Vermont Dominates Series Opener Against Newport On Saturday

Published on July 13, 2019 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


MONTPELIER, Vt. - In the Mountaineers first face-off against the Southern Division's Newport Gulls, Vermont's offense had an exceptional night posting a 13-2 win over the visitors in New England Collegiate Baseball League action on Saturday night at historic Montpelier Recreation Field.

Going into tonight's game, Vermont looked to build on their momentum from their exciting win against New Bedford on Friday night. Sean Kealey (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Allegheny College) started off the game strong with a quick one, two three inning. The offensive side quickly loaded the bases and the Mountaineers took an early lead with Curtis Robison (Dillsburg, Pa./ Penn State University) driving in both Austin Gauthier (Lorton, Va./ Hofstra University) and Matt McDermott (Little Falls, N.J./ College of William and Mary) with a double out to right field after just one out in the inning.

Mountaineers offense continued to find holes in the field in the bottom of the second, as the Gulls starting pitcher, Connery Peters, struggled to shut down Vermont's hitters. McDermott brought Ciaran Devenney (Manalpan, N.J./ University of Massachusetts Lowell) home on an error by the Gulls' shortstop. With the bases still loaded, Gautier and Straton Podaras (Glen Head, N.Y./ Radford University) were driven in on a fielder's choice by Evan Giordano (Sewell, N.J./ Stony Brook University), followed by an error by the Gull's third baseman.

There was seemingly no end to the Mountaineers offense in the second inning, as McDermott was able to tag up on a sacrifice fly and racked up another run while Giordano made his way to home on a single to left field by the center fielder Connor Charping (Trenton, Mich./ Western Michigan University). By the end of it all, the Mountaineers led the Gulls 7-0.

The Mountaineers defense held strong through the third and fourth innings, helping Kealey escape a tough situation in the top of the fourth and shutdown the Gull's attempt to get things started offensively.

The Newport Gulls were finally able to get a run on the board in the top of the fifth as their second baseman, Jacob Gustin, stole home on a double steal to cut into the Mountaineers' lead.

After scoring just one run in the sixth inning, the Mountaineers offense dominated in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out. Brian Goulard (Garden City, N.Y./ Hofstra University) tagged up a sacrifice fly by McDermott. Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass./ University of Massachusetts Lowell) got his first hit of the night with a double to left field, bringing both Gauthier and Podaras home. Robison followed suit, poking a hit through to right field, driving Giordano home. Climo made it 13-1, scoring Vermont's final run on a wild pitch.

The Gulls added a run in the ninth but were stopped Mitchell Sorensen (Westlake, Ohio / Lake Erie College) got a fly out to end the game. Kealey picked up the win in six innings of work with five strikeouts and allowing just one run on three hits and three walks. Ryan Steckline (Newark, Del. / Monmouth University) pitched two innings of relief without allowing a run or hit and finished with three strikeouts. Peters suffered the loss for Newport.

Vermont improves their record to 17-13 before hitting the road for the next three games. The Mountaineers will look to continue to keep their bats hot as they take on the Valley Blue Sox tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05pm EST.

You can listen along all season long on the NECBL Broadcast Network.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 13, 2019


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