Navs To Host First Playoff Game Tomorrow At Fraser
Published on August 1, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Shore Navigators News Release
LYNN - For the second straight year, the North Shore Navigators will represent the NECBL Eastern Division as the No. 2 seed in the playoffs following last night's 6-3 victory over the Sanford Mainers at Fraser Field.
As a result, the Navigators will have home-field advantage in the opening playoff series against Sanford. Game 1 of that matchup will take place tomorrow night (6:15 p.m.) at Fraser Field as the Navigators' title defense officially begins.
Sanford, which had won earlier yesterday afternoon to remain in line to overtake second place, was shut down by Navigators starter Junior Mendez (Southern New Hampshire) for the second time in the matter of a week. After throwing five scoreless innings against Sanford last Tuesday, Mendez followed up with seven scoreless innings last night in which he allowed four hits with five strikeouts.
"It's been fun just coming out here and playing baseball all season long," said Mendez of his experience with the Navigators this summer. The New York native improved his record to 4-1 with last night's effort and lowered his season ERA to 2.63 in the process.
All-Star closer Miles Landry (Baylor) came on in the ninth to get his fifth save of the season, as the scoreless inning capped what was essentially a perfect regular season for the right-hander. The sophomore from Houston did not allow an earned run in 22 innings pitched out of the pen.
Nonetheless, Landry's thoughts were on the team and the playoff game on tap for tomorrow night.
"We wanted to play at home," said Landry on clinching home field in the first round. "We love the fans and we love the stadium, so we did everything we could tonight to get the W."
The Navigators broke a scoreless tie in the third inning on an RBI single by Saulyer Saxon (Oklahoma State) and added another later in the frame on Eric Jagielo's (Notre Dame) sacrifice fly.
Matt Boulter (Southern New Hampshire), who had a three-hit night, reached base four times, scored twice and also drove in a pair, made it 3-0 in the fourth when his single scored Eric Williams (Columbia).
In the sixth, Boulter and Cody Dent (Florida) each had a two-out RBI single to extend the lead to 5-0, although the Mainers scored three times in the eighth against Navs reliever and Peabody native Joe Gruntkosky (St. Joseph's). North Shore tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half after Boulter doubled and scored on a Matt McGovern (Boston College) single.
NAVS NOTES: Playoff tickets are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets for tomorrow's Game 1 and Friday's Game 3 (if necessary) by calling the team box office at (781) 595-9400 or by visiting www.nsnavs.com. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will take place at Sanford ¬Â¦ Dario Pizzano (Columbia) had his 18-game hitting streak snapped last night with a 0-for-4 showing. Pizzano hit .390 (30-for-77) over the stretch, and his streak was the longest in the NECBL all season long.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 1, 2011
- Newport Finishes Regular Season on Record Win Streak - Newport Gulls
- Mainers Top Muskrats In Make Up, Lose Later In Lynn - Sanford Mainers
- Monroe shuts down North Adams in 6-1 win on the road - Keene Swamp Bats
- Navs To Host First Playoff Game Tomorrow At Fraser - North Shore Navigators
- Mountaineers End Home Regular Season Schedule With 4-2 Win - Vermont Mountaineers
- Blue Sox' Eberle; Schooners' Bordonaro Win Player, Pitcher of the Week - NECBL
- Sam Eberle Named NECBL Player of the Week - Valley Blue Sox
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