Top 4 Seeds Advance in NECBL First Round Playoffs
Published on August 7, 2012 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release
As in the regular season, hitting was the name of the game in the first round of the 2012 NECBL playoffs. All four higher seeds advance to the Divisional Finals, where top seeded Newport will host New Bedford for the Eastern Division crown and defending League champion and #1-seed Keene can defend its Western title against #2-Danbury.
Eastern Division
#4 Sanford 1 vs. #1 Newport 2
Newport finished the regular season as the League's only 30-win team. They showed why on Friday with a 14-2 win. LF Kasey Coffman and DH Brett Winger combined to go 5-for-8 with three doubles and six RBI. The Gulls were down 6-3 at the end of seven on Saturday and rallied to force an extra frame. But Sanford C Nate LaPointe singled in reigning NECBL Player of the Week 3B Anthony Hajjar to give the Mainers a 7-6 win. The Gulls clinched the series by scoring in the final seven innings of the finale in an 18-1 romp. Despite the prodigious offense, Gull RHP Pete Kelich may have been the hero, striking out 10 and facing just two batters over the minimum in his six shutout innings.
#3 Laconia 0 vs. #2 New Bedford 2
Contrasts make for great prize fights. The 2012 Laconia Muskrats tied the NECBL record for most homers swatted by a team. New Bedford hurlers Brian Derner, Colton Cross and Donald Murray had a 2.63 ERA in their 21 regular season starts. The Bay Sox won game one 6-3, thanks to a 5-run fifth inning, a solid outing by Cross and a bullpen that pitched three shutout innings. New Bedford used a huge 6-run seven inning on Saturday night, keyed by CF Zach Graczyk's two run homer, to win 11-5 and advance to the Divisional Finals.
Western Division
#4 Vermont 0 vs. #1 Keene 2
Familiarity breeds contempt? These teams closed the regular season with a double header against each other. Thanks to a 10-run seventh, Keene pounded Vermont 22-0 in game one. Swamp Bat starter Kevin McAvoy, who finished in the top 15 in ERA and strikeouts during the regular season, fanned six and allowed just six base runners in seven shutout innings. 3B J.J. Sportman, C Frankie Schwindel and 1B Jared Walsh all homered twice. Keene bats were proficient the next night in Montpelier, as they advanced to the Divisional Finals after an 8-6 win. Schwindel had two more doubles and two additional RBI.
#3 North Adams 1 vs. #2 Danbury 2
Danbury closed the regular season as the hottest team in the NECBL, winning seven of their last 10. The Westerners stayed hot in game one, winning 14-4. Danbury jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the end of the second; defending NECBL batting champ LF Andrew Garner belted two homers while driving in six. Cat pitchers helped North Adams claim game two 4-2.; NA closer Matt Longfield slammed the door with a six-up/six-down save. 2B Adrian English's three-run homer put the SteepleCats ahead 5-4 in the top of the fourth of the series finale...when lightning forced the game's suspension to Tuesday night. CF Daniel Spignola's two-run double upon resumption took the lead for Danbury, who went on to win 10-7. 2B Jake Gronsky hit two homers, driving in four, for the Westerners.
The NECBL Divisional Finals opens on Tuesday night for Newport and New Bedford. Game one of Keene-Danbury will be Wednesday, August 7th.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 7, 2012
- Newport Gulls Advance to NECBL Championship Series - Newport Gulls
- Danbury holds on to defeat Keene 9-8 in playoff series opener - Keene Swamp Bats
- Newport Stamps Mainers Season End in Game Three - Sanford Mainers
- Top 4 Seeds Advance in NECBL First Round Playoffs - NECBL
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