter David Carroll (U of Maryland).

Burke stole second, his second steal of the game and team-leading 12th of the season, giving the Muskrats over 50 stolen bases this season. He then took off for third on a wild pitch walk to Bijan Rademacher (Cal St Fullerton). To complete the comeback, Rademacher drew a throw from the catcher as attempted to steal second, allowing Burke to come home and make it 5-5.

But there was one more homerun left in the bats on this night, as Ort blasted the grand slam that set the score at 9-5. Laconia reliever Troy Mannebach (Oakton CC) loaded the bases on a single, a hit batter and a walk, and took the loss giving up the grand slam.

Campbell shut the door from that point forward allowing two walks, hitting two batters, but not yielding a hit in the final three and 2/3 innings.

As Newport takes over first place in the Eastern Division, Laconia's time in fourth place ends, falling back to fifth at 11-14, three games back.

The Muskrats travel to Sanford Wednesday night to take on the Mainers at 6:30 PM on the NECBL Broadcast Network. They will return home Thursday for Laconia's only look at the Danbury Westerners at 6:05 PM.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central