The NECBL Daily Rundown - June 15th, 2022

June 16, 2022 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release

A home run parade in Keene and a pair of doubleheaders highlights a 9-game slate of Wednesday NECBL action!

Vermont Mountaineers 7 - Ocean State Waves 0 (DH GM1, 7 Innings)

W - Brendan McFall 3-0 (Tufts): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

L - Joe Cinnella 0-1 (Seton Hall): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Vermont Mountaineers 4 - Ocean State Waves 3 (DH GM2, 9 Innings)

W - Mitchell Pascarella 1-0 (Connecticut): 0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

L - Parker Bard 1-1 (Dayton): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Montpelier Recreation Field in Montpelier, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers (8-0) swept their second double header in a row against the Ocean State Waves (3-6) to remain the dominant team in the NECBL with an undefeated record.

Game 1 - The Mountaineers didn't waste any time in the top of the first as third baseman Ben Williamson (William & Mary) scored the first run following a walk, hit by pitch, and brought home with a single to center field by designated hitter Adam Retzbach (Lehigh) for an early 1-0 lead. After Cinnella impressively held Vermont to no hits in the second and third inning, they broke through with an explosive four run inning. The players responsible for the scores were Retzbach, center fielder Gerry Siracusa (Massachusetts Lowell), second baseman Tyler Cox (Dartmouth), and right fielder Stephen DiTomaso (George Washington) to extend the score to 5-0.

The carnage would continue by the Mountaineers when first baseman Matthew Venuto (Fairfield) would hit a dinger into the Vermont dugout for the first home run of the season for the team and bring himself and Cox in for what would soon be the final score of 7-0. The Mountaineers have been undefeated through the season and in their seventh win of the season, they had one home run throughout that span. Another impressive feat was by the Mountaineers pitching squad of McFall, Nick Durgin (Stetson), and Dillon Ryan (Massachusetts Boston) only allowed one hit the entire game.

Game 2 - The second game had a slower start when the first score didn't come until the top of the second when the Waves got the upper hand with a score by left fielder Blaine Lidsky (Stonehill). Lidsky got the score off of a single to center field, advanced to second on an error, and ran home after another single to right field hit by second baseman Justin Szestowicki (North Carolina Chapel Hill) for a 1-0 lead. Ocean State turned things around on the mound as pitcher Cameron Knox (Fordham) secured the lead through the next three innings as he only allowed three hits and struck out two batters.

Unfortunately for the Waves, the Mountaineers would strike in the next inning with DiTomaso scoring the equalizer and right behind him was left fielder Jack Cone with the tie-breaking run to make it 2-1 heading into the sixth inning where Cox scored his third of the day to push it to 3-1. The Waves then gained back momentum as they scored two runs of their own by Szestowicki and center fielder Justin Bosland (Northeastern) to tie it up, 3-3 and head into an extra inning. With no luck by either side in the eighth inning, The Mountaineers put the game away with a final run by Cone for his second of the night for a clutch 4-3 victory to remain undefeated.

The Mountaineers will try to keep their streak alive when they go on the road to face the Keene Swamp Bats (4-3) tomorrow at 6:30pm while the Waves look to bounce back when they host Martha's Vineyard Sharks (4-4) for a 6:30pm matchup.

Upper Valley Nighthawks 3 - Martha's Vineyard Sharks 2 (DH GM1, 7 Innings)

W - Jack Choate 1-0 (Assumption): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

L - Adam Stone 0-1 (Harvard): 3.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

S - Trey Nordmann 2 (Lipscomb): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Martha's Vineyard Sharks 4 - Upper Valley Nighthawks 3 (DH GM2, 8 Innings)

W - Camron Hill 1-0 (Georgia Tech): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

L - William Sullivan 0-1 (Troy): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Shark Tank at Vineyard Baseball Park in Oak Bluffs, Mass. - The Martha's Vineyard Sharks (5-4) and Upper Valley Nighthawks (4-5) split a competitive doubleheader.

Game 1 - After a silent six innings to begin the game, the Sharks brought two runs in and had runners on the corners down by one and with two outs. On a 1-2 count, Upper Valley's Trey Nordmann reared back and fired a fastball on the outside part of the plate that whizzed by a swinging bat, which earned the Nighthawks their fourth victory of the year.

The Nighthawks established their lead early, as in the first inning, after Tyler Sorrentino ( hit a single and stole second base, he was driven in on a Max Grant (Canisius) double. In the next inning, Sorrentino hit an RBI single. Two innings later, Upper Valley's offense added another run. After Johnny Decker (Marist) and Logan Eickhoff (Eastern Illinois) singled to put runners on first and second, Jonathan Hogart (Louisiana Tech) drove Decker in on a single.

Jack Choate, Ryan Ignoffo (Eastern Illinois), and Matthew McShane (St. Joseph's) combined for six shutout innings and nine strikeouts. Then in the seventh inning, the Sharks made some noise. Luke Masiuk (Northeastern) and Danny Crossen (Northeastern) walked then advanced to second and third, which set up for Ben Nardi (Catholic) and Marcus Franco (Nova Southeastern) to hit two singles to drive them both in, But, the Nighthawks' Nordmann came through with the game-ending strikeout to seal the Upper Valley victory.

Game 2 - When Michael Snyder (Washington) advanced to third base on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth in a tie game, the Sharks knew they were 90 feet away from a win. Ryan Nicholson (Cincinnati) found the pitch he wanted, and lined it to right field. Despite a sliding attempt for the ball, it landed and allowed Snyder to score and grant Vineyard the victory.

This came after the Sharks salvaged the game in the bottom of the seventh. They were down 3-2 in the final inning, then Harrison Brown (Austin Peay) led off with a double. He advanced to third base on a groundout, then Marcus Franco was up to bat. He chopped a ball up the middle, and Upper Valley's Ty Kaufman (North Carolina Asheville) made a spectacular diving grab in which he jumped as high as he could to prevent the ball from going into the outfield. However, when he threw the ball home, Brown got in safely to tie the game.

In the first inning, Nicholson hit a sacrifice fly to give Vineyard a 1-0 lead. Then, in the top of the third, Upper Valley's Johnny Decker led off with a walk. After, he stole second base, and when he went to steal third base a few pitches later, the throw got by the third baseman and allowed him to score. Next, Jonathan Hogart walked. Two batters later, Ryan Ignoffo hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that went over the wall and made it a 3-1 game. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Woods (Bryant) scored while the Nighthawks turned a double play. After a few innings of shutdown pitching, the Sharks mounted their comeback.

The Sharks' next game will be today on the road against the Ocean State Waves at 6:30 p.m. Upper Valley's next game will be at home against a divisional opponent in the Winnipesaukee Muskrats at 6 p.m.

Valley Blue Sox 9 - Winnipesaukee Muskrats 5

W - Jordan Yoder 1-0 (Lafayette): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

L - Patrick Cuccurullo 0-2 (Montclaire State): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Robbie Mills Sports Complex, Laconia, N.H. - Propelled by a four-run eighth inning, the Valley Blue Sox (3-5) defeated the Winnipesaukee Muskrats (3-4) 9-5 Wednesday night at Robbie Mills Sports Complex.

Leading by just one run heading into the top of the eighth, the Valley Blue Sox offense would explode for four runs in the inning. Jack Krause (Bowling Green) led off the eighth with a walk, advancing to second base on a steal later in the inning. Krause would then score off an RBI single by Ramon Jimenez (Boston College) while walks on the next two at-bats would load the bases for Jevon Mason (Southeast Missouri) who singled scoring two runs.

After scoring three runs in the third inning with RBIs coming from Brendan Concannon (Paris JC), Tyler Grodell (Mount Saint Mary's), and Matt Brown-Eiring (Stony Brook), the Muskrats threatened a comeback in the eighth. Grayson Preslar (North Carolina Asheville) led off the inning with a single while Grodell walked on the ensuing at-bat. Both runners would advance on a pass ball putting them in scoring position for Patrick Roche (Boston College) who cleared the bases with a double. Unfortunately for the Muskrats, three strike outs by Andrew Roman (Salve Regina) would end the inning and Winnipesaukee's chance for a comeback.

Brady Day (Kansas State) had an impressive offensive outing for the Muskrats going 2-for-3, recording one walk, and scoring a run while his teammate Roche also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Jimenez led the way offensively for the Blue Sox, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a home run while Sam Franco (Purdue) hit a solo shot of his own.

Both teams return to play on Thursday, June 16th, with the Muskrats hosting the Sanford Mainers at 6:00 p.m. while the Blue Sox travel to Danbury to take on the Westerners at 6:30 p.m.

Newport Gulls 8 - Sanford Mainers 3

W - Tyler Cortland 2-0 (Dartmouth): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

L - Gavin Stellpflug 0-1 (Maryland): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Goodall Park in Sanford, ME - Thanks to runs in four straight innings, the Newport Gulls (6-1) downed the Sanford Mainers (1-7) to win their sixth straight game.

Through six innings, the game was tied at two. However, that changed quickly once the Gulls came to bat in the top of the seventh. Newport scored two in the inning after an RBI double from first baseman Noah Martinez (Central Connecticut St) and a single from shortstop Cameron Clayton (Washington). The Gulls tacked on three more in the top of the eighth through a Sanford error and an RBI from pinch-hitter Luke Beckstein (Northeastern) to take a four run lead. Newport put the finishing touches on its victory the following inning via an RBI double from Joshua Kuroda-Grauer (Rutgers).

Newport loaded the bases quickly and scored in the first inning to kick off the contest. A Slate Alford (Mississippi St) RBI single brought home the first run of the game. The matchup stayed 1-0 until the sixth when Samuel Kulasingam (United States Air Force Academy) hit another Gull home. Sanford tied it up at two in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two wild pitches. Newport then exploded for six runs in the next three innings, with the Mainers getting a consolation run in the eighth off a Grant Knipp (Campbell) homer.

The Gulls outhit the Mainers fifteen to three. Newport had five players record two or more hits, including a three-hit effort by Noah Martinez.

Newport looks to make it seven in a row after an off-day today, facing Ocean State (3-6) tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. Sanford tries for its second win of the season at Winnipesaukee (3-4) later today at 6:00 p.m.

North Adams SteepleCats 9 vs Keene Swamp Bats 5

W - Johnnie Valdez (Golden West): 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

L - Vincent Spizzouco (Central Connecticut State): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Alumni Field in Keene, N.H. - The North Adams SteepleCats (2-7) got their second win in a row in a home run parade against the Keene Swamp Bats (4-3).

Both teams started off with a bang. The second hitter of the game, North Adams's Alex Lane (Bryant), hit a deep fly ball to right center field and over the wall to give the SteepleCats a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Cedric Rose (UMass Lowell), hit a home run so far that the outfielders did not bother moving.

Keene made sure to match North Adams in the bottom of that inning. With Lucas Costello (Wake Forest) on first base, Dan Covino (Central Connecticut State) hammered a ball over the right field wall to tie the game up. This did not come without a SteepleCats response, however. In the top of the second inning, Kyle Hannon (Penn State) led off with a home run over the right field wall. Then, after Brady Mutz (Monmouth) doubled, he was driven in on a Vincent Bianchina (Northwestern) single to make it 4-2.

The SteepleCats' Johnnie Valdez seemed to settle in after the home run allowed in the first inning. He put up scoreless frames from the second through the fifth innings. While that was happening, North Adams' Ryan Galanie (Wofford) hit a solo home run far over the left field wall.

In the bottom of the sixth, with Keene's Tony Santa Maria (Rutgers New Brunswick) on base, Jackson Ross (Florida Atlantic) barreled a ball over the left field wall to make it 5-4 SteepleCats. Once again, North Adams responded when the inning turned over.

With men on second and third in the top of the seventh, Bianchina scored on a wild pitch that was also a dropped third strike. Then, with runners on the corners, Galanie hit an RBI single to increase the lead to three. Eventually, Lane scored on a wild pitch and Galanie scored on a sacrifice fly by Cesar Franco (Chipola). The SteepleCats kept the significant lead to win the game by the score of 9-5.

The SteepleCats' next game will be tomorrow at the Sanford Mainers at 6:30 p.m. Keene will look to get back on track today at home against the undefeated Vermont Mountaineers.

Bristol Blues 10 - Danbury Westerners 8

W - William Paoli 1-0 (Ramapo): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

L - Julian Tonghini 0-1 (Boston College): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

SV - Michael Thomas Morrissey (1 SV, Bryant): 2.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER (4 R), 1 BB, 3 K

Muzzy Field in Bristol, CT - The Bristol Blues (6-2) edged the Danbury Westerners (5-3) despite a late comeback attempt.

Bristol blew the game open in the bottom of the eighth, taking a six run lead heading into the final inning. A triple from Calvin McCall (Rhode Island) and a wild pitch combined to plate four Blues runners in what seemed to be a game-ending inning. But, the Westerners didn't give in and closed the gap in style. With two outs, Danbury's Harrison Feinberg (Southern California) and Jake Hyde (Georgetown) hit back-to-back home runs to make it a two run game. The Westerners then hit three straight singles to load the bases, but Michael Thomas Morrissey forced Jackson Taylor (Indiana St) into a fielder's choice to end the game.

A lead-off homer from Danbury shortstop Nicholas Romano (Georgia Tech) gave the Westerners the early lead, which didn't last long. Bristol took no time erasing the advantage, scoring three in the bottom of the first thanks to a passed ball and single by Joseph Rios (Central Connecticut St).

The Westerners retook the lead in the next inning, going up 4-3 after an error and a dropped third strike. The Blues, again, didn't back down, scoring in back to back innings to lead 5-4 after three. Bristol increased its lead to two in the seventh via a Chaz Myers (Pacific) RBI single. The Blues would add four more in the bottom of the eighth, further increasing their lead to 10-4, before the Westerners scored four of their own in the ninth.

Both teams recorded over ten hits, with the Westerners ending the game with thirteen and the Blues ending with eleven. Danbury's Billy Gerlott (Penn St) and Sam Mongelli (Sacred Heart) ended the night with three hits while Bristol's Chaz Myers did the same.

The Westerners look to get back on track at home against the Blue Sox (3-5) today at 6:30 p.m. The Blues try for their seventh win of the season when they travel to North Shore (1-6) today at 6:35 p.m.

Mystic Schooners 5 - North Shore Navigators 4

W - Jonathan Gonzalez (Stetson): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

L - Patrick Bradley-Cooney (Essex): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

S - Ben Gorski (Rutgers): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

Fraser Field, Lynn, Mass. - It took 11 innings for the Mystic Schooners (4-2) to take down the North Shore Navigators (1-6) Wednesday afternoon at Fraser Field.

Tied 4-4 heading into the 11th inning, Mystic's Jimmy Chatfield (Yale) was placed at second base per the international tiebreaker rule, eventually advancing to third on a stolen base. Logan Allen (Bryant) would get the job done by driving a deep sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Chatfield to score the go-ahead run.

The Navigators would threaten to score in the bottom of the 11th, loading the bases with only one out. Mystic Schooners pitcher Gorski was able to force an infield fly to earn the second out of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Gorski threw a strikeout to end the game, earning the save and securing the win.

Despite suffering the loss, the Navigators out-hit their opponent eight hits to five including a two-run double by Nathan Blasick (West Virginia) as well as two-hit performances from Jake McElroy (Holy Cross) (2-for-5) and Michael Gervasi (UMass Amherst) (2-for-6).

The North Shore Navigators return to play Thursday, June 16th, hosting the Bristol Blues at 6:35 p.m. while the Schooners enjoy a day off before hosting the Danbury Westerners on Friday, June 17th, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 16, 2022

• Missed Oppurtunities Cost Sanford in Loss to Winnipesaukee - Sanford Mainers
• The NECBL Daily Rundown - June 15th, 2022 - NECBL

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