Schooners Take Extra-Inning Affair, July 12
July 12, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Going into Friday night's game against the Mystic Schooners, the Sanford Mainers were 4-5 in one-run ball games as well as 2-2 in extra-inning contests. Both situational records added a tally mark, but unfortunately for the Mainers, it was to the loss column as the Schooners went on to win 4-3 in eleven innings.
Much like the night before, the Schooners got on the board quickly, plating one run in the top of the first. Keaton Flint led off the game with a single and then stole second after Tyler Boyd popped out for the first out. Immediately following, Flint advanced to third on the single by Alec Keller and crossed the plate after Byron Campbell grounded out to short.
They jumped ahead 2-0 in the second on an RBI single off the bat of Flint. Garrett Kennedy scored after hitting an infield single to second and then advancing to second on a wild pitch.
In the bottom half of the inning the Mainers cut the lead in half. Nic Wilson singled to to left to start the inning and then advanced to second on a passed ball. After Jake Thomas flew out, Wilson came around to score on an RBI single by Anthony Papio. The Mainers threatened to tie the game with another runner on third, but were unable to come up with a hit.
The Moose were able to tie it just one inning later. Sam Balzano hit an infield single to short and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robert Wayman. Connor Castellano grounded out putting Balzano on third. Wilson then took a 3-1 pitch into right field to score Balzano.
However, just one half inning later the Schooners claimed the lead back when Brandon Cipolla crushed a 2-2 pitch to left-center field and over the fence for a solo home run to put his team up 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth the Mainers fought back and tied the game again when Balzano reached on a one-out single to short. He then stole second and came around to score on a two-out single by Connor Castellano.
Both teams were blanked by great pitching the rest of the way. Jeffrey Stoddard, Alex Gouin, and Pat Egan worked effectively in relief for the Schooners, throwing a combined 5.2 innings allowing only one hit and striking out nine.
Steven Rice came into the game for the Mainers in the ninth. He pitched three innings, giving up only one hit and the one run that was the eventual game winner. He did strike out six in relief.
That run came in the top of the eleventh when Rice gave up a lead off single to Adam Touhey, but after Papio mishandled the ball in right, Touhey advanced to second. Brandon Lopez bunted down the third base line on the next play, but after miscommunication, Rice threw to third with no advance from Touhey, allowing Lopez to be safe on the fielder's choice. Rice got Flint to strike out, but loaded the bases when he walked Matt O'Herron who came into pinch hit.Keller hit a ground ball to second, but it wasn't enough for a double play, allowing Touhey to score the go ahead run.
The Mainers did have a chance to walk-off in the ninth when they had runners on second and third with two outs, but Gouin got Wayman to strike out to end the threat.
After two straight losses, the Mainers will look to turn things around as they travel to Holyoke, Massachusetts on Saturday to take on the Blue Sox. Game time is slated for 6:35pm, with James Bourque getting the nod for the Moose.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2013
- Schooners Take Extra-Inning Affair, July 12 - Sanford Mainers
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- Swamp Bats Win Streak Hits Six Games As Keene Defeats Vermont 3-1 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Brigade Win Suspended Contest, 6-1, to Open Friday Doubleheader - North Adams SteepleCats
- Swamp Bats Announce Schedule Change - Keene Swamp Bats
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