SwampBats End Losing Streak
July 23, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
KEENE - Three home runs from the SwampBats (16-19) offense led to the end of their 3-game losing streak as they defeated the Winnipesaukee Muskrats (15-20) 7-5.
Aubrey McCarty (Florida A&M), Josh Shaw (St. John's), and Ryan Costello (Central Connecticut St.) all homered in today's makeup game against Winnipesaukee to lead the charge offensively for Keene as the bats finally came alive, scoring 7 runs on 8 hits.
As bad as the offense has been in the month of July, hitting a league worst .236 AVG. that was not the case today. Despite being no-hit through the first 3 innings against Muskrat's starter Neil Abbatiello (Wagner), the offense finally turned it around in their second at bats. Changing their approaches at the plate, the ¬ËBats saw more pitches and it paid off.
During innings 4, 5, and 6 the SwampBats got 5 runs on 6 hits and all three of their home runs did come off of Abbatiello.
The offense showed up, what about the pitching?
Michael LaBeau (Castleton St.), Keene's closer, got his first start of the season and for making an impromptu to start it went very well.
LaBeau's fastball is his bread and butter and it was working for him early. He got Anthony Godino (Wagner) to ground out easily for the 1st out and got Anthony Maselli (Boston College) to strikeout for out number two. Keivan Berges (Northwood) saw that LaBeau was primarly throwing fastballs and crushed the first pitch he saw over the fence in right center.
In total LaBeau gave up 3 earned runs and all of them were on solo home runs hit with 2 outs. He went 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, struck out 6, and walked just 1.
Both starters would leave the game after the 6th inning and it was Keene leading by a score of 5-3.
Over the month of July Keene has seen it leads in late innings disappear, just like their offense at the end of games. However, not today.
Trevor Maly (Joliet) was the next pitcher out for the Muskrats the ¬ËBats jumped on him in the 7th.
Patrick Sullivan led off reaching base safely on an error from Winnipesaukee second basemen Zack Coker (Alabama) and would later move over to third on a ground out from Tommy LaCongo (St. Bonaventure). Garrett Christman (Butler) would then hit a double down the right field line to bring home Sullivan and Shaw singled to right to score Christman.
Up 7-3, the SwampBats allowed Winnipesaukee to get a little closer with 2 earned runs coming off of Camren Giampetruzzi (Boston Col.) but that would be all the scoring for them.
Ivon Clough (Southern New Hampshire) game in for the save and ran into a little bit trouble but eventually closed it out.
The win moves the SwampBats into sole possession of 5th place in the Northern Division and just a half a game back of the Vermont Mountaineers (16-18) for the 4th and final playoff spot.
Keene will play their originally scheduled game tonight at Alumni Field against the North Adams SteepleCats (18-18). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
The game can be heard live on the NECBL Broadcast Network and FM 104.1 and AM 1220 ESPN Keene.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 23, 2016
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