Sports stats



Vermont Takes a 3-2 Edge in the Governor's Cup Series with a 14-0 Win over Upper Valley

July 9, 2022 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


HARTFORD, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers regained a double-digit lead in the North Division with a blowout 14-0 win over the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Saturday night in New England Collegiate Baseball league action at the Maxfield Sports Complex. It was the fifth game of the Governor's Cup Series, in which the Mountaineers, who improved to 23-4 and 10 games up the division, lead the series 3-2. The Nighthawks fall below .500 with a 13-14 record.

Vermont struck first, scoring two times in the first inning. Evan Fox started the game with a leadoff walk. He stole second and then third with Tom Josten reached after being hit with the pitch. A routine grounder hit by Tyler Cox to third could have gotten an out at second, but the ball was dropped at second base, allowing Fox to score. Josten came around to score after Tom Ruscitti reached on an error by the shortstop.

Upper Valley tried to answer in the home half of the first, as Tyler Sorrentino led off the frame with a single. However, Vermont starter Anthony DeFabbia worked out of the inning, retiring the next three batters.

Vermont put more pressure on the Nighthawks in the second. Stephen DiTomaso hit an infield single to short, before stealing second. Christian Pregent and Santino Rosso both walked to load the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly to center plated DiTomaso and gave the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead.

The Mountaineers tacked on a fourth run in the third. Mark Trotta lined a single to center field. He advanced all the way to third after DiTomaso reached on an infield single and then an errant throw let Trotta gain the extra base. Pregent grounded to third, but it was enough to score Trotta from third.

DeFabbia settled down in the third inning after allowing a leadoff base runner in the first two innings. He struck out the first two hitters, before a pop up to third retired the side in order.

Vermont scored for the sixth straight inning, going back to the previous game, pushing across four runs in the fourth. Fox beat out an infield single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Josten took a 1-2 pitch and lined it to left field, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Gerry Siracusa went opposite field and singled by the diving attempt by the Nighthawks second basemen, allowing Fox to score and Josten to move all the way to third. Josten scored on a fielder's choice by Cox to make it 6-0 Vermont. The Mountaineers loaded the bases with just one away after back-to-back singles by Ruscitti and Trotta. DiTomaso made it 7-0 with a single to right center. A sacrifice fly made it 8-0.

DeFabbia only allowed a pair of walks over the next two innings and Vermont added a pair of runs in the sixth and one in the seventh for a commanding 11-0 lead. The Mountaineers made it 14-0 with three runs in the ninth. The big blow came with Trotta's two out single that scored Cox and Ruscitti.

DeFabbia picked up his third win of the summer in his longest outing as well. He went six full innings, striking out six batters and giving up just a single hit that came in the first inning. Jake Simon, Brendan McFall, and Matthew Scibillio pitched three shutout innings of relief. They allowed just one hit, one walk, and had four strikeouts after facing 11 batters. Scibillio struck out the side to end the game.

Trotta had another monster day at the plate with four hits, including a triple and scoring twice. Cox drove in a season-high four runs while DiTomaso knocked in two runs.

The Mountaineers enjoy a day off Sunday before starting a stretch of 13 games in 14 days, including two double headers at home. They kick off the stretch on Monday, July 11 against North Division rival, the Keene SwampBats. You can follow all of the action right here on the NECBL Broadcast Network.

• Discuss this story on the New England Collegiate Baseball League message board...

New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 9, 2022


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.

OurSports Central