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Vermont Quiets Keene with 10-2 Victory; Extends Lead in North Division

July 14, 2023 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


Vermont Mountaineers' Jack Renwick at bat
Vermont Mountaineers' Jack Renwick at bat
(Vermont Mountaineers, Credit: Alex Avedisian, Photography Intern)

KEENE, N.H. - The Vermont Mountaineers returned to the win column with a dominant 10-2 win over the Keene Swamp Bats on Friday night from Alumni Field.

The Mountaineers, who moved to 2.5 games over the Upper Valley Nighthawks in the North Division, improve to 18-11-1 while the Swampbats fall to 12-20 on the season. It was the fifth game of the season series between the North Division rivals, with Vermont taking a 3-2 series lead..

After leaving two on in the first inning and Vermont starter Nolan Sparks shutting down Keene in the opening frame, the guests put runners on the corners with one out in the second and took a 1-0 lead.

Tyler Cox walked, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nathan Waugh. Jace Jeremiah worked a walk to reach first, which forced Keene to go to the bullpen early. TJ Williams reached on a two-out error by the catcher that allowed Cox to score the first run of the game.

Sparks ran into trouble in the second. He gave up a lead off double and a one out walk, putting two runners on base. He got a flyout and a strikeout to keep Keene off the scoreboard.

With Keene squandering an opportunity to tie or take the lead, the Mountaineers took advantage in the third and added to their lead. Luke Cantwell walked to start the frame and Brandon Butterworth smacked his second home run of the season to give Vermont a 3-0 lead. Cox made it 4-0 after reaching on a single. He advanced to second on a walk and scored on an RBI single by Jack Renwick

Sparks ran into more trouble in the home half again, as the Swamp Bats loaded the bases with no outs. He left them loaded by striking out the next three batters on 11 pitches, while picking up his seventh strikeout of the game.

Vermont added three runs to build a 7-0 lead in the fifth. Waugh started the frame with a double and then Renwick walked with one out. A Williams double over the centerfielder's head scored Waugh to make it 5-0. Renwick scored on an RBI groundout by Grant Voytovich to make it 6-0. A two-out single by Cantwell scored Renwick to make it 7-0.

Benjamin Smith came in the bottom of the fifth in relief for Vermont. He gave up a leadoff walk before getting the first two outs of the frame via a strikeout and pop up. However, Keene broke up the shutout as Devin Taylor hit a two-run shot to score Bryan Padilla, making it 7-2. The Swamp Bats continued to threaten as an error and a two-out single extended the inning. Smith limited the damage, picking up his second strikeout of the inning.

Aidan Risse worked a quick one, two, three inning of relief in the sixth inning on just 15 pitches to keep Vermont's five-run lead intact. After Vermont went scoreless in the seventh, Risse continued his strong relief effort with his second straight shutout inning, capping it off with a strikeout.

The Mountaineers extended their lead in the eighth. Marshall Toole doubled to start the frame and then moved to third on a passed ball. A walk to Waugh put runners on the corners and a single by Jeremiah scored Toole. A single by Renwick loaded the bases and a single by WIlliams scored Toole and Waugh, making it 10-2. Max Chapman and Maxwell Brulport each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the victory for Vermont.

Risse earned the victory in two full innings of relief for Vermont. He pitched two shutout innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three batters. The Mountaineers pitching combined for 17 strikeouts in the game while holding the Keene bats to just five hits and issuing four walks.

Vermont returns home for the first time in a week on Saturday, July 15. With the Mystic Schooners in town, it will be a fun-filled day at Montpelier Recreation Field. It's Christmas in July; If you bring a toy for Toys for Tots, you get in for free, plus with the game being sponsored by Real Bounce, there will be a bouncy house. It is also a celebration for all Montpelier High School championship teams from the 2022-23 school year. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. You can follow all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network here.

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' Jack Renwick at bat
Vermont Mountaineers' Jack Renwick at bat
(Alex Avedisian, Photography Intern)		   

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