Fireworks at the Plate Highlight Fourth of July Action Across the NECBL
North Adams, MA – Fourth of July action across the NECBL featured plenty of fireworks at the plate as Sanford erupted for 16 runs and Newport used a seven-run inning to cruise past Mystic. Elsewhere, North Adams earned a home win over Keene, Vermont pulled away late against Upper Valley, and Valley jumped out early before its game at Bristol was postponed for rain.
North Adams Steeplecats vs. Keene Swamp Bats
Final Score: Steeplecats 7, Swamp Bats 3
North Adams, MA - The North Adams Steeplecats notched a 7-3 win over the Keene Swamp Bats in some 4th of July baseball. Sebastian Rhoades (Delgado CC) was responsible for three of the Cats seven runs throughout the contest.
The Cats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Nelphie Lopez (Portal) sac fly and a Rhoades RBI triple. An RBI single from Dylan Fitzsimmons (), along with an error on the play by right fielder Pablo Aquino () tied the game at 2-2 in the second inning.
A wild pitch from Keene in the third gave North Adams the lead once more, as Rhoades produced an RBI groundout later in the inning. Parker Camelo (Portal) added to the lead in the fifth with a sac fly of his own to make it 5-2.
In the seventh, an RBI single from Rhoades, coupled with a fielder's choice from Camelo extended the lead to 7-2. Despite an RBI fielder's choice from Collin Anderson (Duke), the Swamp Bats couldn't produce a late rally.
Geordan Jackson-Murphy () got the win with one shutout inning out of the bullpen. Isaac Palacios (Pasco-Hernando State) got the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up four runs.
North Adams gets to stay home, as the Vermont Mountaineers pay a visit tot Joe Wolfe Field on Monday. Keene will travel up north to take on the Sanford Mainers on Monday.
Sanford Mainers vs. North Shore Navigators
Final Score: Mainers 16, Navigators 3
Sanford, ME - The Sanford Mainers notch a dominant 16-3 win over the North Shore Navigators on the 4th of July. The Mainers did all their damage in the first three innings of the contest.
The Mainers offense went berserk in the first and third innings of this game, scoring eight runs in each of those frames. The biggest contributor wound up being Ryan Kolben (UMass Amherst), who drove in six runs, including a third inning grand slam. North Shore's runs came courtesy of a wild pitch in the second inning, as well as an RBI single from Daniel Leikus (Rhode Island (U of)) and a bases loaded walk from Jack Rickheim (Harvard).
Ian Mowad (St. John's) got the win with one inning out of the bullpen while allowing a run. John Hegarty (Cornell) took the loss in this contest, getting just one out while allowing six runs.
Bristol Blues vs Valley Blue Sox
Final Score: Blue Sox 4, Blues 1
Bristol, CT – A four-run offensive outburst was all that could happen before rain postponed the matchup between the Bristol Blues and Valley Blue Sox on Saturday night. The Blue Sox struck first in the third inning when Nick Tomasetto (Seton Hall) walked and scored on a Jacob Dilley (UNC - Greensboro) sacrifice fly. Bristol responded quickly in the bottom half as Cal Chance (UMass Lowell) singled home Evan Menzel (UConn) to tie it. Valley took control in the fourth when Trey Spees (Western Carolina) hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly, followed by consecutive RBI doubles from Tomasetto and Matt Wolfe (Middle Tennessee) to make it 4-1 before the weather halted play. The game will be continued on a later date to be announced.
The Blues will host the Danbury Westerners tomorrow night while the Blue Sox take a day off before hosting the first-place Martha's Vineyard Sharks on Monday night.
Newport Gulls vs Mystic Schooners
Final Score: Gulls 7, Schooners 1
Groton, CT – A massive seven-run second inning propelled the Newport Gulls to a 7-1 victory over the Mystic Schooners on Saturday at a rain-shortened contest at Cardines Field. The game was officially called due to rain in the top of the sixth inning.
After a scoreless opening frame, the Gulls unleashed an explosive offensive showcase in the top of the second. Ryan Novak (Miami) and Colby Wallace (East Carolina) ignited the rally with singles before an error loaded the bases. Mason Ligenza (Pittsburgh) then broke the stalemate by launching a spectacular grand slam to right field.
Newport kept the pressure on as Adam Broski (Michigan State) singled and Gus Gandy (Samford) was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Tristan Salinas (Rutgers), lighting a three-run home run to center field to extend the lead to 7-0.
The Schooners answered in the bottom of the third inning when Joel Collado (Rhode Island) hit a triple and scored on a Justin Best (Manhattan) RBI single. However, Mystic could not mount a comeback against Newport pitcher Victor Frederick (St Johns), who earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Schooners starter Chris Hernandez (Cal State Fullerton) took the loss.
The teams are both off tomorrow, before the Gulls host the Danbury Westerners while the Schooners take on the North Shore Navigators on Monday night.
Vermont Mountaineers vs Upper Valley Nighthawks
Final Score: Vermont Mountaineers 5, Upper Valley Nighthawks 2
Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Mountaineers defeated the Upper Valley Nighthawks 5-2 on Saturday night. Vermont broke the ice in the fourth inning when David Alvarez (Eastern Kentucky) drove in Aidan Botti (URI) with a fielder's choice. The Mountaineers extended their advantage in the sixth as Samuel Bradley (Western Kentucky) laced an RBI single to score Alex Benevento (Brown), followed shortly by an RBI double from Nick Mullen (George Washington) that scored Alvarez.
Upper Valley mounted a response in the seventh, cutting the deficit to one run when Jake Bell (Bellarmine) hit an RBI double to score Tim Dickinson (St. Joseph's), and Levi Jones (San Diego State) followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Kyle Langley (James Madison). However, Vermont quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame. Elliot Miles (UMass Boston) swiped home on a double steal with Matthew Jackson (Stony Brook), and Alvarez capped the scoring by hammering an RBI double to drive in Jackson.
Evan Hoeckele (St Johns) earned the victory on the mound, tossing an impressive six scoreless innings for Vermont. Starter Mateo Wells (High Point) suffered the loss for the Nighthawks, while Matthew Kahn (Villanova) secured the save to lock down the home win.
Both teams will take an off day tomorrow, before returning to action on Monday night as the Nighthawks host the Bristol Blues and the Mountaineers travel to face the North Adams Steeplecats.
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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.
