Sunrise Halted: Suns Fall To The Dirt Dawgs, Miss Playoffs
August 6, 2016 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Pittsfield Suns News Release
Friday night's home finale at Wahconah Park had a little something for everyone: a rise from a 4-0 deficit, two ninth rallies, and two ejected managers.
What the game did not offer was a playoff spot for the 2016 Pittsfield Suns.
After staging multiple comebacks, the Suns could not put the icing on the cake, falling to the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 10-8 in 10 innings. With the loss, the Suns were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Southpaw Jamin McCann took the mound for his last start as a Pittsfield Sun. The rising East Tennessee State University senior allowed four runs in the first inning.
But, McCann's rough start was forgotten in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Suns had made up some ground, trailing the Dirt Dawgs 5-2. With one out and the bases loaded, Thomas Hughes walked in a run, cutting the Suns' deficit to two. Hughes added to his record-breaking FCBL walk total, earning his 43rd base on balls; he broke the single season record of 41 free passes on Wednesday night.
Hughes' walk brought up center fielder Al Zachary. Zachary cleared the bases, lining a triple to deep left center field. His clutch hit capped off a four-run inning, and put the Suns on top 6-5 in a game where the Dirt Dawgs initially seemed to be in control.
Reliever Matt Cuneo was in position to close out the game and keep the Suns' postseason dreams alive in the ninth inning. Cuneo struck out the leadoff batter, but the Dirt Dawgs seemed to have other plans. Ryne Ogren and Nolan Kessinger hit back-to-back RBI singles, placing the Wachusett ahead, 7-6.
The Dirt Dawgs' Naushon Galbraith had a clear path to finishing off the Suns. In fact, he was one strike away; Galbraith held Zachary with a 2-2 count and two outs. But, Zachary delivered another key hit, singling to extend the game.
The following at-bat, Galbraith faced the Suns' most elite hitter, Eric Hamilton (.325, 12 HRs, 63 RBI). Again, the Dirt Dawgs were one good pitch from a win, as Hamilton fell into a hole on a 1-2 count.
Yet, the Suns would not set easily. Hamilton cemented himself in the record books and in Pittsfield Suns' lore, smacking an RBI double to score Zachary and tie the game at seven. It was Hamilton's 18th two-bagger of the season, breaking the FCBL single-season record of 17 set by former Sun Frank Crinella in 2013.
That was Hamilton's second milestone this week. On Tuesday night, he broke the FCBL record for RBIs in a season (52).
Suns fans were treated with a surprise when second baseman Thomas Hughes was called to pitch the 10th inning. Hughes was rocked in his fourth pitching appearance of the season; the right-hander from the University of Oklahoma ultimately allowed three runs and was pegged with the loss.
Wachusett DH Kyle Bonicki came to the plate against Hughes with the bases laoded. Bonicki grounded to third base and two runs scored after third baseman Spencer Tinkel's throw scooted away from catcher Jake Goodreau.
Despite his team taking a 9-7 lead, Dirt Dawgs' manager Dan Generelli came out of the dugout to have a word with the umpire. Their conversation got heated quickly, and Generelli was tossed out of the game. A Wachusett assistant coach rushed out onto the field to get between Generelli and the umpire.
Moments later, Generelli angrily spiked his helmet. Suns' manager Tom Conley went to pick it up, and must have said something that the umpire did not appreciate. Like Generelli, Conley was ejected from the game.
After the Dirt Dawgs scored on a passed ball, the Suns tried to mount another rally in the 10th inning. With two outs in the bottom of the frame and runners on the corners, Pittsfield's Colin Ridley faced Gilbraith. Ridley lined an RBI single into centerfield to make it a 10-8 game.
After Ridley's hit, Tyler Lyne was tagged out running to third base on a Thomas Hughes ground ball, and the Dirt Dawgs sealed the win.
In order to stay in playoff contention, the Suns had to win against Wachusett and the West Division rival Bristol Blues had to lose. Although the Suns could not book a return-trip to the postseason, there was cause for celebration after the game when the club retired Jamin McCann's number.
McCann came away with a no-decision on Friday, lasting five innings and allowing five runs. Nonetheless, the ceremony was a fitting send-off for the veteran who pitched 161.2 innings and threw 144 strikeouts over three seasons in Pittsfield. McCann finished 2016 with a 2-3 record and a 4.08 ERA, along with an impressive 70 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. As of August 6th, his strikeout total is tied for first in the FCBL.
The Suns (21-30) will take a road trip up to New Hampshire tomorrow and face the Nashua Silver Nights (34-20) at 6:45 PM in their final game of the season.
Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 6, 2016
- Sunrise Halted: Suns Fall To The Dirt Dawgs, Miss Playoffs - Pittsfield Suns
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