Seven unanswered runs from Danbury ends Swamp Bats five game winning streak
June 21, 2012 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
Danbury, Conn. - Despite jumping out to an early 8-2 lead, the Swamp Bats could not hold off Danbury, losing to the Westerners 9-8. In a game that saw home runs, hit batters, and a dugout clearing confrontation, the Westerners mounted the biggest comeback against the Swamp Bats this season, finishing off the game with seven unanswered runs to take the game from Keene.
Artie Lewicki (Wychoff, N.J.) made his second start of the season on the mound for the Swamp Bats, looking for his first win in Keene. Unfortunately for him, the Westerners played inspired baseball in this one after getting no-hit by the Swamp Bats in the previous game.
Keen jumped out to an early lead, as they had in the previous two times they played Danbury this year. Dylan Delacruz (East Lyme, Conn.) knocked an RBI double to centerfield in the top of the first inning, scoring Grant Kay (Omaha, Neb.) to get the Swamp Bats out in front.
Danbury did not trail for long however, as Andrew Garner (Lake Jackson, Texas) knocked a two-run home run over the short porch in right field to give Danbury their first lead against Keene this season. At the time it was Garner's third home run of the season, giving him the team lead for Danbury.
The Swamp Bats would answer right back with a run in the top of the second when Jared Walsh (Duluth, Ga.) scored from third on an error from Danbury third-baseman Chase Butler (Rome, Ga.). It was Butler's second error of the game.
The top of the third inning was the most eventful inning of the night, with the Swamp Bats putting five runs on the scoreboard. After Kay led the inning off with a single and Delacruz walked, JP Sportman (Schenectady, N.Y.) drove Kay in with an RBI single to left field. Frankie Schwindel (Livingston, N.J.) followed Sportman with a single to load the bases for Walsh.
Walsh then lined a hard-hit single off the right field wall, scoring Delacruz from third. On the same play though, Sportman was tagged out at home trying to score from second. Sportman then was immediately ejected from the game when he tried to bulldoze over the Danbury catcher Jake Ivory (St. Charles, Mo.). After the play, the starting pitcher for Danbury, John Porter (Bronx, N.Y.), exchanged words with Fran Whitten (Westboro, Mass.), who was standing in the on-deck circle. After the two were separated, Whitten stepped up to the plate and on the first pitch he saw, socked a three-run home run over the right field fence, giving the Swamp Bats a 7-2 lead.
On the very next pitch the Porter threw, he hit Austin Wheeler (Lilburn, Ga.), prompting both dugouts to clear out. Porter was immediately ejected from the game, and had to be restrained by a couple of teammates. No punches were thrown from either team, but there was a ten minute pause in the action as the umpires tried to clear the air between the two teams. Stephen Paladino (Rutherford, N.J.) relieved porter to finish the third inning, getting out without giving up another run.
The Swamp Bats added one more run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Whitten, giving him four runs batted in on the evening.
Danbury began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Tom Zengel (High Ridge, N.J.) on an RBi single from Butler. Danbury added two more runs in the fifth inning off RBI singles from Zach Shank (Lititz, Penn.) and Garner to cut the Swamp Bats lead to 8-5.
Despite his struggles in the game, Lewicki returned for the bottom of the sixth inning, and quickly gave up a solo home run to Jake Gronsky (Danville, Penn.). Gronsky was the first batter of the inning, and Lewicki was pulled after giving up the homer. Lewicki finished the game pitching 5+ innings, giving up six runs (all earned) on nine hits with one walk and zero strikeouts.
Andrew Grant (Westboro, Mass.) relieved Lewicki and allowed Danbury to continue their comeback, giving up two unearned runs to tie the game at eight. Danbury centerfielder Daniel Spingola (Roswell, Ga.) walked with two outs and then scored on a fielding error in right field by Whitten on a single from Shank. Shank then scored on an RBI single off the bat of Mike Orefice (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) which tied the game.
Grant stayed on to pitch the next inning, but Danbury quickly broke the tie on Garner's second home run of the game (fourth of the season). The home run gave the Westerners the 9-8 lead, which they held on to thanks to stellar relief pitching in the final five innings. Garner finished the game 3-4 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored.
The tough loss for Keene drops their record to 6-2, while Danbury improves to 4-6 on the year. The Swamp Bats are back in action Thursday night in Holyoke against the Blue Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 21, 2012
- Six runs in the first lead Keene over Holyoke 7-4 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Mountaineers Outlast Blue Sox in High-Scoring Affair, 26-15 - Valley Blue Sox
- Seven unanswered runs from Danbury ends Swamp Bats five game winning streak - Keene Swamp Bats
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