SwampBats Lose
Published on July 10, 2016 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
MONTPELIER - Something about Recreation Field in Montpelier, VT makes the SwampBats (13-11) offense go quiet as the ¬ËBats were on able to produce two hits in a 5-0 loss to the Vermont Mountaineers (9-14).
In desperate need of a victory the SwampBats turned to one of their more consistent pitchers on season in Zach Hart (Franklin and Pierce). Hart came into this one struggling a bit but the SwampBats were hoping he would return to the form he showed in his first two starts.
This would not be the case in the first two innings.
The Mountaineers' hitters were very selective tonight and made Hart work for every out. Through two, Hart tossed 47 pitches and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits. He would later settle down in the 3rd and 4th innings, throwing 33 pitches to 10 batters and just allowing 1 run on 4 hits.
It was not Hart's best outing but his performance at least gave the SwampBats a winning chance.
Unfortunately, for Hart and the rest of the ¬ËBats pitchers, the offense could not produce much against the pitchers of Vermont.
Rayne Supple (Wake Forest) made his first start of the season and he kept the SwampBats hitters off balance the entire game.
The narrative with the SwampBats offense the whole season has been if they see pitches and work deep counts, they are often successful.
Not tonight.
Supple kept the SwampBats offense hitless through the first three innings, despite throwing 67 pitches.
In the 2nd inning the SwampBats missed their best opportunity of the game to do some damage off of Supple. The bases were load with two outs due Parker Sniatynski (St Louis), Jack Morock (Iowa Western), and Garrett Christman (Butler) all reaching on walks. Most teams in first place thrive with runners in scoring position, but not the ¬ËBats.
When runners are in scoring position, SwampBats hitters are batting for a .222 average and with two outs the average drops to .188.
Two outs and bases loaded, Tommy LaCongo (St. Bonaventure) popped up to Supple and a golden opportunity was wasted.
Jordan Howard (Lee U) and Dom Iero (Kent St.) reached on singles later in the game but that would be the extent the action from the offense.
Hart would exit the game after 4 innings and SwampBats would use the combination of David Drouin (Hartford), Jamal Wade (Maryland), Dylan Sbordone (Southern New Hampshire), and Michael LaBeau (Castleton) to finish out the game. Over 5 innings, they gave up 2 hits, 1 run that was unearned, and only walked 1.
A solid performance between the four of them but no runs for the offense equals no win.
The SwampBats are losers of 6 of their last 8 and their leas in the Northern Division has disappeared as they are now tied for first with the Winnipesaukee Muskrats (13-11).
The Bats' travel to Laconia, NH to take on Muskrats tomorrow. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.
The game can be heard live on the NECBL Broadcast Network and FM 104.1 and AM 1220 ESPN Keene.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 10, 2016
- SwampBats Lose - Keene Swamp Bats
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- Mountaineers Win Second in a Row, Top Keene 5-0 - Vermont Mountaineers
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