SteepleCats Rally Late, Bristol Breaks Through in Monday NECBL Action
North Adams, MA – Monday night across the NECBL featured late offense and strong pitching as North Adams broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning and Bristol rode an early five-run frame to a road victory over Upper Valley. Elsewhere, Keene held Sanford to five hits to earn a key North Division win.
Sanford Mainers vs. Keene Swamp Bats
Final Score: Swamp Bats 4, Mainers 2
Sanford, ME - The Keene Swamp Bats hold on for a 4-2 win over the Sanford Mainers on Monday night. The Keene pitching staff held the Mainers offense to just five hits on the entire game. Despite giving out six free passes, the Bats pitching held strong.
Jackson Marshall (UConn) beat out a double play ball in the top of the first to bring in the first run of the game. Keene extended the lead in the second with an RBI double from Griffin Enis (Virginia), and a two-run single from Collin Anderson (Duke).
Sanford finally put a run on the board in the seventh with an RBI groundout from Sam Miller (Binghamton). Brendan Sencaj (Bentley) added another run via a two-out RBI double in the ninth. However, Tanner Beliveau (Mississippi St.) struck out the next hitter to end the game.
Tyler Borton (Florida Atlantic) got the win with five shutout innings while striking out seven Mainers hitters. Bryson Thacker (Florida International) allowed all four of the Bats' runs in his four innings of work, giving him the loss. Beliveau earned his first save of the season.
The Swamp Bats have themselves a double header at Montpelier Recreation Field, as they take on the Vermont Mountaineers on Tuesday. The Mainers get to stay at home for their next game, as they take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Tuesday.
Vermont Mountaineers vs North Adams SteepleCats
Final Score: SteepleCats 7, Mountaineers 3
North Adams- The North Adams SteepleCats broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning to defeat the Vermont Mountaineers, 7-3, Monday night at Joe Wolfe Field. After Vermont trimmed the deficit to one run in the sixth, North Adams responded late, collecting seven runs on nine hits to earn the victory.
North Adams struck first with two runs in the opening inning before adding another in the fifth. The offense was paced by Sebastian Rhoades (Delgado Community College), who finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Jake Butler went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, and a walk. Matthew Colella delivered the biggest hit of the night, driving in three runs, and Alex Barrist chipped in a pair of hits. Tony Woodie (SUNY Cobleskill) also contributed an RBI on a sacrifice fly as the SteepleCats capitalized on timely hitting in the late innings.
Vermont battled back in the sixth when David Alvarez (Eastern Kentucky) continued his strong night at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Elliot Miles (UMass Boston) and Aidan Botti (URI) each scored a run, while Bryce Rudisill (Mt St Mary's U) added a double and Charles Niehaus (Cincinnati) drove in Vermont's other run. Despite collecting six hits, the Mountaineers stranded several opportunities and were unable to answer North Adams' decisive eighth-inning rally.
On the mound, Niklas Pavia (Portal) kept the SteepleCats in control, allowing three runs-just one earned- over 5.2 innings while striking out six. Richie Kerstetter (CCSU) earned the win 1.1 scoreless innings relief, and Geordan Jackson-Murphy (UMass Dartmouth) closed the door with a scoreless ninth. Vermont starter Luke Deschenes (Seton Hill U) struck out five over three innings, while relievers Jack Pye (William and Mary) and Jack Sheldon (Fairfield U) combined for 2.1 scoreless frames before the SteepleCats broke through against Matthew Kahn (Villanova U) in the eighth.
Vermont Mountaineers will compete against the Keene Swamp Bats Tuesday night at home field. The North Adams SteepleCats will face the North Shore Navigators Tuesday night.
Upper Valley Nighthawks vs Bristol Blues
Final Score: Blues 9, Nighthawks 5
White River Junction, VT – The Bristol Blues defeated the Upper Valley Nighthawks 9-5 on Monday night.
The Blues ignited their offense with a five-run second inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Antonio Ducatelli (Fairfield) and a two-RBI triple by Cal Chance (UMass Lowell).
Although the Nighthawks responded in the third inning with a two-RBI double from James Love (Eastern Illinois) and added two more runs in the fourth, the Blues held onto their lead.
Bristol extended their cushion in the sixth when Trent Rice (Michigan State) singled, stole third, and crossed home plate on an Ducatelli groundout.
The Blues capitalized on walks in the late frames, securing insurance runs in the eighth through a Nicholas Francuzenko (Towson) RBI single and a bases-loaded walk by Mason Breton (LIU).
In the ninth, Ducatelli drew another bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 9-4.
Upper Valley attempted a rally in the bottom of the ninth as Cameron Boardman (NJIT) hit an RBI double, but Bristol reliever James Mulvaney (Fairfield) struck out the final batter to secure the victory.
Bristol starter Kyle Peters (UConn) earned the win, while Upper Valley starter Trey Sejnoha (Dartmouth) took the loss.
The Nighthawks hope to snap their three game losing streak tomorrow night against the Sanford Mainers, while the Blues have a day off before hosting the Ocean State Waves on Wednesday night.
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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.
