Martha’s Vineyard Sweeps Twinbill, Vermont Powers Up During Busy Saturday Slate
North Adams, MA – The Sharks claimed both ends of a doubleheader against Upper Valley, Vermont’s bats stayed scorching hot, and Sanford continued its climb up the standings with another one-run victory Saturday night. Elsewhere, Mystic and North Shore rolled to lopsided wins while Valley’s pitching staff silenced Danbury on the road.
Upper Valley Nighthawks vs. Martha's Vineyard Sharks
Game One Final Score: Sharks 7, Nighthawks 4
Martha's Vineyard, MA - The Martha's Vineyard Sharks swept their double-header against the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Saturday night.
The Sharks loaded the bases with two outs for Will Bavaro (Florida State). Despite him grounding a ball back to pitcher Eric Santaella (Pace), he committed an error that cleared the bases and gave the Sharks a 3-0 lead.
A sacrifice fly ball from Charley Magoulick (Rider) cut the lead to 3-1. However, a four-run fifth inning from the Sharks took a ton of momentum away from Upper Valley.
With two outs in the seventh, the Nighthawks started climbing back. Cole Huett (Bellarmine) drove in a run with an RBI single, before he got driven in thanks to a home run from catcher Cameron Boardman (NJIT), his first of the year. Unfortunately for Upper Valley, the rally ended there and didn't continue in the eighth and final inning.
Thomas Achey (Stetson) got the win, pitching four innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits. Micah Wells (Saint Joseph's) got the loss, allowing four runs with one of them earned while striking out three hitters and allowing one hit and one walk.
Upper Valley Nighthawks vs. Martha's Vineyard Sharks Game 2 of 2
Game Two Final Score: Sharks 9, Nighthawks 5
Anthony Bubba (Quinnipiac) got the scoring started for Upper Valley in the second inning. Martha's Vineyard went out and scored three to snatch the lead right back. The next inning Martha's Vineyard put up a five-spot. Ryan Thompson (Rhode Island) got in on the fun in the fourth inning, clubbing a solo home run into the night sky for his first bomb of the year.
Upper Valley managed two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the lead down to 9-3. Another pair of runs scored thanks to a Sharks error in the sixth. However, that was all Upper Valley could muster, as the comeback efforts waned in the seventh and final inning.
Kian Vorster (Louisville) got the win pitching two shutout innings out of the bullpen. Kyle Batt (Rider) took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned while allowing five hits and three walks in 2.2 innings.
Martha's Vineyard faces off with the Danbury Westerners back at the Shark Tank on Monday. Upper Valley will head back home to prepare for a matchup against the Keene SwampBats on Monday.
Sanford Mainers vs Newport Gulls
Final Score: Sanford Mainers 5, Newport Gulls 4
Sanford, ME - The Sanford Mainers secured a tense 5-4 victory over the Newport Gulls at Goodall Park in Sanford. The Gulls opened the scoring in the third inning when Gus Gandy (Samford) singled, stole second, and scored on a two-run home run from Ryan Novak (Miami). The Mainers quickly responded in the bottom half when Brian Connolly (Rhode Island) singled and scored on a Nick Zampieron (Stony Brook) groundout. Sanford tied the game in the fourth as Troy Carpenter (Maine) delivered an RBI double to score college teammate Albert De La Rosa (Maine).
Newport briefly retook the lead in the fifth inning courtesy of a solo home run by Adam Broski (Michigan State). However, the game's turning point came in the seventh, where Sanford scored three runs fueled by aggressive baserunning from Connolly and Sam Miller (Binghamton). An RBI fielder's choice from Antonio Morales (Maryland), an RBI single by De La Rosa, and a sacrifice fly from Carpenter pushed the Mainers ahead. Newport threatened in the ninth when Ryan Jaros (Rutgers) scored on a Cade Brown (Georgia Tech) fielder's choice, but the comeback fell short. Andrew Kapica (Fordham) earned the win, while Zane Stahl (Louisville) took the loss.
The Gulls hope to snap their three-game losing streak tomorrow night against the North Shore Navigators at home. The Mainers look to continue their four-game win streak with a doubleheader tomorrow against the winless North Adams SteepleCats.
Ocean State Waves vs Mystic Schooners
Final Score: Schooners 10, Waves 1
South Kingstown, RI – A dominant pitching start and a late offensive explosion led the Mystic Schooners to a 10-1 victory over the Ocean State Waves at Old Mountain Field. Waves starter Benton Hickman (Arizona) opened the contest with four scoreless innings, racking up nine strikeouts and only allowing one hit to keep the game locked against Schooners starter Mike Poncini (Georgetown). The Schooners finally broke through in the sixth inning against the Waves bullpen. Casey Wensley (Bryant) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, and Anthony Belisario (Portal) followed with a clutch two-RBI single to build a 3-0 lead. The Waves responded in the bottom half when Justin Hackett (Bryant) hit an RBI double to score Gray Eubanks (Southern Miss).
However, the Schooners blew the game completely open in the late innings, scoring three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. Mystic capitalized heavily on five defensive errors committed by the Waves defense. Christian Butera (Brown) delivered a two-RBI single to seal the blowout. Wensley finished the night with three hits and two stolen bases to lead the winning offense.
The Waves hope to bounce back tomorrow night against the Vermont Mountaineers in a double header at Montpelier Recreation Field. The Schooners travel to Muzzy Field to face the Bristol Blues and try to move towards the top of the South Division.
Bristol Blues vs Vermont Mountaineers
Final score: Mountaineers 12 , Blues 5
Montpelier, VT - It was an explosive day at the plate for the Mountaineers that led them to a big win against the Blues Saturday night.
Samuel Bradley (Western Kentucky) was hot at the dish today, going three for four. He helped Vermont secure an early lead with a three run homerun in the bottom of the second. David Alvarez (Eastern Kentucky) was also electric, going three for five at the plate with four RBIs in the game, as well as Brayden Leonard (Villanova) who went three for four with three RBI. The three of them were responsible for driving in ten of the Mountaineer's twelve runs tonight.
The Blues were able to rally in the top of the fifth on a couple RBI singles by Steve Polizzi (Portal) and Mason Breton (LIU Post), however it was short lived and the Blues were never able to catch up. The bullpen helped keep the Blues quiet at the end of the game and secure the win for the Mountaineers. In the last 4.1 innings, the bullpen only allowed three hits. Nick Kelly (Fairfield), Dominic DeLoreto (Northwestern), Kody Collins (Middle Georgia State), and Andrew Gendi (Felician) combined to give up no runs in the final four innings after the Blues' attempted rally.
The Mountaineers head to Montpelier Recreation Field to take on the Ocean State Waves for a double header tomorrow, while the Blues head home to home the Mystic Schooners.
North Shore Navigators vs North Adams Steeple Cats
Final Score: Navigators 13, SteepleCats 4
North Adams, MA - The Navigators dominated early in tonight's game against the SteepleCats.
Grant Hunter (Binghamton) began the scoring in the top of the first with a two-RBI double. Jay Slater (Northwestern) followed with a solo homerun in the top of the third. The Navigators' offense took over in the middle innings of the game, coming away with nine runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Daniel Leikus (Rhode Island) had a big day at the plate, going three for five, with four RBIs and scoring three runs as well.
On the other side of the ball, Jack Sarno (Undecided) and Cameron Keaveney (Northeastern) were lights out out of the bullpen, each throwing an inning and allowing no hits and no runs. Josh Doney (UMass Lowell) earned his second win of the season, improving his record to 2-1.
The SteepleCats fought the whole game, but could never catch up. Tony Woodie (SUNY Cobleskill) had a two RBI double down the line in the bottom of the second. Sean Stephenson (Iona) had a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth and Chris Diaz (Marist) followed with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all the SteepleCats could get in this loss.
The SteepleCats travel to Goodall Park tomorrow to take the Sanford Mainers in a double header and the Navigators have the day off.
Valley Blue Sox vs Danbury Westerners
Final Score: Blue Sox 4, Westerners 2
Danbury, CT- The Valley Blue Sox capitalized on patience at the plate and a dominant pitching performance to defeat the Danbury Westerners, 4-2, in NECBL action on Saturday night.
Valley's offense did not overwhelm Danbury with hits, collecting just four on the evening, but the Blue Sox made the most of their opportunities by drawing nine walks and putting pressure on the Westerners' pitching staff throughout the contest. Designated hitter Lucas Alberti (George Mason) set the tone offensively, scoring twice while drawing four walks in a disciplined performance. Center fielder Chris Carson (Stony Brook) delivered the game's biggest offensive moment for Valley, finishing 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, two runs scored, and two walks. Carson's extra-base hit helped provide crucial insurance runs as the Blue Sox built their advantage.
Danbury battled to stay within striking distance with Aiden Stern (Trinity Col) providing a spark offensively. Stern went 1-for-1 with a solo home run and an RBI, while Jack Edmunds (Brown U) added a double and drove in a run of his own. Kyle Garbowski (Quinnipiac U) led the Westerners with two hits, finishing 2-for-4, but Danbury was unable to generate sustained offense against Valley's pitching staff.
Jackson Hinchiffe (Richmond), Valley starter who turned in six impressive innings to earn the victory. Hinchliffe allowed just four hits and one unearned run while striking out three without issuing a walk. He consistently attacked the strike zone, needing only 70 pitches to navigate through the Westerners' lineup. Jack LeFrancios (UMass Lowell) closed the door with a three-inning save.
Danbury starter Jacob Hines (CCSU) kept Westerners competitive early, surrendering two runs over 3 ⅔ innings while striking out five. However, control issues plagued the Westerners throughout the game, as their pitching staff combined for nine walks. Relievers, Steven Bronson (Manhattan Col), Cole Kocjanowicz (Lehigh U), Alex Payne (Lafayette Col), Garret Snyder, (Notre Dame) and Tyler Stone (Virginia Tech) worked out several jams, but Valley's ability to capitalize on free passes ultimately proved to be the difference.
The Valley Blue Sox will return home Sunday afternoon to face the Keene Swamp Bats. The Danbury Westerners will have a break until Monday night, traveling to MVRHS to take on the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.
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