Mainers and SwampBats Stay Cruising as Sharks Extend Streak
North Adams, MA – Offense took center stage across the NECBL on Wednesday night as Sanford and Keene each scored 12 runs in convincing victories, while Martha’s Vineyard extended its winning streak behind a six-run fifth inning. Newport continued its strong start with a road win over Vermont, and Ocean State rallied late to complete a season-opening rematch victory over Bristol.
Sanford Mainers vs. Upper Valley Nighthawks
Final Score: Mainers 12, Nighthawks 4
Hartford, VT - The Sanford Mainers set a season-high in runs as they took down the Upper Valley Nighthawks 12-4 on Wednesday night. The Mainers offense turned it up a few notches during the second half of this matchup, scoring 11 of their 12 runs in the last five innings.
Upper Valley managed to jump ahead in the second inning off of Mainers starter Drew Sliwkowski (UMass Amherst). Despite having the bases loaded with one out, the only run the Nighthawks got was off a sacrifice fly ball from Levi Jones (San Diego St.).
With the help of some savvy baserunning from the Mainers, they got that run right back in the third inning with an RBI groundout from Jacob Harring (Salve Regina). It took a fantastic play from James Love (Eastern Illinois) to prevent a second run from scoring in the inning.
In the bottom half of the third, Upper Valley managed to load the bases to start an inning once again. Just like the prior inning, they only managed one run scored, this time coming from Tim Dickinson (St. Joseph's) grounding into a double play. In the fourth, with runners on second and third, Cameron Boardman (NJIT) knocked in a run while grounding out to second base.
However, Sanford made up for the six runners they stranded throughout the first four innings of the game. Steven Kraus (Binghamton) kicked off the action knocking an RBI single into left field to make it 3-2, followed by Nater Wachter (UConn), who crushed the first pitch he saw into left center field for the Mainers' first bomb of the season to give Sanford a 5-3 lead.
A Brian Connolly (Rhode Island) RBI single put the Mainers up 6-3. After a successful double steal, Sam Miller (Binghamton) ripped a ball past Love at third base to score two more runs. Upper Valley got one back after William Hurt (Virginia Tech) scored on a passed ball.
The Mainers capped off the night as they put up another four runs. Michael Bradshaw (Merrimack) got the win for Sanford, pitching 1.1 innings allowing one run on one hit and a walk. Upper Valley starter Anthony Bubba (Hartford) got the loss, pitching three innings and giving up one run on one hit and three walks.
The Mainers look to carry this momentum back home as the Keene SwampBats visit Goodall Park on Friday. The Nighthawks look to put this game behind them as they take on the SwampBats before their trip to Maine on Thursday.
North Shore Navigators vs. Keene SwampBats
Final Score: Swamp Bats 12, Navigators 6
Keene, NH- The SwampBats were hot in tonight's win as they continued their undefeated streak, scoring in each of the first five innings. Jackson Marshall (UConn) began the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and helped add on more in the bottom of the second with a two RBI single to right. Griffin Enis (Virgina) had an explosive day at the plate with a three run home run in the bottom of the second followed by a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
The Navigators had a spark in the ninth but came up short as the early lead by the SwampBats was insurmountable. Hunter Kingsbury (Bryant U) had a three-run home run in the top of the ninth, cutting down the SwampBats lead but the rally was snuffed there. Jace Roossien (Boston College) and Grant Hunter (Binghamton U) also each had solo home runs for the Navigators coming in the third and seventh innings.
Jack Korthas (Columbia) and Koby Seeling (Columbia) were both strong out of the bullpen for the Navigators, both going two innings allowing no runs, but the damage was already done. Wild pitches and passed balls hurt the Navigators tonight, with the SwampBats scoring three runs off of them.
The SwampBats look to stay undefeated as they head on the road tomorrow to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks at the Maxfield Sports Complex, and the Navigators head home to Fraser Field to host the Valley Blue Sox.
Bristol Blues vs. Ocean State Waves
Final Score: Waves 9, Blues 6
South Kingstown, RI - It was a back-and-forth battle in tonight's opening night rematch between the Blues and the Waves, with the Waves pulling ahead late in the game backed by five runs in the final three innings of the evening en route to the comeback victory.
The Waves started off the scoring in their home opener when Williams Mahala (Virginia) doubled to left in the bottom of the second. The Blues quickly answered in the bottom of the third scoring on a passed ball, wild pitch and single by Scott Gell (Stony Brook). Not letting them hold on to that lead for long, the Waves answered right back in the bottom of the third on singles by Gray Eubanks (Southern Mississippi), Jack LaRose (UConn), and William Mahala (Virginia). The Waves ultimately pulled away with the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a three run double by Samuel Fernandez (Stetson).
Cooper Waddle (Southern Miss) earned his first win of the season, throwing two innings of relief allowing no runs with six strike outs and only giving up one hit. Gabriel Miano (Miami) also had a strong game at the plate for the Waves going three for four, with one RBI and two runs scored.
The Waves travel to Rogers Park tomorrow to take on the Danbury Westerners while the Blues have a day off.
Newport Gulls vs Vermont Mountaineers
Final Score: Gulls 9, Mountaineers 2
The Newport Gulls used a balanced offensive attack and a dominant effort from their pitching staff to roll past the Vermont Mountaineers, 9-2.
Newport wasted little time taking control and never looked back, collecting nine hits and capitalizing on patience at the plate with eight walks. The Gulls' lineup produced contributions from top to bottom, with shortstop Gus Grandy (Sanford) leading the charge. Grandy finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a game-high five RBIs, delivering the biggest swing of the night and providing the knockout punch for Newport's offense.
Second baseman Caeden Cloud (Kentucky) was a catalyst at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a double. First baseman Ryan Jaros (Rutgers) added a pair of hits and crossed the plate twice, while third baseman Braxton Tramel (East Carolina) chipped in an RBI. Catcher Adam Broski (Michigan St.) also drove in a run as Newport built a commanding lead.
Vermont managed six hits but struggled to string together offense against Gulls' pitching staff. Brayden Leonard (Villanova) drove in a run, while Sebastian Collender (Middle Georgia State) drove in an RBI double. Bryce Rudisill (Mt St Mary's), Samuel Bradley (Western Kentucky), Dylan Littlefield (Eastern Kentucky), Matthew Jackson (Stony Brook), and Leonard each recorded hits for the Mountaineers.
On the mound, Newport starter Will Taylor (Trinity U) set the tone with four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Mickey McClasky (Gonzaga) earned the victory after working three innings of relief, surrounding two runs on four hits and striking out three. David McSweeny (Northeastern) closed the door with two scoreless frames to preserve the seven-run win.
Both teams return Thursday night as the Newport Gulls will head to Fitch High School to play against the Mystic Schooners and the Mountaineers will ship to the island to play the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.
Martha's Vineyard Sharks vs North Adams SteepleCats
Final Score: Sharks 9, SteepleCats 2
Oak Bluffs, MA – A six-run fifth inning and seven stolen bases powered the Martha's Vineyard Sharks past the North Adams SteepleCats in a 9-2 victory on Wednesday night. The action began in the second when Kevin Hall (Alabama-Birmingham) drove home Jack Kamin (Tufts) on a hit and run RBI single. Moments later, Austin Pierzynski (Alabama-Birmingham) stole home on a double steal with his UAB teammate to make it 2-0. North Adams responded in the fourth as Alex Barrist (Lafayette) laced an RBI double to score Evan Meier (Mt St Mary's). The SteepleCats then tied it in the fifth when Nicolas LoBello (Towson) scored on a Parker Camelo (Rhode Island College) groundout.
However, the Sharks broke the tie in the bottom half of the inning after Hall and Carter Bentley (Northeastern) scored on a throwing error to the plate, and Ryan Thompson (Rhode Island) delivered a two-RBI single. Pierzynski followed with an RBI double, and Jailen Watkins (Miami) capped the rally with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 8-2. Martha's Vineyard native Bryan Sornas (Holy Cross) completed the scoring in the eighth with his first career home run.
The Sharks look to stay hot and add to their four-game win streak as they host the Vermont Mountaineers tomorrow night at the Shark Tank. The SteepleCats will are off tomorrow before welcoming Upper Valley on Friday.
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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat collegiate summer league featuring teams across all six New England states. Since its founding in 1994, the NECBL has produced more than 230 Major League Baseball alumni, including nearly 30 first-round MLB Draft selections. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
