Vermont Advances to NECBL Finals with 8-3 Win over Sanford

August 4, 2022 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


Vermont Mountaineers' Mark Trotta in action
Vermont Mountaineers' Mark Trotta in action
(Vermont Mountaineers)

MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers advanced to the New England Collegiate Baseball League title game for the sixth time in franchise history, defeating the Sanford Mainers 8-4 on Thursday night at Montpelier Recreation Field.

The top-seeded Mountaineers will host the fourth-seeded Martha's Vineyard Sharks in game one of the finals at Montpelier Recreation Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Its the first time Vermont has made it to the finals since 2015.

After Brendan McFall retired the Mainers in order to start the game, Vermont's offense struck in the home half. A leadoff walk by Tyler Cox set the stage. Nic Notarangelo laced a line drive down the left field line, past the diving attempt of Sanford left fielder Jayson Kramer for a triple, scoring Cox all the way from first. However, Mainer's starter Zachary Rodgers got out of the jam, stranding runners on the corners.

McFall was tossed with two outs in the top of the second after being ejected for a foreign substance. Christopher Kahler came in and gave up a solo shot to Devan Bade to tie the game at one.

Vermont regained the lead in the second. Tyler Wells lined a single up the middle, before reaching second on a ground out. Cox came up with two outs and lifted a weak line drive to right center field to score Wells from second.

Sanford evened the game in the third inning. Kramer doubled to deep right after the ball was misjudged. He then advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches to tie the game at two.

Vermont threatened in the home half. Rodger's ran into trouble walking Mark Trotta and Matthew Venuto to put a pair on first and second. However, he struck out the next three batters to keep the game tied at two.

The Mainer's took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning. David Bermudez reached on a two-base error with one away, before moving to third on a ground out. A two-out single up the middle by Adam Dapkewicz gave Sanford a 3-2 edge.

Vermont regained the lead in the fourth. Shane Lussier started by reaching on an error, before Cox walked. Notarangelo grounded to short but the turn to first was overthrown, allowing Lussier to score. Notorangelo moved to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on a two-out error to give the Mountaineers a 4-3 lead.

The see-saw game continued as Calvin Hewett tripled with one out in the fifth off reliever Jarrett Korson. However, the next batter grounded to third and Hewett was caught between third and home, getting tagged out for the second out. A ground out ended the inning.

The Mainers put a pair of runners on with a walk and single to start the sixth. However, Korson struckout the next two batters and catcher Cameron Gill threw out Alex Knapp attempting to steal third to end the frame.

Vermont loaded the bases in the eighth all with two outs. Notarangelo singled with one out before Trotta and Venuto reached on a pair of two-out walks. After Ruscitti made a sliding catch to end the top of the eighth, his bat came alive for his first hit of the game. He belted a 2-2 pitch over the right center field wall for a grand slam and an 8-3 Vermont lead.

Korson was strong in four and two thirds innings of relief for Vermont. He struck out four batters. Luke Carpenter got the final out with runners on first and second.




Images from this story

Vermont Mountaineers' Mark Trotta in action
Vermont Mountaineers' Mark Trotta in action
   



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 4, 2022


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