Swamp Bats knock Dukes
out of 1st place with most lopsided loss of season
Michael Radomski
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The
Keene Swamp Bats snapped their three game losing streak with an 11-2
win over the Pittsfield Dukes at Wahconah Park.
Dukes starter Louie Bernardini (Wheaton College) and Swamp Bat
starter Sean Tierney (Univ of Virginia) held the opposition
scoreless through the first two innings, both stranding two runners
on base.
Both teams would plate a run in the third inning as Evan Chambers (Univ
of Florida) hit an RBI double in the top half but Domenic DiRicco
(Cornell) would answer with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.
The fourth inning would be a breakout one for the Swamp Bats as
Keene sent eleven hitters to the plate against Bernardini. The Swamp
Bats would score six runs in the inning on three hits as the Dukes
committed four errors in the field. Keene took advantage of the
extra opportunities with RBI singles from Cliff Hicks (Franklin
Pierce) and Dan Grovatt (Univ of Virginia) and a two run single from
Casey McGrew (Wright State) as Kenne jumped out to the 7-1 lead.
Bernardini went 4 2/3 innings allowing seven runs (three earned) on
seven hits. He also walked four in his second loss of the season.
Jack Bender (Georgetown) pitched the next 3 2/3 innings allowing
just one run and striking out six Swamp Bats.
In the meantime, Sean Tierney continued to pitch well for Keene
holding the Dukes to just one run over his six innings of work.
Tierney earned his second win of the season as he fanned five
hitters against the NECBL leading offense.
Both teams would add a run in the eighth inning and Keene would take
the 8-2 lead into the ninth. With two doubleheaders in the next two
days, the Dukes turned to outfielder Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) to
pitch. Keene would score three runs in the inning and would go on to
win the game 11-2.
With the win, the Keene Swamp Bats improve to 22-16 on the season
and maintain the third playoff spot in the NECBL’s Northern
Division. Keene will travel back home tonight and host the Holyoke
Blue Sox in a 5:15 contest at Alumni Field. Sean McDermott (Virginia
Tech) will start for the Swamp Bats and he enters the game with a
2-2 record and 3.49 ERA.
The Dukes ( 22-15) have now lost three games in a row after losing
two games today. After the Newport Gulls swept the Lowell
All-Americans and Manchester Silkworms in a doubleheader, the Gulls
have leapfrogged the Dukes for first place and lead by a half game.
Pittsfield will travel down to Fuessenich Park in Torrington, CT
tomorrow to take on the Twisters in a doubleheader beginning at five
o’clock. Jake Sabol (Central Michigan) will start game one while
Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) will throw in game two. Sabol is 2-1
on the season with a 2.66 ERA and will be making his first start
since the loss to North Adams on June 13th. Vazquez is 3-0 with a
2.29 earned run average. The righthander has faced Torrington before
throwing seven innings in a Pittsfield win on July 11th at
Torrington.
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).
GAME NOTES: The seven errors by the Pittsfield Dukes ties a season
high set on June 18th against the North Adams SteepleCats. The Dukes
would commit five runs in the 2nd inning and would go on to lose the
game 10-3…Dukes catcher Kevin Clements (Manchester CC) had four
passed balls behind the plate tonight. In his last start, the Dukes
catcher also had four passed balls in a game at Danbury on July
22nd…Dukes DH Mike Massery (American International) went 0 for 3
with 3 strikeouts a day after getting his first NECBL hit. Massery
is now 1 for 16 on the season with 9 strikeouts…Dukes second baseman
Craig Hertler (San Jose State) committed four errors in the game and
now leads the NECBL with seventeen….Swamp Bats outfielder Evan
Chambers extended his six game hitting streak to seven with a 2 for
4, 2 run, and 2 RBI performance. With a stolen base as well,
Chambers takes over the team lead with thirteen. Chambers also
walked twice and was on base four times in the game.
