Dukes prevail in slugfest
for sixth straight win
Michael Radomski
( PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The
Pittsfield Dukes outslugged the Lowell All-Americans 11-6 at
Wahconah Park for their sixth win, and their tenth in the last
eleven on Wednesday night.
The All-Americans took a first inning lead off of Dukes All Star
Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) who allowed a double to Pat McKenna
(Bryant University) and an RBI single from Nick Pecora (Wheaton
College) to take the 1-0 lead.
The Dukes would strand two runners in the first inning against
Lowell starter Dan Lozeau (Bryant University) but would tie up the
game in the third inning. With Jason Martin (San Jose State) on
first following a leadoff single, Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) hit a
ground ball up the middle. Martin beat McKenna to the second and the
shortstop’s throw sailed into the dugout, scoring Martin and tying
up the score at one.
In the fourth, the Dukes would take the lead. With first and second
and two outs, Martin hit a two-run single to score Matt Adams
(Slippery Rock) and Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) to give Pittsfield the
3-1 lead.
The two run advantage was short-lived as Lowell tagged Vazquez for
five runs in the inning. Kevin Rivers (Franklin Pierce) hit a two
run single off of his collegiate teammate, and Tony Plagman (Georgia
Tech) hit a two run double to knock Vazquez out of the game. Jake
Sabol (Central Michigan) came in and allowed an RBI single to
Michael Baillargen (Assumption College) to give Lowell the 6-3 lead
with the five run inning.
The Dukes would answer with five runs in the fifth inning off of Dan
Lozeau and Bobby Swann (Community College of Rhode Island). A
leadoff bunt single from J.T. Musso (BYU) and a single from All Star
Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne) put runners at first and second with no
one out. Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) dropped down a bunt to third
and legged it out to load up the bases with no one out. Adams then
hit an RBI single to right field, but Rivers overran the ball
enabling all three runners to score on the play.
Rosenbeck then continued his hot hitting as Swann entered the game
and the Buffalo student athlete ripped a single to right that scored
Adams to give Pittsfield the 7-6 lead. Rosenbeck moved up to second
on the throw home and came in to score on a Jason Martin RBI single
three batters later.
Jake Sabol went back out on the mound for the sixth inning with the
8-6 lead.. He retired the first two hitters on strikeouts, and
allowed back to back singles before retiring Pecora to end the
inning.
In the bottom of the inning, the Dukes would extend the lead with
three more runs off of Bobby Swann and Jay Lucier (Worcester State).
Rosenbeck hit another RBI single, his fourth hit of the game, to
extend the lead to three runs. Billy Messer (Slippery Rock) ripped a
two run triple to right field later in the inning to give Pittsfield
the 11-6 lead.
Jake Sabol would finish out the game going the final four and a
third innings for the win. He allowed just four hits in relief and
picking up four strikeouts. Dan Lozeau took the loss going four and
two thirds innings allowing seven runs (six earned) for his first
loss of the season.
Jake Rosenbeck went four for five in the game with two RBIs. He had
RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings respectively and wasn’t
retired until the eighth inning by Cory Jolicouer (So New Hampshire
University). Matt Adams also went four for five with an RBI in the
Pittsfield 11-6 victory.
With the loss, the Lowell All-Americans drop to 9-20 on the season
and will play at the Holyoke Blue Sox on Thursday night at 6:30.
Jason Kosakow (Winthrop University) is the slated starter with an
0-2 record and a 2.92 earned run average.
The Dukes stay 2 ˝ games up on the Newport Gulls with the victory
and improve to 18-11 in the standings. Pittsfield will also be on
the road on Thursday night in Manchester for a seven o’clock
showdown with the Silkworms. Adam Knight (Georgia State) is the
probable starter with a 1-2 record and 5.73 ERA so far this season.
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).
