SteepleCats Win Behind Payero Gem

Published on July 15, 2019 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


The SteepleCats played host to the Danbury Westerners as the Cats looked to bring an end to their 3 game losing skid. The Westerners came into the contest just a shade above .500, but bost one of the most prolific offenses in the NECBL. The SteepleCats gave the ball to their ace Nick Payero as he was tasked with disrupting the Danbury offensive attack. The SteepleCats scratched across three runs in the first half of this game as they capitalized on some defensive mistakes by the Westerners and coupled that with some timely hitting to give Payero a three tun lead. The Cats would add on later as Tre Kirklin led the offense with a 4 for 4 game, Shany Muntz, Joey Porricelli, and Matt Koperniak added 2 hits each as the game went on. However, the story of this game was the starting pitching performance of Nick Payero for the Cats. Just a day after Gordon Graceffo threw the gauntlet down with 6 shutout innings, Payero answered the bell and then some as he went 7 shutout innings while amassing 7 strikeouts and allowing only 2 hits. He was absolutely dazzling on the mound for the Cats as Payero kept the Westerner's batter off balance all game with his full assortment of pitches. Jackson Tavel would come on to record the final 6 outs of the game to lock up the 9-2 victory. This also marked the final game for the Virginia Tech outfielder Tanner Thomas as a member of the SteepleCats. Tanner was a key member of the SteepleCats both on and off the field as his teammates will look to finish out this season without him. The Cats are now getting ready for a stretch of 4 consecutive road games, a stretch that if successful could allow the Cats to really make their playoff intentions be felt by the league as the Cats hold a slim lead in the northern division. If the Cats find success on the road they could return home with a real chance to play beyond August 1st. The Cats will head to Mystic tomorrow as they will look to exact some revenge on the Schooner.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 15, 2019


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