Navs Give One Away At Finish Line
Published on July 25, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Shore Navigators News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - After scoring twice in the ninth to take a 3-2 lead last night over the Newport Gulls, the Navigators ultimately gave it right back as a result of an error, a dropped third strike, a wild pitch and a walk-off passed ball in a 4-3 loss to the first-place rival.
After All-Star closer Matt Alvarez (Boston College) came on to try and shut the door for the Navigators, although through no fault of Alvarez's own, Jack Reinheimer reached with one out on a dropped third strike in what was a sloppy inning for the Navigators all around. Newport's No. 9 hitter Jeff Mellilo then singled on a 0-2 pitch to bring All-Star Kyle Johnson to the plate.
Johnson, the speedy leadoff hitter for the Gulls, grounded one to third baseman Conner Mach (Missouri) could have gone for a game-ending double play. Instead, the throw from second baseman Matt Boulter (Southern New Hampshire) got away from first baseman Eric Williams (Columbia), which allowed Reinheimer to score the tying run. Williams was charged with the error on the play.
After a walk, Johnson moved to third on a wild pitch from Alvarez. Then, on the eighth pitch of the at-bat to Matt Foat, a passed ball by catcher Chase Harrison (Cypress) allowed Johnson to score, ending the ballgame in brutal fashion.
The win was the Gulls' fifth straight, as they all but locked up the Eastern Division with the victory, moving to 4.5 games up on the second-place Navigators with less than a week to go in the regular season.
In the top half of the ninth, Mach reached on an error by All-Star third baseman Tom Richards to begin the inning. After a sacrifice by Williams, Boulter singled to score Mach and make it a 3-3 game.
Boulter then went first-to-third on a single by Cody Dent (Florida) before Matt McGovern (Boston College) singled him home to take a 4-3 lead.
Starting pitcher Nolan Corr (Wheaton) held the talented Newport offense in check, allowing two runs over five innings of work. McGovern drove in North Shore's only other run in the third when his RBI single scored Harrison.
NAVS NOTES: North Shore will be home at Fraser Field today for a noontime first pitch against the Sanford Mainers. Tomorrow night, the 2011 NECBL All-Star Game will take place at Fraser Field (6:15 p.m.). Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.nsnavs.com or by calling the team box office at (781) 595-9400 ¬Â¦Navigators' All-Star outfielders Eric Jagielo (Notre Dame) and Dario Pizzano (Columbia) both turned in 1-for-4 performances in last night's loss. As a result, Jagielo extended his current hitting streak to 15 games while Pizzano lengthened his to 14 straight.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 25, 2011
- Mainers Defeat Raging Tide, Snap Three Game Skid - Sanford Mainers
- Navs Give One Away At Finish Line - North Shore Navigators
- Mountaineers Sweep Double Header In Mystic - Vermont Mountaineers
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