Ten-run third helps Waves over Mainers, 11-5
June 13, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
Ocean State Waves vs. Sanford Mainers
(Ocean State Waves)
WAKEFIELD, R.I.-Entering Saturday's game following a 7-6 loss at the hands of their in-state rivals, the Newport Gulls, the Ocean State Waves needed a strong performance to return to the .500 plateau this summer. Backed by a ten-run third inning and five errors by the Sanford Mainers defense, the Waves rolled past the Mainers, 11-5, in front of 1,114 fans at Old Mountain Field.
For the first two innings, the Mainers were in control against the Waves. Three defensive miscues by the Waves plagued the beginning of Tony Dibrell's (Kennesaw State) second outing of the summer. After Johnny Slater (Michigan) led off the inning by reaching on an error by shortstop Alex King (Saint Louis), the Mainers had runners on the corners following a Mike Mastroberti (Southern New Hampshire) base hit. Designated hitter Shaine Hughes (Monmouth) drove home the first Mainers run on an RBI groundout to second baseman Nick Dawson (Southern Mississippi). The defensive blunders continued when Dalton Thomas (Arkansas-Little Rock) and Andruw Gazzola (Stony Brook) reached on errors by Dibrell and King respectively. With Mastroberti scoring on the error by Dibrell, the Mainers took an early 2-0 lead.
Despite the rocky first inning, Dibrell settled into a groove in his second start with the Waves. The righty avenged a jam in the second by stranding a runner on second, and continued his effectiveness into the fifth. In five innings, Dibrell allowed two runs (both unearned) on four hits with four strikeouts to his credit. Dibrell had three 1-2-3 innings after the second, allowing just two hits during that span.
Ben Wessel (Rhode Island), the Mainers starter, kept the Waves scoreless throught he first two innings. However, it was the third inning where the Waves offense came to life. Despite a leadoff pop out to short by Jake Palomaki (Boston College), King started the rally with a one-out single. Tim Lynch (Southern Mississippi) reached on an error by Mainers shortstop Brendan Skidmore (Binghamton), while Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi) loaded the bases with a walk. Dylan Burdeaux (Southern Mississippi) laced a single to left to bring home King, putting the Waves within one. Buck McCarthy (Bryant) tied the score by walking with the bases loaded. The Waves only needed two runs to tie the score, but the story of the inning was far from told.
Mike Corin (Rhode Island) put the Waves ahead with an RBI single to left-center. Griffin Helms (Kennesaw State) chipped in an RBI single of his own to put the Waves ahead, 4-2. Dawson continued the onslaught by reaching on an error by Gazzola at first, bringing home McCarthy and Corin. Palomaki then brought home Helms on an RBI single, putting the Waves ahead, 8-2.
By the time Helms stepped on home plate, Mainers manager Aaron Izaryk decided to pull the plug on the starter Wessel, bringing in new pitcher Aaron Casper (Canisius). Casper allowed a single to King, enabling Palomaki to go to third. However, King was thrown out at second, leaving a runner on for Lynch. On a 2-2 count, Lynch blasted a two-run home run off Casper over the right field fence, putting the cherry on top for the Waves as they distanced themselves from the Mainers with a 10-2 lead.
Aided by a strong five-inning start from Dibrell and the ten-run outburst, the Waves bullpen cruised against the Mainers offense. In his second appearance of the summer, George Capen (Holy Cross) posted a 1-2-3 inning against the Mainers. In the seventh, Ricky Dennis (Monmouth) avenged an RBI single by Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) by retiring three of the five batters he faced.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Waves tacked on an insurance run against new Mainers reliever Vinny Whitenight (St. Edward's). Corin led off the inning with a walk, then scored on a wild pitch to propel the Waves ahead, 11-3.
The Waves turned to Dom Veltri (Belmont) to pitch the top of the eighth inning. In his first appearance of the summer, Veltri allowed an RBI double to Thomas and an RBI single to Robbie Knightes (St. John's). It was Veltri that had the last laugh, however. Veltri struck out Hetzel to escape the jam, keeping the Waves ahead, 11-5.
For his first appearance of the summer, Andrew Wright (Southern California) was tasked to put the finishing touches on the Mainers lineup. The lefty did not disappoint, striking out two batters in the final frame. Despite two singles from Mastrobelli and Hughes, Wright rang up Thomas with the high heat to give the Waves the 11-5 victory.
Saturday's victory was filled with many highlights for the Waves. Every player in the starting lineup reached base in some form, the first time that has occurred all summer. Palomaki continued his six-game on-base streak, while King, Lynch, Robinson, McCarthy, Corin, Helms, and Dawson reached base multiple times. Waves pitchers struck out eight batters, which is the second highest total for the team this summer.
The Waves return to action in a Sunday matinee to host the Keene Swamp Bats at Old Mountain Field. Ryan Gray (Trinity TX; 0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start for the Waves this summer, while the Swamp Bats counter with Brian Stepniak (Hartford; 0-0, 7.36 ERA). Tune in online as Tim Scott and Jihun Han bring you the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network. First pitch is set for 4:05 in Wakefield.
Be sure to like the Ocean State Waves on Facebook, follow them on Twitter (@OceanStateWaves) and Instagram (OceanStateWaves), or visit them online at OceanStateWaves.com.
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 Ocean State Waves vs. Sanford Mainers |
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