STOVALL EIGHTH-INNING DOUBLE
PUSHES MAINERS PAST ALL-AMERICANS, 2-1
SANFORD
– Tyler Stovall hit a double to the gap in left-center field to
score Jeff Grantham from first base and put the Sanford Mainers
ahead to stay as they defeated the Lowell All-Americans 2-1 in
NECBL play at Goodall Park on Thursday night. Kevin Landry, Ryan
Lapointe and Nick Carlucci combined to pitch five scoreless
innings to close out the ballgame for the Mainers (16-22), who
moved out of last place in the Northern Division for the first
time since June 25. Heath Wall drove in the only run of the game
for Lowell (14-21), and Bryan Leigh tossed six innings without
allowing an earned run in defeat.
The All-Americans started the scoring with a run in the top of
the second inning. Tom Stack-Babich led off with a single to
left field. Two batters later, he moved to third base on a
single through the right side by Bobby Brown. Heath Wall
followed with a run-scoring single to right-field, driving in
Stack-Babich with Lowell’s lone run of the night.
The Mainers tied it up at 1-1 with an unearned run in the bottom
of the fifth inning. With one out, Jeff Helps (Central
Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario) reached first base on a fielding
error by Lowell shortstop Kevin Nolan. Helps moved to second
base on a hit-and-run groundout to shortstop by Brian Kemp (St.
John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.) and then scored the tying run on a
single through the right side by Noah Lankford (Central
Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio).
Sanford took the lead for good with another unearned run in the
bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Jeff Grantham (St.
John’s/Randolf, N.J.) reached on a fielding error by third
baseman Heath Wall. Tyler Stovall (Central Michigan/Cincinnati,
Ohio) then hit a double that one-hopped the wall in left-center
field and picked up his team-leading 23rd run batted in of the
season as Grantham came around to score from first base.
Brendon Rowlands (SUNY Cortland/Utica, N.Y.) started on the
mound and did not factor in the decision for Sanford. Over four
innings of work, he gave up one run on five hits, walked two and
struck out one. Kevin Landry (William & Mary) picked up the win
(3-2) in relief. Pitching two shutout innings over the top of
the fifth and sixth innings out of the bullpen, Landry gave up
no hits, issued one walk and struck out three. Nick Carlucci
(Southern Connecticut State/Franklin, Mass.) allowed one hit and
issued a walk but struck out the side in the ninth to earn his
second save of the season.
Bryan Leigh started on the hill and took the loss (3-3) for
Lowell. Over six innings, he surrendered two unearned runs on
five hits, walked two and struck out three.
The Mainers return to action on Friday, July 27 when they host
the Holyoke Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at
Goodall Park in Sanford. Matt Janik and Mike Lord 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.
