Sanford Shutout Wins Wildcard
Published on August 5, 2018 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Sanford - The Sanford Mainers pitching staff went into lockdown mode on Sunday afternoon at Goodall Park as they shutout the Keene Swamp Bats to win their first every NECBL Wildcard game to move on to the 2018 Northern Division Championship Series. For the second time this season it was a great start on the mound that led an inspired bullpen to shut things down, this time though they move one step closer to playing for a championship.
As they've made a habit of, Sanford took an early lead in the bottom of the 2nd to get their starters a little breathing room. Brandon Lankford (Mocksville, N.C./UNC-Asheville) led off the inning by drawing his team-leading 20th walk of the season and, after Carmine Pagano (McLeansville, N.C./UNC-Asheville) moved him over to third on a one-out base hit, Jake Alu (Hamilton, N.J./Boston College) knocked Lankford in as he grounded one to the right side into a fielder's choice giving the Mainers a 1-0 lead.
That is all that Ed Baram (Saddle Brook, N.J./Adelphi) would need in another sensational start by the man who has been so good all season long for the Moose. Over his six innings of work on the afternoon, he allowed just five hits as he held one of the hottest offenses in the league over the final month scoreless striking out four along the way.
On the same night as he was honored with the Neil Olson General Manager's Award, Jake Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Southern Maine) took over for Baram in the 7th keeping the theme of the night going by holding the Swamp Bats scoreless as he did not allow a hit. The Division III National Player of the Year was awarded the Neil Olson General Manager's Award which is presented annually to a Mainers player who best exemplifies the spirit and enthusiasm of the Sanford Mainers organization. The award was established in honor of the former Mainers general manger whose leadership and guidance made the Mainers one of the best organizations in the New England Collegiate league.
Sean Fisher (Parsonsburg, Md./Maryland) took over in the top of the 8th as the 2018 NECBL Northern Division All-Star picked up a couple of outs but with two-away and runners on second and third, Chris Morris went to the bullpen for the final time to bring in Fisher's Terrapin teammate John Murphy (Merchantville, N.J./Maryland) in hopes the big righty would slam the door shut. That is exactly what he did as he picked up the final out of the 8th on just three pitches, putting the Moose just three outs away from the Division Championship Series.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Mainers would tack on an incredibly important insurance run as after Johnny Rizer (Cypress, Texas/Texas Christian University) drew a walk to lead off the inning, his TCU teammate Conner Shepherd (Upland, Calif./Texas Christian University) knocked him in on a two-out single that he dropped right in front of Keene's centerfielder to put Mainers up 2-0 heading to the 9th.
Murphy came out in the 9th and picked right up with his unhittable stuff just like he has done all season long, retiring the side in order and picking his first playoff save to send the Moose on to face Valley in the Northern Division Championship Series.
Sanford will head on the road Monday for Game 1 of the Northern Division Championship series in Holyoke with first pitch set for 6:30. As always, you can catch all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network or 102.3 FM "The Legends" as the Mainers look to try and make it back to their 2nd NECBL Championship Series in the last three years.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 5, 2018
- Sanford Shutout Wins Wildcard - Sanford Mainers
- Big Hit Lacking for SwampBats in Playoff Exit - Keene Swamp Bats
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