MAINERS LOSE BACK-AND-FORTH GAME;
CONCORD DEFEATS SANFORD 5-4 IN 10 INNINGS
SANFORD
– Dan Lopez scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning
as the Concord Quarry Dogs defeated the Sanford Mainers in 10
innings in NECBL play at Goodall Park on Friday night. Simi
Reynolds went 3-for-6 with a two-run double and a run scored,
and starter Thomas Cote struck out 10 over six innings to lead
the way for Concord (15-18). Brian Kemp, Tyler Stovall and Jeff
Helps each drove in a run in defeat for Sanford (12-21).
The Mainers got the scoring started with a pair of unearned runs
in the bottom of the second inning. Max Most (Marist/Port
Washington, N.Y.) led off and reached on an error by Concord
shortstop Dan Lopez. Most moved to second base when Scott
Guillerault (Wheaton/South Portland, Maine) was awarded first
base on catcher’s interference by Justin Echevarria. After Tim
Kalczynski (Michigan/Farmington Hills, Mich.) moved the runners
to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, Most scored and
Guillerault moved to third when Concord starter Thomas Cote
committed an error by throwing a pickoff attempt over the head
of third baseman Jake Smith. Guillerault then scored two batters
later on a single to left-center field by Brian Kemp (St.
John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.).
The Quarry Dogs cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of
the third inning. With two outs, Martin Baker hit a double to
left-center field. He came in to score when Andy Meyers followed
with a single through the right side of the infield to cut the
Sanford lead to 2-1. For Meyers, it was his league-leading 30th
run batted in of the season.
The Mainers would retain the 2-1 lead until Concord tied things
up at 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Simi
Reynolds led off with a single through the right side and moved
to second on Baker’s single to left field. Meyers then hit a
ground ball to first base on which Baker was forced out at
second. Meyers reached first and Reynolds moved to third base on
the fielder’s choice. Reynolds then scored on a sacrifice fly to
centerfield by Dylan Libadisos.
Sanford would re-take the lead at 3-2 with an unearned run in
the bottom half of the seventh inning. Kemp led off with his
league-leading 52nd hit of the season, a single to left field.
Kemp is now two hits shy of the Mainers all-time, single-season
record (54, set by Ryan Crew in 2004) and eight hits away from
the NECBL record (60, set by Chris Stanton of Newport in 2004).
Kemp stole second, moved to third on a passed ball charged to
Echevarria and then scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by
Tyler Stovall (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio).
The Quarry Dogs then scored twice in the top of the eighth
inning to take a 4-3 lead. With one out, Dan Lopez walked and
stole second base. Two batters later, Josh Logan walked as well
to put runners at first and second with two outs. Both runners
scored on Reynolds’ double to the left-center field gap. For
Reynolds, it was his first extra-base hit of the year after
recording 25 singles.
Sanford answered immediately with a run to tie the game at 4-4
in the bottom of the eighth inning. Guillerault got things
started by working a two-out walk and moved to second base on
the second passed ball charged to Echevarria of the game. After
a walk to Kalczynski, Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming,
Ontario) followed with a run-scoring single up the middle which
scored Guillerault.
After both teams were retired in order in the ninth inning,
Concord took the lead for good with a run in the top of the 10th
inning. Lopez led off with a single through the left side and
moved to second on Echevarria’s single through the right side.
On Echevarria’s single, right-fielder Stovall mishandled the
ball in right field which allowed Lopez to move to third. Lopez
would then score on a wild pitch by Sanford reliever Luke Demko
(Rhode Island/Gilford, N.H.).
Against Concord reliever Steve Geltz in the bottom of the 10th
inning, Most worked a one-out walk and moved to second base on a
wild pitch. However, Geltz got Guillerault to fly out to left
field and then struck out Kalczynski to end the ballgame.
Kevin Landry (William & Mary/Vienna, Va.) started on the mound
and did not factor in the decision for Sanford. Over six innings
of work, he gave up one run on four hits, walked six, hit a
batter and struck out three. Demko took the loss (1-3) in relief
for the Mainers. In two innings out of the bullpen, he gave up
one run on three hits, threw a wild pitch and struck out three.
Cote started on the hill and also did not factor in the decision
for Concord. In six innings on the rubber, he gave up two
unearned runs on six hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck
out 10. Geltz earned the win (2-0) in relief for the Quarry
Dogs. Over 2.1 shutout innings, he gave up one hit, walked one,
threw a wild pitch and struck out three.
The Mainers return to action on Saturday, July 21 when they
visit the Lowell All-Americans in the make-up of a game rained
out on July 18. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at
Goodall Park in Sanford. Matt Janik and Bob Lund will have all
the action at http://www.sanfordmainers.com.
A complete box score of tonight’s game will be available via
http://www.necbl.com.
Founded in 2002, the Sanford Mainers are a non-profit
organization and the premier collegiate baseball team in the
state of Maine, playing their home games at historic Goodall
Park. A proud member of the NECBL, the Mainers annually aid in
progressing the careers of the future stars of professional
baseball, in addition to bringing top-notch collegiate baseball
to the Sanford area. For more information visit
http://www.sanfordmainers.com or call the Mainers front office
at (207) 324-0010.
