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SteepleCats Left Behind by Nighthawks

July 9, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


The Upper Valley Nighthawks jumped all over the North Adams SteepleCats as the SteepleCats fell 10-3 Friday night at Maxfield Sports Complex. With the loss, the SteepleCats dropped their third straight and fell to 13-12 on the season.

"With the exception of tonight we have played good baseball," said Head Coach Mike Armstrong. "We are knocking on the door. It is just a matter of a couple things going our way."

The Nighthawks set the tone early by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. Trent Leimkuehler hit a sacrifice fly to put the Nighthawks on the board. He followed in the third inning with another sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

After the 'Cats cut it to 2-1 in the top of the fourth, the Nighthawks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning bringing an end to the night for SteepleCats starter Robbie Buffis. Matt Maul hit a sacrifice fly advancing all three runners making it 3-1 and then Joey Denison doubled in two runs to make it 5-1 bringing the final totals for Buffis to five runs in three and a third innings pitched. Denison came in to score on a single by Grayson Padgett making it 6-1.

"Tonight Upper Valley hit the ball hard and scored a lot of runs," said Coach Armstrong. "They were aggressive with fastballs up in the zone. We left too many up and they did damage with them. They also had a lot of infield singles and ground balls with eyes and bloopers. We are not getting those right now but things will change."

The Nighthawks got a superb performance out of Bill Maier on the mound. He went eight innings and allowed three runs off of five hits. His lone strikeout came in the first inning.

Trailing 10-1 after the Nighthawks added another four run inning in the seventh, Daniel Holst led off the eighth with a single. With one out, Dustin Shirley drew a walk. Edward Haus came up and hit his fourth double in five games scoring both runners cutting the lead to 10-3. The 'Cats would not get any closer.

The 'Cats will look to a 4-0 Braxton Wilks to help end the skid on Sunday against the Winnipesaukee Muskrats and Robbie Mills Field.

"I know Braxton is going to go out and give us a great chance to win," said Coach Armstrong. "The guys are going to come back ready to rock and roll and we are going to crank it up on Sunday."

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