Sun delay, lightning delay and a suspended game for Vermont and
Pittsfield
( PITTSFIELD, MA) – The Vermont Mountaineers (9-7) and the
Pittsfield American Defenders (5-8) played a game tonight that
featured a sun delay, a lightning delay, a near protest, and so
much more…yet they still were unable to finish the game.
In the top of the eighth inning, the teams were pulled off the
field with a number of lightning strikes beyond center field. As
NECBL policy, each new lightning strike starts a new 15-minute
clock before the game is allowed to resume.
After a 45-minute delay and with the threat of an oncoming
storm, the game was suspended with the teams tied at two apiece.
The game started off with Pittsfield starter Corey Davisson (Univ
of Evansville) facing off against Mountaineer starter Cole Shain
(William & Mary).
The top of the first inning seemed to set up the type of evening
everyone would have at Wahconah Park on this Friday night.
Vermont had two runners caught advancing on the bases when Henry
Dunn (Binghamton Univ) was caught trying to advance to third on
a groundball to the left side. Later in the inning, Matt
Prokopowitz (Hofstra Univ) singled to right field and was thrown
out trying to advance a single into a double.
In the bottom of the inning, Pittsfield scored in a more
ordinary fashion with a sacrifice fly from Brandon Newton (Lindenwood
Univ).
The game then continued to take another spin as Henry Dunn was
caught stealing in the third inning and both Jimmy Waters (Univ
of Kansas) and Brandon Newton would be caught stealing for
Pittsfield in the bottom half.
With a 1-0 deficit, Vermont would rally against Davisson and
take the lead in the top of the fourth. The first three hitters
reached including a Steven Rosado (Troy Univ) RBI single to tie
the game. Ethan Paquette (Univ of Vermont) then tried to
sacrifice but hit a pop-up behind the plate into the glove of
Artie Posch (Brandeis Univ). Tadd Bower (William and Mary) then
picked up his teammate with an RBI single to right field to give
his college teammate and summer team a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the sun burst threw the ominous
clouds in the sky and brought sun to Pittsfield and the sun
deprived area. Unfortunately, the game then went into a sun
delay that lasted exactly 20 minutes.
The teams resumed the game in the bottom of the inning as Shain
retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
The top of the fifth saw a new change to the game as Corey
Davisson was taken off the mound and put behind the plate for
the American Defenders. Davisson, a former catcher who was
drafted by the Red Sox, caught five innings the night before and
was back behind the plate again this evening.
Nate Sermini (Franklin Pierce) entered the game as the new
pitcher and struggled as he only retired one batter, on a
sacrifice, leaving runners at first and third.
David Glass (Westfield State) then came in to pitch and another
oddity occurred. Glass was not listed in the number of possible
substitutions on the lineup card submitted by Pittsfield manager
Dr. Carroll Land. Troy Moock, the Vermont manager, questioned
the move as he argued with both umpires. The game was delayed
for a few minutes as Glass was allowed to stay in the game.
He retired Steven Rosado on a fly ball and induced Ethan
Paquette to ground out and end the inning without allowing a
run.
Between innings, Troy Moock continued to talk with the umpires
and more confusion continued when Corey Davisson hit to leadoff
the inning for the number eight hitter Brian Meagher (La Salle
Univ). Davisson reached on an error but more conversations
continued as both managers talked with umpires about the switch.
Pittsfield then used the last spot in the order for the pitcher
as Jacob Morley (Virginia Military Institute) dropped down a
sacrifice to move Davisson to second. The pitcher turned catcher
was then doubled up on a line drive to the second baseman
Prokopowitz who flipped to the shortstop and end the inning.
Through all the switches, Vermont still lead 2-1 entering the
top of the sixth inning. Tadd Bower led off the inning by
popping up a bunt to the catcher Davisson. It was the second
time Vermont failed to drop down a bunt that landed in the
catcher’s glove on a pop-up.
Binder then retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
Shain continued into the bottom of the sixth inning, issuing a
walk to Brandon Newton who was caught stealing later in the
inning. It was the seventh time a runner was caught off base in
the game for either team.
Both teams paused for God Bless America in the break between
innings and Vermont slowly built up a rally in the top of the
seventh. Binder encountered a two out jam as Jantzen Witte
(Texas Christian Univ) walked and Prokopowitz reached on a
single. He retired Steven Rosado on a fly out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Pittsfield strung together a few
hits to tie the game. Zach Williams (Judson) led off with a
single and John Andreoli (UCONN) moved him to third with a hit
and run single. Beau Zinman (UNC Asheville) then ripped a double
down the third base line to score Williams and tie up the game
at 2.
With runners at second and third, reliever Austin Evans (Alabama
Univ) came into a jam for Cole Shain. Corey Davisson was asked
to drop down a suicide squeeze but he was unable to do so as the
pitch was high and outside. Andreoli was then tagged out in a
rundown as Zinman was stuck at second. Davisson then grounded
out and pinch hitter David Eldredge (Univ of North Florida)
flied out to end the inning.
Pittsfield took the field for the top of the eighth inning with
a new pitcher ready to enter the game. He was never announced
though as more fog rolled on to the field and a few lightning
bolts were seen in the distant.
The home plate umpire Matt McMahon and base umpire George Cox
then pulled the players off the field for the delay. After 40
minutes, at 9:45 in the evening, the game was officially
suspended with no makeup date announced for the completion of
the game. The game was frozen in a tie game at two in the top of
the eighth inning, no runners on, no outs, and Ethan Paquette
the next hitter up.
Both teams will continue their NECBL seasons tomorrow. Vermont
will play a doubleheader tomorrow at Danbury beginning at four
o’clock. The Pittsfield American Defenders will host the North
Adams SteepleCats in the Battle of the Berkshires and the Battle
for the 2009 Mayor’s Cup at Wahconah Park at 6:35 PM. It is Dog
Tag Giveaway at the Park and also Pittsfield Girl’s Softball
Night. All Players enter FREE with their hat or jersey.
Fans can always listen to the Pittsfield games by using Teamline,
the official broadcasting partner of the American Defenders. By
going to
http://www.teamline.cc/sportpage?teamcode=6301&eventcode=5
fans can watch and listen to every American Defenders game
during the season.
Fans can also go to the team store at 2 South Street in
Pittsfield for more information on the Pittsfield American
Defenders or by going to the official team site at
http://www.pittsfieldamericandefenders.us.
The American Defenders front office can be reached by calling
(413) 997-2273. Fans can call for information on the teams,
tickets, sponsorship, group outings and so much more.
