Swamp Bats Earn 9-6 Win over Holyoke
Published on June 13, 2012 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
Keene N.H. - The Swamp Bats enjoyed a home run derby-type-game against the Holyoke Blue Sox before coming away with a 9-6 win Wednesday night. Keene knocked three home runs over the wall compared to five solo home runs for Holyoke, but were still able to walk away with a win.
Cameron O'Brien (Tulsa, Okla.) got things started for the Swamp Bats with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. O'Brien's blast was in response to two solo home runs from Holyoke in the top of the second from Kevin Fortunato (Wall, N.J.) and Rocco Gondeck (South Glastonbury, Conn.).
Holyoke responded with another solo home run in the top of the third inning from Paul McConkey (Knoxville, Tenn.). The Swamp Bats mirrored that shot with a homer of their own in the bottom of the third off the bat of Dylan De La Cruz (East Lyme, Conn.). De La Cruz came into the game leading the Swamp Bats in batting with a .364 average. The home run was his first of the season.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Blue Sox were threatening with a runner on second base and one out when Jordan Keur (Hudsonville, Mich.) came up to bat. Keur lined a hard-hit single into right field. De La Cruz, the right fielder, played the single and fired a perfectly thrown strike home to gun out Jake Berry (Hamilton, Mass.) and preserve the tie at 3-3.
Phil Mosey (Fishers, Ind.) gave the Blue Sox a 4-3 lead on his solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, but the Swamp Bats would continue their offensive production soon after.
Grant Kay (Omaha, Neb.) led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 4. Singles from O'Brien and Nelson Ward (Emerson, Ga.) paired with poor fielding and decision making from Holyoke eventually led to three more runs in the inning, giving the Swamp Bats their go-ahead runs.
The Swamp Bats added two more runs in the seventh inning off of a pair of errors from Holyoke catcher Gondeck to increase their lead to 9-4. The Blue Sox added two runs of their own in the ninth inning to finish off the scoring at 9-6.
Artie Lewicki (Wychoff, N.J.) got the start on the rubber for the Swamp Bats, giving up three runs (all solo home runs) and striking out five in a no-decision. Tyler Gauthier (Lynn, Mass.) earned the win for Keene after relieving Lewicki in the sixth inning. He gave up one run in two innings.
Aaron Weisburg (Glen Rock, N.J.) received the loss for Holyoke after giving up five runs in five innings pitched. He left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after Kay led off with a home run and O'Brien followed up with a single. Dave Spinosa (Chancellorsville, Va.) finished the inning for the Blue Sox, giving up two more runs.
With the win, Keene improves to 3-1 on the year, while Holyoke falls to 2-3.
The Swamp Bats are in action Thursday night, June 14th against the Danbury Westerners at Alumni Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 13, 2012
- 'Cats Drop Slugfest to Danbury - North Adams SteepleCats
- Deja Vu All Over Again - Mainers Blow Past New Bedford - Sanford Mainers
- Swamp Bats Earn 9-6 Win over Holyoke - Keene Swamp Bats
- Double Header with North Adams Added to Schedule - Vermont Mountaineers
- Bay Sox Hosting Little League Night - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Mystic Schooners Announce 2nd Schedule Change - Mystic Schooners
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