Vermont Sweeps Split Double Header vs. Upper Valley, Valley

July 24, 2023 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers picked up two wins in a split doubleheader on Monday night. The Mountaineers slipped by the Upper Valley Nighthawks, 5-4, in the first game. They walked it off against the Valley Blue Sox with a 6-5 victory in the second game of the night.

It was the fifth game of the Governor's Cup Series in which the Nighthawks now lead by a 3-2 advantage. Vermont improved to 23-12-1 and Upper Valley dropped to 17-20. The Blue Sox fall to 20-17 on the year.

Vermont 5, Upper Valley 4 (7 Innings)

After Colton Book worked around an error in the first inning and kept the Nighthawks off the scoreboard, the Mountaineers scored twice in the home half off of a couple Upper Valley errors. Cameron Santerre singled to start the inning and moved to second on a bunt single by Marshall Toole. A fielder's choice went over the first baseman's head, allowing Santerre to score and George Rosales to move to second. Rosales scored from second as the next batter reached on an error.

Book had a quick second that included a double play. Vermont tacked on two more runs. Stocum walked to start the frame. He moved to second on a ground out. With two away, Santerre was hit with a pitch to put two runners on. Another bunt single by Toole pushed across the third run as Stocum kept on running on the base to score from second. A double steal and a throwing error scored Stocum to make it 4-0.

Upper Valley cut into the lead in the third. Three straight singles, including two bunt singles, started the inning. A two-run double down the right field line by Adarius Myers made it 4-2. An RBI groundout by Matthew Russo scored the third run of the inning. Book escaped with no more damage with a strikeout.

The Nighthawks tied the game in the fourth inning. Nikolas Monistere ripped a double off the left field wall to start the frame. He came around to score on a ground out to second, making it 4-4. Vermont reliever Aidan Tucker got a pair of flyouts to center to end the inning.

The Mountaineers regained the lead in the fifth. Rosales was hit with a pitch and moved to third on a double by Santino Rosso. A wild pitch allowed Rosales to score and give Vermont a 5-4 lead.

The defense came alive in the sixth inning with Maxwell Brulport in relief. With the leadoff batter reaching on an error, Santerre made a diving play in right field to take away an extra base hit to Marco Ali. The runner at first was erased as he was caught stealing second. Brulport got a ground out to third to keep a 5-4 Vermont lead. Brulport closed out the seventh as he retired the Upper Valley hitters in order to hold on for the win.

Vermont 6, Valley 5

Both pitchers dominated the first three innings to keep the game scoreless. Ben Adams worked out of a two-out error, as the runner was thrown out at second on a steal attempt to end the top of the third. Valley starter Thomas Bollard stranded a runner at third base in the bottom half to keep the game tied at zero.

The shutout was broken in the top of the fourth inning. Adams gave up a one-out walk to Matthew Bergivin. A two-out home run to right field by Zach Ketterman put the Blue Sox ahead 2-0.

Valley extended the lead in the fifth. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Antonio Guerrero belted a double to left center to make it 4-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Mountaineers got one back in the home half. Nate Stocum blasted a 2-1 count over the right field wall to leadoff the inning. The Blue Sox got that run back in the sixth on a two-out single to make it 5-1.

A weird bottom of the sixth took place and the Mountaineers scored three runs. Vermont loaded the bases with one out. A lineout to second base off the bat of Andre Martinez appeared to have been caught and a tag to Nathan Waugh ended the inning. However, after a conference between the umpires, they put Waugh on second and Rosales at third with two outs with Rosso scoring to make it 5-2. A two-out double by Stocum scored both runners to make it 5-4.

After Max Chapman worked a scoreless seventh, Vermont put the tying run on base. A leadoff walk to Santerre and then a stolen base put him at second with one out. Brendan Yagesh escaped and stranded another Mountaineer runner on base to keep a one-run lead for Valley.

After another quick eighth for Chapman, Vermont tied the game in the bottom half. A two-out bases loaded walk to Santerre pushed across the tying run. Yagesh left them loaded with a strikeout. Chapman retired the Blue Sox in order to give Vermont a chance to walk it off in the ninth.

Rosso led off the ninth with a double to right center field. An infield single with one out by Aaron Whitley put runners on the corners. He stole second and Waugh hit a liner to shallow center to walk it off for the 6-5 win.

Vermont returns to action tomorrow, Tuesday July 25 against the Keene Swampbats. It is youth night and hosts family recognition night with Central Vermont New DIrections and Youth FIrst Mentoring as the co-sponsors. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.You can follow all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 24, 2023


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