SteepleCats Newsletter

June 24, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


LATE RALLY STUNS MYSTIC IN 9-4 'CATS ROAD WIN SUNDAY

After enduring a five-game losing streak over the course of a difficult week, North Adams bounced back with a pair of road wins to close out the weekend, as the SteepleCats topped Holyoke, 5-4, at MacKenzie Stadium on Saturday before rallying to stun Mystic, 9-4, at Fitch High School on Sunday to wrap up a 2-5 week for the 'Cats.

Trailing by two (2-0) heading to the top of the eighth, the SteepleCat bats exploded thanks to a game-tying RBI double from Julian Loret de Mola before freshman Kevin Martir drove in a pair on another double down the right field line. That prompted Dominic Severino's two-run bomb over the left field wall to push the 'Cats ahead, 6-2, before junior Bryan Soloman wrapped up the offensive onslaught with a three-run jack in the top of the ninth to settle for the final margin of victory on the day.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Heading into the week 4-3, the SteepleCats endured a tough stretch to start, dropping five straight contests - including four at home - before rebounding with back-to-back wins to close out the week. On Monday, North Adams welcomed archrival Keene for the first meeting of the season. After erasing a three-run deficit and loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth with nobody out, the SteepleCats were unable to capitalize and watched the Swamp Bats tack on the deciding run in the top of the ninth to hand North Adams a 6-5 setback on Monday night.

The 'Cats hit the road on Tuesday and dropped an 8-3 decision at Vermont before returning home to round out the home-and-home series against the Mountaineers. Despite nine innings of fabulous pitching from both the starters and relievers, Vermont tacked on the game's only run in the top of the 10th and held on for a 1-0 victory over North Adams on Wednesday at The Joe.

North Adams then welcomed Plymouth for a makeup game on Thursday but could hold hold on two an early 2-0 lead, as the Pilgrims got to the SteepleCats' bullpen late in the game to take the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 5-2.

On Friday, Mystic became the first team of the season to record an earned run against reigning NECBL Pitcher of the Week Scott Squier, as the Schooners and SteepleCats went back and forth over six innings before the visitors tallied the deciding run in the seventh to pull of a 5-3 win in the Berkshires.

But heading to the weekend, the SteepleCats bucked their five-game losing streak with back-to-back road wins, starting with a 5-4 victory at Holyoke after witholding a late rally from the Blue Sox. Finally, on Sunday, the 'Cats erased a late two-run deficit with six runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to top the Schooners, 9-4, for the team's first-ever win at Fitch High School.

NECBL DIVISION STANDINGS

EASTERN - CURRENT DIVISIONAL STANDINGS THROUGH GAMES OF 06/24/2013

TEAM GP W L PCT GB STREAK LAST10

Laconia Muskrats 11 8 3 .727 0.0 1W 7-3

Newport Gulls 11 8 3 .727 0.0 5W 8-2

Mystic Schooners 12 8 4 .667 0.5 1L 6-4

Sanford Mainers 11 6 5 .545 2.0 1W 6-4

Ocean State Waves 13 6 7 .462 3.0 1L 4-6

New Bedford Bay Sox 12 3 9 .250 5.5 3L 2-8

Plymouth Pilgrims 12 3 9 .250 5.5 3L 2-8

WESTERN - CURRENT DIVISIONAL STANDINGS THROUGH GAMES OF 06/24/2013

TEAM GP W L PCT GB STREAK LAST10

Vermont Mountaineers 12 9 3 .750 0.0 1L 9-1

Holyoke Blue Sox 12 7 5 .583 2.0 1L 6-4

Danbury Westerners 10 5 5 .500 3.0 1W 5-5

Saratoga Brigade 11 5 6 .455 3.5 2W 5-5

North Adams SteepleCats 14 6 8 .429 4.0 2W 3-7

Keene Swamp Bats 11 2 9 .182 6.5 5L 2-8

UPCOMING PROMOTION SCHEDULE

Fans, you do NOT want to any of the action at Joe Wolfe Field this summer. In addition to some of the best collegiate baseball nationwide, the SteepleCats organization will proudly bring back some of your favorite promotions and giveaways from last season and beyond.

Here's a look at what's on tap this week (all times 6:30 unless noted): Thursday, June 27 vs. Danbury - Good Grades/Teacher Appreciation Night! Young fans (K-4) who bring their report cards receive discounted admission. GIVEAWAY: SteepleCat Pennants to the first 250 fans in attendance! Sunday, June 30 vs. Saratoga (4:30 p.m.) - Mentoring Night and Slider's Birthday! GIVEAWAY: Team Photographs to the first 250 fans!

MENTORING NIGHT AT JOE WOLFE FIELD Berkshire Youth Mentoring is proud to partner with the North Adams SteepleCats to bring Mentoring Night at Joe Wolfe Field, to life! By matching local youth with fun, talented, and dedicated adults, mentoring empowers kids to expand their strengths and opportunities for the future. By building exciting relationships in schools and community centers, both the child and mentor choose engaging activities that strengthen key life skills. Northern Berkshire's premiere mentoring program supports and trains its mentors with qualitative Best Practices, so that sharing their interests and skills with a younger person is a squeeze! Berkshire Youth Mentoring wants to help kids swing for the stars, so join us on June 30th, at 4:30 p.m., to learn more about how you, or someone you know, can make it happen.

SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BRACELETS The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., hit close to home for the NECBL's Danbury Westerners, as Danbury is located just nine miles from Newtown.

In remembrance of the lives lost and support for our friends in Connecticut, this summer NECBL players are wearing a commemorative green ribbon on the side of their hats. In addition, the league is selling a green Sandy Hook Elementary School commemorative bracelet for $5 and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Newtown Youth and Family Services organization. This organization has provided countless hours of free counseling services to the victims' families, as well as other services to help aid in the community's recovery. To show your support, please stop by the souvenir stand during any SteepleCats home game and purchase your bracelet for $5.

2013 NECBL ALL-STAR GAME INFORMATION

Baseball fans: the 20th annual NECBL All-Star game will be held on Sunday, July 21st at beautiful Robbie Mills Field in Laconia, New Hampshire.

Hosted by the Laconia Muskrats, the NECBL All-Star game showcases all of the NECBL's top talent. First pitch is slated for 5:30, but the festivities take place all day long.

Head out to the park early to watch batting practice and see the best prospects from the NECBL show their stuff in front of scouts from virtually every Major League team.

We hope to see you there, Sunday July 21st, in Laconia, New Hampshire, to watch the league's best square off in the 2013 All-Star Game! For more information, please head to necbl.com. --

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA FREE T-SHIRTS FROM MOUNTAINONE BANK Thursday, July 4 vs. Laconia @ 6:30 p.m.

Fans, it may be more than a month away, but you do NOT want to miss the event of the summer here in Northern Berkshire County.

Come down to The Joe and celebrate the Fourth of July as the SteepleCats take on the Laconia Muskrats at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. The first 200 fans through the gates will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Mountain One Bank. More promotional details will be unveiled soon.

And of course, be sure to stick around after the last out is recorded for our annual Fourth of July Spectacular! Start counting the days, fans!

POST GAME COVERAGE

Fans, even after the last out, there's still more SteepleCats action. For exclusive interviews and coverage, be sure to check our SteepleCats YouTube channel after every game to keep up to date. Be sure to check back and stay updated, you won't want to miss a thing!

SEASON TICKETS & MERCHANDISE AT SHOPSTEEPLECATS.COM

With 22 home games plus the postseason, save off standard admission pricing by purchasing your season ticket today! Click here to buy your season ticket or visit the merchandise stand at Joe Wolfe Field to purchase a season ticket that fits your needs. Individual and Family Plans are available in a 10-Pack or a Full-Season. All season tickets provide admission to postseason games - including the annual Fourth of July Spectacular!

LISTEN, WATCH, and FOLLOW EVERY GAME

Can't make it to the field? Follow your team away from the ballpark on Teamline, the official web broadcasting partner of the NECBL! Teamline is your #1 choice to catch your favorite team, at home or on the road. You'll never miss a pitch!

Video webcasts are available at $8 per game, and every audio webcast is available FOR FREE, each and every game! Teamline is the OFFICIAL webcasting partner of the SteepleCats and the NECBL!

Don't forget to download the NECBL Pointstreak App and follow along as you tune in no matter where you are. Search for the app on iTunes today!

FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE

If you can't make it out to the ballpark for every game, make sure you download the Pointstreak phone app, allowing you to follow stats and game scores wherever you are. This app is available on iphone, ipad, and android.

Fans - you too can be like a SteepleCat player swinging the Official Bat of the NECBL,Dream Bats. Be sure to isvit www.dreambats.com to purchase pro quality adult wood bats, youth bats, baseball accessories, and engraved trophy bats and balls.

Also please be sure to check out the Dream Bat SMOKE Aluminum BBCOR bat currently being used nationwide in high school and college baseball. Enter coupon code NECBL for 10% off your entire online purchase. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @dreambatcompany.

Swing Juice is a proud partner of the NECBL. Locally owned and operated right in Rhode Island, "Swing Juice Energy Drink was designed with a specific blend of ingredients to help with your Focus, Stamina and Energy ahead of and during competition." Available in four terrific flavors. Log onto www.swingjuice.com for more details and follow them on Twitter at Twitter.com/SwingJuice!

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR AND SUPPORT YOUR 'CATS!

Believe it or not, in the summer of 2013 we will begin our 12th season as a franchise and as such, we want to make this the most memorable season yet. Our ability to sustain a competitive, successful and memorable team in the smallest market in the NECBL is a testament to the hard work of our volunteers, the tenacity of the players, and the loyalty of our fan base. It is our mission to continue to put a quality team on the field and to create a memorable experience for all fans.

The 2012 season was filled with many wonderful memories and highlights, both on and off the field. Some of the off-field activities included:

- Nearly 20,000 fans coming to the ballpark.

- Visiting all of the local elementary schools to read, meet, and play with our youth.

- Distributed over 3,000 tickets to elementary school students.

- Bringing parents and friends in from all over the country to learn that our area is a special place to visit and live.

- Providing opportunities for our players off field to help them develop life skills through team building and exposure to a variety of activities.

- Sustaining the SteepleCats deep commitment to our community through player participation in our communities and our schools.

As we begin to plan for the 2013 season, the SteepleCats will need the support of our community once again. As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, the SteepleCats are only able to exist and function through the generous support it receives from community businesses, charitable donations of all sizes, and the generous time from our volunteers and host families. To demonstrate your belief that the SteepleCats are a valuable asset to our community, we encourage you to consider making a donation of any size to the SteepleCats organization. Whatever size donation that you can make will help us keep NECBL baseball here in North Adams! You can donate right on our Shop SteepleCats website.

Alternatively, please make your check payable to the North Adams SteepleCats and mail it to P.O. Box 540, North Adams, MA 01247. Thank you for your consideration.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2013


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