Comebacks, Upsets Highlight Sunday Across the NECBL
North Adams, MA – Sunday across the NECBL featured dramatic comebacks, statement victories, and another shake-up in the North Division race. Danbury erased a six-run deficit to stun North Adams, North Shore knocked off North Division-leading Sanford on the road, and Vermont routed Newport behind a six-run first inning. Elsewhere, Upper Valley held off a late Keene rally, while Bristol blanked South Division-leading Martha's Vineyard.
North Adams Steeplecats vs. Danbury Westerners
Final Score: Westerners 8, Steeplecats 6
North Adams, MA - The Danbury Westerners overcome a 6-0 deficit to win 8-6 over the North Adams Steeplecats.
John Heitzman (Portal) gave North Adams a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run double. An RBI single from Sebastian Rhoades (Portal) and an RBI double from Heitzman made it 4-0 in the third. Pablo Aquino (Undecided) drove a two-run bomb to right field to take a commanding 6-0 lead through four innings.
However, the lead wasn't so commanding, as the Westerners rattled off seven runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, capped off with a Peter Link (Sacred Heart) two-run double. Link drove in another run with a fielder's choice in the seventh.
Hayden Lee (Salve Regina) got the win with three shutout innings in relief for Danbury. Niklas Pavia (Bryant) allowed seven runs, only three earned in his start, giving him the loss. Simon Yochum (Davidson) notched his second save of the season.
Danbury has quite the task tomorrow, as they play a mid-afternoon game against the Newport Gulls, before having to travel half an hour to play the Ocean State Waves in the evening. North Adams plays Monday against the Vermont Mountaineers.
Martha's Vineyard Sharks vs Bristol Blues
Final Score: Sharks 0, Blues 5
Bristol, CT- The Bristol Blues blanked the Martha's Vineyard Sharks, 5-0, backed by a steady bullpen effort and timely hitting up and down the lineup.
Bristol got things started in the fourth when Thomas Zwirecki (Rutgers) singled through the left side to bring home Antonio Ducatelli (Fairfield), who had reached on an error. Nick Flores (VCU) added to the lead in the fifth with a double down the left-field line, and Sean Britt (St. John's) capped the scoring with a two-RBI single that pushed the margin to 5-0. Cal Chance (UMass Lowell) also chipped in two hits, while Colin Crowley (Winthrop) and Nicholas Francuzenko (Towson U) each reached base and came around to score.
On the mound, Frank Spirito (UConn) was outstanding for Bristol, working 3.1 innings without allowing a run while striking out four. Jesse Specter picked up the win in relief, and Sam Michel (Northwestern), Liam Diehl (Towson U), and James Mulvaney (Fairfield) combined to close it out, holding the Sharks scoreless the rest of the way and finishing with nine strikeouts as a staff.
Martha's Vineyard couldn't find the offense it needed, going 0-for-31 with runners left on base seven times. Griffin Crain (Louisville) led the way with two hits, and Will Hampton (Vanderbilt), Nick Barron (Northwestern), and Ethan Gonzalez (Wichita St.) each singled, but the Sharks couldn't push a run across. Michael Devenney (Tulane U) took the loss on the mound despite battling through four innings, and Angel Cruz (Northwestern) and Warner Gearhart (Oberlin Col) worked the final frames in relief as Bristol pulled away for the shutout win.
The Martha's Vineyard Sharks will face the Keene Swamp Bats Monday night at home field. The Bristol Blues will play against the Newport Gulls Monday night at Cardines Field.
Keene Swamp Bats vs Upper Valley Nighthawks
Final Score: Nighthawks 10, Swamp Bats 9
White River Junction, VT – The Upper Valley Nighthawks used a pair of four-run outbursts to withstand a late rally and defeat the Keene Swamp Bats at Maxfield Sports Complex.
The Swamp Bats struck first in the top of the first inning when Micah Kendrick (Louisiana Lafayette) drove in Jackson Smith (Cincinnati) with a sacrifice fly.
The Nighthawks answered in the bottom half on a Nick Quagliato (Boston College) RBI triple.
Keene surged ahead 4-1 in the second, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Smith and an RBI single from Nico Senese (Georgia Southern).
Upper Valley batted around in a four-run third inning to take the lead. The scoring came from a combination of Alex Kelsey (Kentucky) with an RBI double, James Love (Eastern Illinois) and Kyle Langley (James Madison) with RBI singles, and Tim Dickinson (St. Joseph's) stealing home.
The Nighthawks padded their advantage to 10-4 with four more runs in the fourth, fueled by RBI hits from Love and Quagliato before scoring two runs on wild pitches.
Keene answered in the sixth as Dylan Fitzsimmons (St. John's) ripped an RBI double.
An intense four-run seventh inning brought the Swamp Bats within one, sparked by a Charlie Meglio (Rutgers) RBI triple, an Eli Stephens (Georgia Tech) sacrifice fly, and a two-run homer by Petey Craska (North Alabama). However, Charlie Jones (High Point) threw two scoreless innings to earn the win.
The Nighthawks host the North Shore Navigators tomorrow, while the Swamp Bats travel to Martha's Vineyard to take on the Sharks.
North Shore Navigators vs Sanford Mainers
Final Score: Navigators 7, Mainers 4
Sanford, ME- A couple home runs helped give the Navigators the edge in Sunday's game against the division leading Mainers.
The Navigators started off the scoring in the top of the third, scoring four runs in the inning. Hunter Kingsbury (Bryant) started it off, hitting a ground ball to the second baseman with the bases loaded, resulting in an RBI and the Navigators first run. Aiden Sengenberger (Seton Hall) scored on a balk and was followed by Hudson Ellis (Oral Roberts) with a double to center. Tyler Shulman (Harvard) finished off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Mainers were quick to respond, scoring two of their own in the bottom of the inning, and another in the fourth. Brendan Sencaj (Bentley) reached on an error that scored Sam Miller (Binghamton). Nater Wachter (UConn) followed with a triple to center that scored Sencaj. In the next inning, Jackson Sirois (Maryland) reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in the third Mainer run.
Grant Hunter (Binghamton) hit a solo homerun in the top of the sixth, and Sengenberger followed with a two run shot of his own in the top of the seventh.
Thomas Mahoney (Northeastern) earned his second win of the season, throwing three innings, allowing only one run on two hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Justin Fryer (Northwestern) earned his second save of the season, throwing two innings, allowing no runs on two hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Sanford will look to bounce back tomorrow as they take on the Ocean State Waves at home. North Shore will stay on the road as they head to Maxfield Sports Complex to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks tomorrow.
Vermont Mountaineers vs Newport Gulls
Final Score: Mountaineers 11, Gulls 1
Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Mountaineers defeated the Newport Gulls 11-1 in Montpelier, VT.
Vermont established immediate control with a dominant six-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning.
David Alvarez (Houston) started the scoring with an RBI groundout, followed by RBI singles from JJ Parsons (UNC Greensboro) and Sam Winsett (Middle Tennessee State).
Rex Hauser (Maine) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Charlie Niehaus (Cincinnati) hit a sacrifice fly, and Elliot Miles (UMass Boston) drew a bases-loaded walk.
Hauser added an RBI single in the second inning, Alvarez hit an RBI triple in the fourth, and Bryce Rudisill (Mt St Mary's) ripped an RBI double in the sixth.
Parsons finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Matthew Minckler (Delaware) also added three hits for Vermont.
Mountaineers starter Hank Lippman (William & Mary) earned the win, tossing five hitless innings, while Newport starter David McSweeney (Northeastern) took the loss.
The Gulls broke the shutout in the ninth inning when Braxton Tramel (East Carolina) doubled to score Caeden Cloud (Kentucky), but Vermont comfortably sealed the victory.
The Mountaineers hope to stay hot as they host the North Adams Steeplecats tomorrow, while the Gulls face the Bristol Blues at home.
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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.
