Dukes rally from early
deficit, hang on late in 11-9 victory
Michael Radomski
( DANBURY, Conn.) – The
Pittsfield Dukes rallied from an early three run deficit to score
ten unanswered runs on their way to an 11-9 victory over the Danbury
Westerners at Rogers Park.
The Westerners took the early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first
inning against Dukes’ All Star starter Michael Ness (Duke). The
Dukes defense would commit three of their five errors of the game in
that one frame as Danbury handed the three run lead to All Star
starter Michael Oskandy (Quinnipiac).
Oskandy threw seven innings of two hit ball against the Dukes on
June 29th in the lone Westerner win in the series. In this outing,
Oskandy would last just two innings as Pittsfield would send eleven
hitters to the plate in a seven run second inning.
All Star first baseman Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) had two hits in
the inning including a leadoff home run, his sixth of the season, to
left center field to close the gap to two. After All Star shortstop
Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) drew a walk and catcher Kevin Clements
(Manchester CC) singled up the middle, second baseman Billy Messer
(Slippery Rock) dropped down a bunt to move the runners over.
On the bunt attempt, Billy Messer collided with Vinny Ganz (William
Patterson) at first base as another run would score for Pittsfield.
Ganz was taken out of the game, and Pittsfield would continue to
score in the second inning. Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) would
add an RBI single, and Rosenbeck brought in a run on an RBI
groundout. Adams would then have his second hit of the inning, an
infield single to second, and moved to second on an error from
Melvin Castillo (Eastern Connecticut State).
With the 7-3 lead, Ness settled down in the second inning and
retired the Westerners in order on just five pitches. The Dukes
offense went right back to it in the top of the third inning and
would add another three runs against reliever D.J. Stinsman
(Dominican). The Westerner righthander retired the first two hitters
he faced but the next six hitters reached base, three of them by
walks, as the Dukes batted around again.
A two run single from All Star outfielder Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne)
gave Pittsfield the 9-3 lead, and Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist)
extended the lead to seven with an RBI double.
Michael Ness kept the Westerners scoreless in the second and third
innings, but Danbury would add a run in the fourth, and fifth
respectively to close the gap in half.
With a 10-5 lead in the sixth inning, Luke Mazzanti (San Jose State)
entered the game for Michael Ness who allowed five runs (one earned)
on four hits and four walks through five innings of work. The right
hander from Duke also struck out five, earning his fifth win of the
season.
Mazzanti would allow a run in the sixth and Pittsfield would add it
back in the seventh as Jason Krizan hit into an RBI fielder’s choice
for his third RBI of the game, to hand Pittsfield the 11-6 lead.
Danbury would add another run in the bottom of the seventh to close
the gap to four runs.
Riley Shuckerow (University of Bridgeport) would keep Danbury in the
game tossing four and a third innings in relief of Oskandy and
Stinsman allowing just one unearned run and striking out six.
With the 11-7 lead, Pittsfield would turn to All Star reliever Zach
Anderson (Buffalo). After striking out Vinny Dammann (Pace
University) looking, Anderson got into some trouble. Back to back
singles would put runners at first and third with one out for Bobby
DiNardo (Fordham University). Anderson bobbled a one hopper back to
his left, scoring a run as Danbury trailed 11-8 on the error.
Another run would score on a wild pitch, as the Pittsfield lead
shrunk to two runs.
Anderson then retired Kevin Jackson (University of Maine) on a fly
out to left field for the second out and the game was delayed
momentarily as a skunk appeared beyond the left field fence. Once
play resumed, Anderson struck out Melvin Castillo to end the game
and secure the 11-9 win for the Dukes.
With the loss, the Danbury Westerners drop to 10-24 on the seasons,
and will host the North Adams SteepleCats on Wednesday night at
seven. Theodore Hurvul (UCONN) is the probable starter for the
Westerners and he enters the contest with no decisions and a 4.02
ERA.
The Dukes have now won eight of their last nine and twelve of their
last fourteen games as they maintain first place in the NECBL
Southern Division. The Dukes stay a game and a half up on the
Newport Gulls as they improve to 20-12 on the season. Pittsfield
will travel home and host the Manchester Silkworms on Wednesday
night beginning at seven o’clock. Adam Knight (Georgia State) is the
probable starter for Pittsfield. Knight has a 2-2 record on the
season with a 4.21 earned run average.
Knight and Jack Bender (Georgetown) teamed up to pitch a one-hitter
against the Silkworms on July 17th, as Knight would only allow a
controversial first inning hit on his way to one-hitting the
Silkworms. It is Lenox night at Wahconah Park and fans from the town
are encouraged to come out and see the first place Dukes in this
potential playoff preview.
Fans can listen to the game 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).
