Dukes blow two three-run
leads as four game win streak ends
By: Michael Radomski
(HOLYOKE, Mass.)- The
Holyoke Blue Sox were able to rally from three run deficits on two
separate occasions in an 8-7 victory against the visiting Pittsfield
Dukes.
The Dukes would strike first in the third inning when Matt Adams
(Slippery Rock) drilled a two run single to right field. On the
error from Jeremy Nowak, Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne) scored on the
play as well as Adams would move up to second base.
The single would give Pittsfield the 3-0 advantage but the lead was
short-lived. In the bottom of the inning, the Blue Sox would tie up
the game against Dukes starter Louie Bernardni (Wheaton College). In
an inning that saw eight hitters, Corey Jones (Cal State Fullerton)
and Danny Brown (Oklahoma State) would each have RBI singles.
The other run scored on a sacrifice fly from Jim Wood (Trinity
College) as he hit a line drive to deep center field that Jason
Martin made a full extension dive running back to the wall to catch.
Holyoke would add another run in the fourth and give starter Rene
Garcia (Pima CC) his first lead of the game. In the fifth inning,
Pittsfield would take the lead right back. Garcia hit J.T. Musso
(BYU) with the first pitch of the inning, his second of the game, as
warnings were issued by the umpires.
An RBI double from Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) would tie the game,
and a 2-run double from Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) would give
Pittsfield the 6-4 lead. Perry Silverman (Canisius) followed with an
RBI double as Pittsfield carried the 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Holyoke would score three more runs,
tying the game up at seven, and knocking Bernardini out of the game.
In the sixth, Jack Bender (Georgetown) would stay in for his first
full inning of work. After retiring the first two hitters in the
frame, Jones singled and stole second base as Bender walked back to
the mound.
Craig Turner (Southern Wesleyan) then hit a groundball to short that
Rosenbeck bobbled for the fourth of five Dukes’ errors on the
evening. Jones would score from third on the next play as Danny
Brown hit an RBI single to give Holyoke the 8-7 lead.
Holyoke’s bullpen pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief of Garcia allowing
just two hits and two walks in the process. Pittsfield would go
hitless through the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings but were able
to get the leadoff hitter on base in the ninth inning with an
Edmondson single against reliever Andre Zgrablich (Gordon College).
Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) moved Edmondson over to second base
with a sacrifice bunt and Zgrablich induced Adams to pop up for the
second out. Brandon Aich (Kean University) was brought in for the
final out as he struck out Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) to end
the game.
Holyoke hangs on for the 8-7 victory to improve to 12-11 on the
season. Holyoke will stay at home and host the Danbury Westerners on
Friday night with Maxx Catapano (UCONN) on the hill for the 6:30
start.
With the loss, the Dukes’ record drops to 12-11 as the team now
stands 1 ½ games out of first place. The Dukes are on the road
tomorrow as well. Pittsfield will travel down to Torrington on
Friday night for a seven o’clock showdown with the Twisters. Kyle
Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) is listed as the probable starter for the
game. The Dukes will then play at home on Saturday as the Newport
Gulls come to Wahconah Park. The game will start at seven o’clock as
well.
The Dukes will also host the Torrington Twisters next week for a
doubleheader on July 18th beginning at six o'clock. The Twisters and
Dukes will play two games, each scheduled for seven innings, and
then STAR 101.7 FM and WBRK AM 1340 will sponsor the fireworks show
after the second game.
Fans can listen to the game to and all Pittsfield Dukes games on the
NECBL Broadcast Network by going to the site at
http://www.teamline.cc/sportpage?teamcode=6301&eventcode=5
Tickets are still available for Dukes’ games at Wahconah Park.
Tickets can be purchased at the Dukes box office at 105 Wahconah
Street or by calling 413 447 DUKE (3853).
