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Vermont's Rally Comes up Short to Upper Valley

July 8, 2022 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers had the winning run at the plate, but could not complete the rally as they dropped a 7-6 heartbreaker to in-state rival the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Friday night in a North Division New England Collegiate Baseball League contest at Montpelier Recreation Field.

Vermont drops to 22-4 on the year and leads the second place Nighthawks, who improve to 13-13, by nine games in the North Division.

Vermont and Upper Valley meet again tomorrow at the Maxfield Sports Complex in White River Junction for the fifth game of the Governor's Cup Series starting at 6 p.m.. You can follow along on the NECBL Broadcast Network.

The story of the game was one strong offensive inning for the Nighthawks and strong pitching for the visitors for a majority of the game. A four-run third was all Upper Valley starter Jack Choate needed. An infield single by Ty Kaufman, followed by a triple from Tyler Sorrentino put the Nighthawks ahead. A double made it 2-0, before the league's home run leader Ryan Ignoffo belted a two-run blast over the left field wall to make it 4-0 off Vermont starter Nick Durgin.

Choate was strong through six innings, allowing just four hits and had eight strikeouts. Carlos Torres came in relief for Vermont in the fourth inning and kept his team in the game in just over three innings of work. Vermont threatened in the sixth with a pair of two out hits by Adam Retzbach and Mark Trotta in scoring position. But Nighthawks reliever Randall Alejo got out of the jam to keep the shutout intact.

The Nighthawks added an insurance run in the seventh. Sorrentino doubled to deep right, before scoring on a double by Max Grant to center made it 5-0. The Nighthawks added a run in the eighth but Vermont would not go quietly.

A single by Tyler Cox followed by a walk to Retzbach put runners on first and second for the Mountaineers. Trotta blasted his fourth home run of the summer over the left field wall to cut the Nighthawk lead in half. Tom Ruscitti belted a 1-1 pitch over the right center field fence to make it 6-4 in favor of Upper Valley. The Nighthawks added a run in the ninth for a 7-4 advantage.

Vermont came within a run in the ninth. Jack Cone walked to start the inning before a single by Santino Rosso. He was replaced by pinch runner Evan Fox. Fox and Cone advanced on a wild pitch, before a sacrifice fly by Gerry Siracusa made it 7-5. Cox singled to third, allowing Fox to score and he moved to third on a throwing error with less than two outs. However, a play at the plate and a strikeout on a full count ended the game.

Choate earned his third win for Upper Valley while Durgin suffered his second loss of the summer. Durgin went three innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts. Torres had a strong outing, allowing just one run on two hits and issued a pair of walks. He also had three strikeouts in four innings of relief. Cox had four hits while Trotta had three, including three RBI for Vermont.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 8, 2022


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