Rox Drop Season Opener to Sharks, 3-0

June 9, 2012 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Old Orchard Beach News Release


Brockton, Mass. - Apolinar De La Cruz (Wheaton College) drove in a pair of runs to help push the Martha's Vineyard Sharks past the Brockton Rox, 3-0, on Friday night, spoiling Brockton's 2012 Futures Collegiate Baseball League debut along the way.

Martha's Vineyard (2-0) struck first against Brockton starter Vito Perna (Jones County Junior College) to take an early 1-0 lead after De La Cruz drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the third. Two innings later, the Sharks got on the board once again to take a 2-0 lead as De La Cruz singled to plate Nick Sanford (University of Massachusetts).

Brockton's bullpen held the Sharks at bay for the latter half of the ballgame, until Martha's Vineyard tacked on one more in the top of the ninth on an RBI fielder's choice from Sanford that scored Andrew Barry (College of the Holy Cross).

Trailing by three, Brockton (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Joey Arena (CW Post) thwarted the rally and ended the game with a one-pitch save (1).

Tanner Reibenspies (San Diego State) finished 2-for-5 with a double for the Rox, while Scituate's Jordan Berry (George Washington University) went 2-for-4 at the dish to lead the offense. Norton's Sean Ryan (Wheaton College), Mansfield's Rhett Wiseman (Vanderbilt), and East Bridgewater's Greg Baggett (Bentley University) also recorded hits for the hosts. However, it wasn't enough for Brockton, as the Rox left12 runners on base over the course of the ballgame.

Barry (1-for-3) scored a pair of runs to help spearhead the Sharks offense, while De La Cruz, Sanford, Tad Gold (Endicott College) and Eric Brenk (Wofford College) each finished with hits as well.

Perna (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Brockton after surrendering one run on one hit, two walks, and two hit batsmen in three innings of work. The Mississippi native struck out four in his Rox debut.

Kyle Capaldo (Fairfield University) was lights out in relief for Brockton, allowing just one walk in 1.2 innings of work.

For the Sharks, Matt Doyle (Harvard University) registered the win (1-0) after tossing four scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The right-hander conceded just two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Martha's Vineyard starter Conner McMahon (Merrimack College) was stellar as well, giving up just two hits and one walk in three scoreless innings of work.

Brockton is back in action at Campanelli Stadium on Saturday night against the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs at 7:05 p.m. Southpaw Max Tishman (Wake Forest University) is expected to toe the rubber for the Rox. Meanwhile, the Sharks look to stay undefeated as they host the Nashua Silver Knights at Vineyard Park on Saturday at 5:05 p.m.



Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 9, 2012


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