Big first inning,
Bernardini take down Mainers
Michael Radomski
( SANFORD, Maine)- A four
run first inning and a seven inning five hitter from Dukes starter
Louie Bernardini (Wheaton College) gave Pittsfield the 6-2 win over
the Sanford Mainers at Goodall Park.
The Dukes bats started hot in the top of the first inning against
Sanford starter Phil Negus (Wake Forest). The Dukes offense began
with back to back singles from Craig Hertler (San Jose State) and
Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) and following a popout from Chris Edmonson
(Le Moyne), Negus walked Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) to load up
the bases.
All Star Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) would unload the bases on a
three-run double to left field to give Pittsfield the 3-0 lead. They
would add another run later in the inning on an RBI single from Jake
Rosenbeck (Buffalo) to left center field. Pittsfield would then turn
the ball over to Bernardini with the 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Gray, Maine native got into a
little trouble but was able to work out of it with limited damage.
Mike Murray (Wake Forest) hit an RBI single into right field scoring
All Star Corey Hunt (Virginia) to close the gap to three. The
Mainers then would leave the bases loaded as Matt Nandin (Le Moyne
College) lined out to Hertler to end the inning.
Sanford would add another run in the second inning but would leave
two more runners on base as Sanford cut the gap in half.
In the top of the third inning, the Dukes would add another run on
the second of two RBI singles from Rosenbeck on the evening to take
a 5-2 leaad.
Bernardini continued to pitch effectively against the Mainers as he
induced seventeen groundball outs from Sainford over his seven
innings of work. He also retired twelve of thirteen hitters in a row
at one point as a Pittsfield starter had a quality start for the
fourth straight game.
Matt Adams would supply some more offense for Bernardini in the
fifth inning when he unloaded on a solo home run to center field off
of Negus to take the 6-2 lead. It was the fifth home run of the
season for Adams, tying him for third in the league, as he hit the
ball over the 415 sign in center field.
Bernardini continued to roll through the middle innings as he
retired sixteen of the last eighteen hitters he faced in his
homecoming to Maine. He was originally planned to start the day
before but was moved back to start in front of family and friends at
Goodall Park. Bernardini earned his first win of the season for the
Dukes, while Phil Negus took the loss for the Mainers allowing six
earned runs over five innings.
Matt Adams finished the game going 2 for 3 with a HR, two runs
scored, and four runs batted in. He also walked twice continuing his
eleven game hitting streak. Jake Rosenbeck would also finish two for
three as he batted in the other two Dukes runs in the game.
With the loss, the Sanford Mainers drop to 20-11 on the season after
tough back to back loses. Sanford is back in action tomorrow night
when the Mainers host the visiting Torrington Twisters in a 6:30
contest. Nick Cenatiempo (St. John’s University) is the slated
starter with a 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA on the season.
The win marks five in a row and nine of their last ten for
Pittsfield. The Dukes travel home tonight and will host the Lowell
All-Americans of the Northern Division at Wahconah Park on
Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for seven o’clock and Pittsfield
will have one of their seven All-Stars on the hill in the form of
Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce). The win puts Pittsfield up on the
Neport Gulls atop the Southern Division by 2 ˝ games. Vazquez is 3-0
on the season in six appearances (five starts) with a 1.04 ERA.
The Dukes will also host the Torrington Twisters this week for a
doubleheader on Friday, 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).
