Dukes clinch first ever
playoff berth in NECBL
Michael Radomski
( PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The
Pittsfield Dukes have clinched their first ever playoff berth with a
6-0 victory over the Manchester Silkworms at Wahconah Park.
With both Manchester and Torrington losing on Friday night, the
Pittsfield Dukes have secured one of the four spots in the NECBL
Southern Division playoffs.
The Dukes have never won more than sixteen games in their five year
existence and have never finished above sixth in the NECBL
Standings.
This season, the Dukes boast one of the most potent offenses and one
of the best pitching staffs as well. Pittsfield is second to the
Newport Gulls with a .284 batting average and are currently 3rd in
the NECBL with a 3.25 earned run average.
All star first baseman/catcher Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) is putting
up Triple Crown numbers for the Dukes as he is hitting .398 on the
season with 6 home runs, and 35 runs batted in, all team highs.
Pittsfield has four hitters hitting over .300 this season, all of
which are lefties, and all of which hit in the middle of the lineup.
The Dukes were also well represented in the 15th annual NECBL
All-Star Game at Torrington last Sunday. The Southern Division
defeated the Northern Division 5-2 and 8 Dukes were on the winning
team. First baseman Matt Adams and left fielder Chris Edmondson (Le
Moyne) started for the Southern Division as second baseman Craig
Hertler (San Jose State), shortstop Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo), and
centerfielder Jason Martin (San Jose State) made the team as
reserves. The Dukes represented three of the nine pitchers on the
All Star staff as well with Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce), Michael
Ness (Duke) and closer Zach Anderson (Buffalo) making the team.
It has yet to be determined which playoff spot the Pittsfield Dukes
will have in the Southern Division playoffs, which are set to begin
on August 2nd. The Newport Gulls (20-16) sit 2 ˝ games back of the
Dukes with six games left to be played. The Silkworms (14-22) are 8
˝ games off the pace with the loss and Manchester also has six games
left on the schedule. The Torrington Twisters (12-21) are also still
in hunt of a playoff spot and rest nine games behind the first place
Pittsfield Dukes with nine games to be played.
The Dukes (21-12) will send Mike Woytek (Wright State) to the mound
tomorrow night when Pittsfield hosts the North Adams SteepleCats in
the Battle of the Berkshires at Wahconah Park. It will also be Fan
Appreciation Night as Dukes Happy Hour will start at five o’clock
with the band Quick Fox playing at Wahconah Park. The Dukes will
also have a picnic for all of their sponsors at the park as well.
Game time is set for seven o’clock.
Fans can listen to 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).
