Navs playoff role to be determined tonight at Fraser
Published on July 31, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Shore Navigators News Release
LYNN - The playoff-destined North Shore Navigators had a chance to clinch the second seed in the Eastern Division playoff race and home-field in the opening playoff series last night at Fraser Field. Because the third-place Sanford Mainers fell 5-3 at the hands of Newport, the door opened for North Shore to grab the No. 2 spot with a victory over the Laconia Muskrats.
Nonetheless, Laconia was able to hold off the Navigators by a final score of 5-4, leaving many playoff scenarios still up in the air. Those questions will however get answered today in what marks the final day of the regular season for the Navigators.
Because both teams lost, North Shore remains 1.5 games up on Sanford in the East, with a head-to-head matchup slated tonight between both teams (6:15 p.m.) at Fraser Field. Sanford will also be in action at Laconia earlier in the day and needs a victory there to maintain its shot at taking the No. 2 seed from the Navigators.
"We know that we'll be in the playoffs," said manager Jeff Waldron, whose team clinched a playoff berth late last week. "It's just a matter of where we'll be seeded. Unfortunately we didn't do ourselves any favors here tonight."
The Navs had a chance to pull even in the eighth inning after singles by Conner Mach (Missouri) and Michael Dunster (Clemson). Peabody native Pat Holleran (Tusculum) followed with a single of his own to drive in Mach and make it 5-4. At that point, Laconia summoned reliever Harry Glynne from the bullpen, who promptly struck out Cody Dent (Florida) before getting Saulyer Saxon (Oklahoma State) to fly to right to escape the threat.
North Shore also added one in the seventh on a Matt Boulter (Southern New Hampshire) sac fly to make it 5-3 after Dario Pizzano's (Columbia) two-run triple in the sixth made it 5-2.
In the third, Laconia got on the board on All-Star Chris Costantino's two-run triple and added another in later in the inning when Dylan Kelly's single scored Costantino.
The Muskrats then made it 4-0 in the fourth on a sac fly by James Beck and added another in the fifth on a throwing error by Mach.
Navigators starting pitcher Nolan Corr (Wheaton) took the loss for North Shore, allowing four runs over five innings of work.
NAVS NOTES: Tickets are still available for tonight's matchup with Sanford. Call the team box office at (781) 595-9400 to purchase ¬Â¦The playoffs will begin on Wednesday in a best two-of-three series, but it is still unknown when the Navigators will be at home. Be sure to check www.nsnavs.com today as the postseason scenario unfolds.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 31, 2011
- Gulls Win 11th Straight, Lead Chase for Home-Field Advantage - Newport Gulls
- 'Cats Get Swept in Double-Header - North Adams SteepleCats
- Navs playoff role to be determined tonight at Fraser - North Shore Navigators
- Montville Blasts Two, Mainers Still Lose - Sanford Mainers
- Mountaineers Outhit Division Leading Holyoke in 9-4 Win - Vermont Mountaineers
- Keene's six-run seventh inning rally gives Swamp Bats 11-7 win over Danbury - Keene Swamp Bats
- Blue Sox Fall to Mountaineers 9-4 in Vermont - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Defeat Mystic 10-3 - Valley Blue Sox
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