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SteepleCats Drop Regular Season Home Finale

August 7, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


Trailing 4-0 in the late innings, the North Adams SteepleCats scored a run in the seventh and two in the eighth but it was not enough to pull off the comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipesaukee Muskrats Sunday night at Joe Wolfe Field. The loss dropped the SteepleCats into a tie for second place in the Northern Division.

"The fight was good but we just want to see it earlier and see those adjustments that we made late in the game be made earlier," said Coach Newton.

With two out and nobody on in the top of the first, the Muskrats rallied to score two runs to take an early 2-0 lead against SteepleCat starter Jack Rupe. Anthony Mascelli led off the top of the third with a double and then scored on a single by Ryan Stekl making it 3-0. With one out in the top of the fourth, Cameron Devanney hit a solo home run to give the Muskrats a 4-0 lead.

Muskrat starter Nick Abbatiello went seven innings and struck out eight batters. He shutout the SteepleCats through the first six innings and allowed only one hit through that stretch. The SteepleCats were able to make him throw a lot of pitches and work deep counts but he was still able to cruise and at one point retired eight consecutive SteepleCat hitters.

"At the end of the day we did not make the necessary adjustments that we had to," said Coach Newton. "There were some small minor victories in terms of the deep counts but we need to do a better job of adjusting."

The bottom of the seventh began with a single by Noah Vaughan. Kyle Brennan followed with a double advancing Vaughan to third. Vaughan came in to score on a sacrifice fly by John Mazza to put the SteepleCats on the board.

The eighth inning began in similar fashion to the seventh with Daniel Holst leading off with a single. Dustin Shirley followed with a double and Holst was thrown out at home when trying to score. Shirley scored on a double by Easton Johnson cutting the lead to 4-2. Johnson scored on a throwing error by Muskrat reliever Geoffrey Kayo who made a pickoff attempt making it 4-3. Kayo struck out Vaughan to end the inning and set the 'Cats down in order in the ninth for the six out save.

The SteepleCats have already clinched a spot in the NECBL Playoffs beginning on Wednesday and will wrap up their regular season Monday night against the Sanford Mainers at Goodall Park.

"Our long term goal is still there and that is the major focus," said Coach Newton. "The outlook is still promising for what we can accomplish from this season."



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 7, 2016


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