Westerners Break Sharks Win Streak During Full Slate of Games Sunday Night
North Adams, MA- Sunday across the NECBL featured Martha's Vineyard's six game win streak snapped in a 4-1 loss to Danbury. Keene dropped Game 2 of a double header against Ocean State after taking Game 1. Vermont, North Shore, and Newport cruised to victory, while Sanford took the win in a close one against Mystic.
Valley Blue Sox vs Newport Gulls
Final Score: Gulls 9, Blue Sox 2
Holyoke, MA- The Newport Gulls broke the game open early and cruised to a 9-2 win over the Valley Blue Sox on July 12, piling up 18 hits while holding Valley to just three. The Gulls scored four runs in the first inning alone and never let the Blue Sox threaten, improving their record with a complete team effort at the plate and on the mound.
Newport's offense was relentless from top to bottom. Tristan Salinas (Rutgers) led the way going 4-for-6 with two runs scored, while Braxton Tramel (East Carolina) added three hits, a run and two RBI. Mason Ligenza (Pittsburgh) drove in four runs on two hits, and Gus Gandy (Samford) chipped in three hits of his own. Caeden Cloud (Kentucky) scored twice and drove in a run, Ryan Novak (Miami U) crossed the plate twice, and Brandon Larson (USC) and Cade Brown (Georgia Tech) each factored into the early scoring with RBI singles that put Valley in an immediate hole.
The Blue Sox managed only three hits as a team and couldn't sustain any rallies. Nick Spaventa (Penn) provided their lone bright spot at the plate, doubling in the first inning to drive in Jacob Dilley (UNC-Greensboro) for Valley's first run. Chris Cancel (UConn) drew two walks, and Zaid Diaz (Troy) added a sacrifice-fly RBI in the sixth, but the Blue Sox stranded six runners and couldn't keep pace with Newport's offense.
On the mound, David McSweeney (Northeastern) picked up the win (2-1), working four innings and allowing just one run on two hits with six strikeouts. Jake Kennedy followed with three scoreless innings of relief, and Bryce Koch (Louisville) closed it out.
The Newport Gulls will face the Martha's Vineyard Sharks Monday night. The Valley Blue Sox will take a breather and play against the Martha's Vineyard Sharks Tuesday night.
Sanford Mainers vs Mystic Schooners
Final Score: Mainers 4, Schooners 1
Sanford, ME- The Sanford Mainers held off the Mystic Schooners 4-1, riding a strong pitching performance from Bryson Thacker (FIU) and timely hitting to snap a tight, low-scoring battle. The Mainers plated single runs in bunches while their pitching staff limited Mystic to just four hits and one run across nine innings.
Sanford's offense was efficient if unspectacular, working around a modest four-hit night with sharp situational hitting. Jacob Harring (Salve Regina) drove in a run and scored one himself, while Jack Tate (St. John's) went 2-for-3 with an RBI from the leadoff spot. Brian Connolly (Rhode Island) added an RBI single, and Steven Kraus (Binghamton) drew a walk and scored a run. Troy Carpenter (Maine) also crossed the plate, giving the Mainers just enough offense to support their pitching staff.
Mystic's bats were held largely in check by Sanford's arms. Joel Collado (Rhode Island) provided the Schooners' only real spark, going 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Jack Harley (Stetson) and Anthony Ruggiero (Northeastern) each added a single. Christian Butera (Brown) drove in Mystic's lone run, but the Schooners left runners on base in key spots and couldn't string together a rally against Sanford's bullpen.
On the mound, Thacker picked up the win, tossing five innings and allowing just two hits without giving up an earned run while striking out six. Ian Mowad (St. John's) followed with two scoreless innings, and Samuel Young (Richmond) closed it out for his fourth save of the season, with Ben Griffith (Binghamton) allowing the only run to score in relief. For Mystic, Connor Shaw (San Diego State) took the loss, working three innings, while Luke Trout (Brown), Colby Correia (Endicott) and Justin Gouin (Hartford) combined to cover the rest of the game out of the bullpen.
The Mystic Schooners will face the Danbury Westerners Monday night. The Sanford Mainers will play against the Vermont Mountaineers Monday night.
Bristol Blues vs. North Shore Navigators
Final Score: Navigators 8, Blues 2
Bristol, CT - The North Shore Navigators overcame a tough first four innings offensively to win 8-2 over the Bristol Blues on Sunday night.
North Shore broke the scoreless tie in the fifth with a Luke Miele (Roger Williams) RBI single. However, the Navs broke the game open in the seventh. A fielding error from shortstop Evan Menzel (UConn) brought in the first two runs of the inning.
Hudson Ellis (Oral Roberts) brought in another run with an RBI single. Another error, this time from catcher Cal Chance (UMass Lowell) brought in run number four. Finally, a passed ball scored Ellis from third, capping off a five-run seventh inning.
North Shore added more salt to the wound with an RBI double from Daniel Leikus (Rhode Island (U of)), and an RBI single from Anderson French (Dallas Baptist) in the top of the ninth. Menzel broke the shutout with two outs in the ninth with an RBI single. JJ Romatzick (Hartford) drove in a run after an error from the pitcher Thomas Mahoney (Northeastern) to get to the final score.
Jack Zimmerman (Dayton) pitched four shutout innings to earn the win. John Hughes took the loss, allowing one earned run in five innings pitched.
Both teams have Monday off before heading out for away games on Tuesday. North Shore will face Upper Valley, and Bristol will take on the Danbury Westerners.
Vermont Mountaineers vs. North Adams Steeplecats
Final Score: Mountaineers 10, Steeplecats 0
Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Mountaineers gave the North Adams Steeplecats hell, winning 10-0 on Sunday evening.
Vermont didn't notch their first hit until the third inning. Fortunately for the Mountaineers, it was a solo home run off the bat of Rex Hauser (UMaine). Two innings later, Aidan Botti (Rhode Island (U of)) added a two-run single to make it 3-0.
However, Vermont blew it open in the bottom of the sixth. A Bryce Rudisill (Mt. Saint Mary's) RBI single made it 4-0, before a three-run home run from Vincent Davis (Winthrop).
A wild pitch brought in another Mountaineers run in the seventh, before Hauser notched his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to bring the game to its final score.
Jack Sheldon (Fairfield) got the win with two shutout innings out of the bullpen. Niklas Pavia (Bryant) took the loss, allowing one run in his four innings of work.
The Mountaineers have a bit of a makeshift double header on Monday, as they resume a game against the Sanford Mainers that got suspended due to weather, before playing a whole new game against them as well. North Adams just has one game on Monday, that being against the Upper Valley Nighthawks.
Ocean State Waves vs Keene SwampBats (Game 1)
Final Score: SwampBats 6, Waves 2
Keene, NH- A strong pitching performance from Keene helped give them the edge in a 6-2 win over the Waves in Game 1 of a double header.
Eamon McDermott (Duke) earned his third win of the season in today's game going five innings allowing only one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. James Aselta (Sacred Heart) pitched the other two innings allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Dylan Fitzsimmons (St. John's) and T.J. Schuyler (Georgia Southern) led the SwampBats on the other side of the ball in tonight's game. Fitzsimmons went two for three with a walk and a massive three run homerun in the top of the second. Schuyler went two for four, scoring both times he got on. Antonio Cordeiro (St. John's) and Gavin Speirs had the other RBIs for the Swampbats. Cordeiro's coming on a fielder's choice and Speirs's two coming on a double down the right field line in the top of sixth.
Adonis Medina (URI) led the Waves at the plate today, going two for three at the plate with a walk and an RBI in the bottom of the seventh on a double to left center. Max Farrell (SDSU) went two for four at the plate, scoring off of Medina's double. Thomas Meluskey (New Mexico State) had the other RBI on a ground out to the first baseman in the bottom of the second.
Ocean State Waves vs Keene SwampBats (Game 2)
Final Score: Waves 11, SwampBats 0
Keene, NH- After a strong win in Game 1, Keene struggled to get things going offensively in Game 2 of the double header.
The Waves pitching staff threw a two hit shut out allowing only one walk between the two pitchers. Cooper Maher (Duke) earned his first win of the season, throwing four innings allowing only one hit and one walk with five strikeouts. Brennan Confreda (FIU) threw the other three innings also allowing only one hit with no walks and four strikeouts.
Samuel Fernandez (Stetson), Gabriel Milano (UMiami), and William Mahala (Virginia) all went two for four at the plate for the Waves. Fernandez had a huge grand slam to center in the top of the first inning, helping to give the Waves a big early lead. Mahala also homered in the game, a solo shot in the top of the third. Cameron Papetti (Bryant) also had a great day at the plate going two for two with a walk and two RBI.
Pitching hurt the SwampBats in Game 2, with seven walks given up, two runs scoring off them and another scoring on a balk. T.J. Schuyler (Georgia Southern) had the two lone hits for the SwampBats in the game.
The SwampBats head to Holman Stadium tomorrow to take on the Nashua Silver Knights for the Granite State Showdown. The Waves will have the day off tomorrow as they prepare to host the Newport Gulls on Tuesday.
Marthas Vineyard Sharks vs Danbury Westerners
Final Score: Danbury Westerners 4, Marthas Vineyard Sharks 1
Oak Bluffs, MA – In a stellar road performance, the Danbury Westerners pulled off a 4-1 victory over the Marthas Vineyard Sharks, snapping their six game winning streak.
Westerners starter Glenn Smith (Richmond) anchored the victory, retiring 14 straight batters after allowing a first inning single.
Danbury manufactured the game's opening run in the third when Noel Rivera (Jacksonville State) drew a walk, stole second base, and scored on a single by Kyle Garbowski (Quinnipiac).
The Westerners expanded their lead in the sixth as Gavin Donohue (Sacred Heart) scored on an error before Jack Lutte (Denison) launched a solo home run.
The Sharks finally answered in the bottom half when Austin Pierzynski (Alabama Birmingham) doubled and scored on an RBI single from Griffin Crain (Louisville).
However, Danbury stifled any comeback hopes in the eighth when Lutte singled and scored on an RBI single by Collin Mowry (Louisville).
Smith earned the win, while Simon Yochum (Davidson) locked down the ninth for the save, and Jordan Paradis (UMass Dartmouth) took the loss.
The Sharks host the Newport Gulls tomorrow night, while the Westeners take on the Mystic Schooners at home.
---
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.
