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Westerners win 4th straight against 'Cats

July 16, 2011 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


North Adams, MA - In the first three games against division rival Danbury, North Adams had been outscored 23-5, including Tuesday night's 8-3 loss at Rogers Park. In that game, Frank Morris had been hammered for three runs in the seventh inning thanks to back-to-back home runs by Chad Morgan and Tyler Horan. The deep shots over the right-center field wall snapped an eight inning stretch without allowing a run for Morris, who was just another victim to the NECBL's most dangerous offense. He had shown enough over the last three weeks to earn a start, as the SteepleCats coaching staff had recently decided to move forward with a four man starting rotation. The first three spots would be occupied by Cameron Copping, Brian Gilbert, and Tim Thiesing, yet the fourth and final spot was yet to be determined by pitching coach Mike Vicaro. Matt Hinkle was scheduled to get a spot start on Wednesday night against the Schooners, but that game was called after a nasty rainstorm hit Joe Wolfe Field about fifteen minutes before first pitch was scheduled. Gilbert then pitched well on standard rest in Friday night's loss to Sanford. On Saturday night, it was Morris' turn once again in a starter's role against the Westerners, who had started the day in first place in the Western Division. His last start had ended disastrously back on June 15 in Mystic, lasting only 2 and two thirds and three runs in for the Schooners, who had capitalized on the hard-throwing righty's wildness. It was a wild card but certainly worth a shot, and Morris had shown that he was quite comfortable in a reliever's role despite making four starts this past season at Seton Hall.

Horan took Morris deep again in the top of inning number one, launching a two-run shot over the right-field wall for the first home run to right at Joe Wolfe Field this season. Despite the hiccup and the rough history lesson, Morris had three strikeouts through three after setting down the Westerners in order in the second and third. North Adams cut the 2-0 deficit in half in the bottom of the third when Chantz Mack singled off Sam Eagleson with two outs for the second straight at-bat. After Mack stole second, shortstop Mike LeBel picked up a single to put the tying runs at the corners for Drew Gadaire. With the count 1-0, LeBel went back to his high school roots and purposely got caught in a rundown between first and second, which allowed Mack to score before he was tagged for the third out.

After Gadaire reached second on an error by third baseman Chase Butler to lead off the fourth, Steve Zavala walked with one out to put runners at first and second. Justin Leeson then lined a game-tying RBI single into center that was misplayed by Tanner Krietemeier for an error, putting Zavala at third and Leeson at second. Third baseman Cameron Griffin lifted a deep fly ball to center that would have easily scored a tagging Zavala, but Kreitemeier fired to third as both runners tagged to get Leeson for the third out before Zavala was able to touch home, keeping the game tied at 2. Morris was dealing into the sixth inning before Andrew Garner lined a 2-2 pitch for a double. Horan then drove a single to push Garner ahead to third, but was tagged out after making too wide a turn around first on a nice exchange from Jacob Daniel to Gadaire to Lebel that was scored 9-3-6. Morgan continued his success against Morris with an RBI groundout to LeBel that made it 3-2 Danbury with two outs. With the bases cleared, Morris (0-3) struck out Butler for his sixth of the game, effectively ending his night and most likely steering his season into the back of the rotation.

The score remained 3-2 into the seventh when Leeson led off against Eagleson with a well-struck double to left-center, narrowly sliding in ahead of the tag at second. With Griffin at the plate, Leeson was thrown out by Morgan trying to steal third, which ultimately killed the ‘Cats last chance to mount a comeback. Eagleson (4-0) struck out catcher Brett Frantini swinging to end the frame, and would just allow another Mack single in the bottom of the eighth in what would be his longest outing of the season.

Danbury's offense finally erupted against the combination of Curtis Arsi and Matt Hinkle in the top half of the eighth, with four base hits against the latter in what would be a six-hit, four run inning. Morgan stood out with an RBI double, giving him six over his last two games against the ‘Cats. Butler turned around his misfortune around as well, stroking a 2-RBI double off Hinkle after starting the night 0-3 at the plate with a trio of strikeouts against Morris. In the bottom of the ninth ninth, Chris Williams allowed a Zavala walk with one out before retiring Leeson and Griffin in order to end the game and give the Westerners a 7-2 victory.

The SteepleCats (10-19) close out the weekend at home against the Raging Tide (7-23) of Old Orchard Beach. Come celebrate Parents Weekend with us as we welcome the players and interns' parents from all over the country with a great day of baseball at Joe Wolfe Field! As always, Sundays at the Joe features the ever-popular $1 Hot Dog Night at the concession stand! If you can't make the game, make sure you listen or watch by accessing the TeamLine link at the bottom of the team's website at www.steeplecats.com.

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