Sports stats

Vermont Explodes for 11 Runs in Route of Mystic Saturday

July 15, 2023 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


Vermont Mountaineers' Max Gitlin on the mound
Vermont Mountaineers' Max Gitlin on the mound
(Vermont Mountaineers, Credit: Cierra Loomis, Digital Media/Photography Director)

MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers exploded for 11 runs, including a five-run seventh, for a 11-3 victory over the Mystic Schooners on Saturday night from Montpelier Recreation Field.

The Mountaineers improved to 19-11-1 and moved three full games over the Upper Valley Nighthawks in the North division. The Schooners, who had entered the game winning eight of their last 10 games, dropped to 19-12 on the season.

The teams went scoreless in the opening inning and heads up defense by Vermont in the second prevented the Schooners from taking an early lead. Caleb Stelly singled to start the frame and then stole second. He moved to third on a ground out to shortstop. He was thrown out at the plate on a play by Santino Rosso at third base for the second out. Vermont starter Aidan Tucker picked up his second strikeout of the game to end the inning.

However, Mystic took advantage of an error to take a 2-0 lead in the third. A walk to Matthew Brinker began the inning. Sam Kirkpatrick reached on a throwing error and advanced all the way to third, scoring Brinker. Tucker got a strikeout and ground out for two quick outs, but a wild pitch allowed Kirkpatrick to score and make it 2-0.

Vermont's offense squandered a golden opportunity in the home half. Mystic's starter Thomas Ellison escaped a bases loaded jam to preserve the Schooner's lead. Vermont ran into more trouble in the fourth, but Max Gitlin came in relief and left the bases loaded to escape with no damage.

The Mountaineers scored four runs to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of fourth. Nathan Goranson led off with a double down the left field line. He advanced to third on a single to center by newcomer Cameron Santerre. A stolen base put two runners in scoring position. After Ellison got a strikeout, Goranson scored Vermont's first run on a wild pitch, which moved Santerre to third. Mystic's first reliever Daniel Kelleher got a huge strikeout for the second out, but hit TJ Williams to put runners on the corners. A two-out single by Marshall Toole put runners on the corners again and scored Goranson to tie the game. A wild pitch gave Vermont a 3-2 lead to score Williams and advance Toole to second. Brandon Butterworth worked a full count walk and Toole stole third to put runners on first and third again with two outs. A single by Rosso made it 4-2 but the third out was made as Butterworth was caught in a rundown.

Gitlin worked quickly in the fifth inning and sixth innings, retiring the batters in order on just 19 pitches to keep a 4-2 Vermont lead. The Mountaineers added two runs in the sixth. Renwick was hit and a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Toole to the shortstop area put two on with one out. Butterworth ripped a two-out single to left, scoring Renwick, making it 5-2. A walk to Roso loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly made it 6-2 off the bat of Aaron Whtiely.

After retiring nine hitters in a row, Gitlin gave up a two-out solo shot to left field by Mystic's Jack Goodman to make it 6-3 in the seventh. Vermont got five runs back in the bottom half. It was capped off with a two-out two-run triple by Rosso, making it 11-3.

Max Moss and Christopher AuClair pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, finishing with three strikeouts

Gitlin picked up his first win of the summer in 3.1 innings of work. He gave up one run on three hits and had three strikeouts. Keheller suffered the loss for Mystic in 1.2 innings. He gave up four runs on five hits and walked two batters. Toole had four hits to lead the offensive side of things while Butterworth and Rosso each drove in three runs for the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers return home on Sunday, July 16 against the Upper Valley Nighthawks for game six of the Governor's Cup Series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on volunteer appreciation night, sponsored by the WORLD. You can follow all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network here.

Photo credit: Cierra Loomis, Digital Media/Photography Director

For continuing coverage of the Vermont Mountaineers, bookmark thevermontmountaineers.com and follow the Mountaineers on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and on TikTok.




Images from this story

Vermont Mountaineers' Max Gitlin on the mound
Vermont Mountaineers' Max Gitlin on the mound
(Cierra Loomis, Digital Media/Photography Director)		   



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 15, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Vermont Mountaineers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central