Mountaineers Win Third
Straight, Beat Lowell 7-3.
MONTPELIER, VT -- The Vermont Mountaineers took the lead in
their season series with Lowell, claiming a 7-3 decision
over the All-Americans on Monday before 1361 at Recreation
Field in Montpelier.
Lowell got on the board before Vermont could even respond.
Tim Manton drew a leadoff walk from Mountaineers starter
Jason Mitchell. After a Kevin Nolan flyout, Brendan Akashian
ripped a single to right field. Former Mountaineer Miguel
Magrass hit a sharp chopper to third that was misplayed by
Matt Prokopowicz. Manton scored to give Lowell a 1-0 lead.
Vermont responded in the bottom half of the inning. With
Matt Wulfers on second base and Curt Smith on first, Matt
Prokopowicz hit a ground ball to first that went right
through the legs of Destan Makonnen, scoring Wulfers to tie
it at one.
Lowell took the lead again in the third, on an RBI single by
Magrass, driving home Nolan to make it 2-1.
Billy Cather ripped a one-out double to right-center field
and stole third base. Lanny Stanfield drove him in with an
infield single. After a couple of walks loaded the bases,
Curt Smith unloaded them, crushing a bases-clearing off the
left-center field wall to put Vermont up 5-2.
Brendan Akashian closed the gap somewhat, blasting a home
run off Mitchell over the right field wall to cut the
deficit to 5-3.
Vermont added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth
innings, driven in by Mike Sheridan and A.J. Pollock.
A.J. Balsinde went 3 and 1/3 innings for the save, his
second of the season. Mitchell improved to 3-0 on the
season. Nick Conway absorbed his third loss of the season.
Vermont returns to action tomorrow, taking on the Concord
Quarry Dogs on the road at Doane Diamond in Concord, New
Hampshire. Gametime is 6:30 p.m.
Robin Roberts Returns
The final game of the regular season is scheduled for
Tuesday, July 31. This game will feature the return of Hall
of Fame great, Robin Roberts , back to the same field were,
in his final season of summer baseball, he led the Twin City
Trojans to the Northern League Championship 60 years ago.
His 18-3 record in 1947 caught the eye of a Philadelphia
Phillies baseball scout and he was signed to an amateur free
agent contract the next spring.
Two years later, Roberts, the ace of the Phillies, pitched
the “Whiz Kids” to their first National League pennant in 35
years. Roberts was a 20 or more game winner between 1950 and
1955 with his high water mark in 1952 when he won 28 games.
Roberts was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.
Roberts agreed to serve on the Mountaineers board of
directors at the outset of central Vermont ’s entry in the
New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2003. His strong
support for the Mountaineers program is seen through his
contribution back to the organization of any fees he
receives in the sale of his memorabilia when he is in town.
Mountaineers officials are planning a special event to mark
the 60th anniversary of Roberts’ last amateur appearance at
Recreation Field. Roberts will hold an autograph session the
morning of the game (9am to Noon at the Capital Plaza ), and
will be at the ball park for pre-game festivities that begin
at 6pm.
