Dukes
magical season ends with 6-3 loss to Gulls
by: Michael Radomski
( PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The
improbable season for the Pittsfield Dukes came to a close tonight
at Wahconah Park when the Dukes were swept by the Newport Gulls 6-3.
The Gulls would crack the scoreboard first with an RBI single from
Alex Gregory (Radford University) against Dukes starter Louie
Bernardini (Wheaton College) for the 1-0 lead. Pittsfield would tie
up the game in the second inning when Gulls starter Stephen Peterson
(Marist College) allowed back to back hits to start the inning. With
two runners on and one out, shortstop Cody Grisham (Univ of
Tennessee) would bobble a groundball for an error as Jason Krizan
(Dallas Baptist) scored to tie up the game at one.
In the third, Newport would add another two runs on an RBI single
from Mike Tamsin (Northeastern) and a run-scoring double from Alex
Gregory to put the Gulls ahead 3-1. Newport would threaten for more
in the fourth inning with two walks from Bernardini, but the righty
was able to work his way out of the jam and keep the deficit at two.
His counterpart, Stephen Peterson, continued to pitch well against
Pittsfield, setting down the Dukes in order in four of his seven
innings of work.
Newport would strand another two runners in the fourth and three
more in the sixth inning. In the sixth, Jake Sabol (Central
Michigan) entered the game with bases loaded and one out, and the
righthander retired the next two hitters he faced to swing momentum
towards Pittsfield.
In the bottom of the inning, Craig Hertler (San Jose State) drew a
leadoff walk and scored on a Jason Krizan single to bring Pittsfield
within a run. Stephen Peterson retired fifteen of the last seventeen
he faced and exited with a 3-2 lead after seven innings.
Newport would try to add to the lead in the eighth inning with a two
out rally against Jake Sabol. A single from Cody Grishman and bunt
single from Kyle Rhoad (Eastern Michigan) would put two runners on,
and knock Sabol out of the game. Dukes closer Zach Anderson
(Buffalo) came into the game and retired Mike Melillo (Elon) on a
flyout to end the inning.
Pittsfield went in order in the 8th against Robert Morey (Virginia)
and the Newport bats came out swinging in the ninth. A leadoff
single from Mike Tamsin and a double from Alex Gregory, his third
hit of the game, put Gulls at second and third with no one out.
Anderson would intentionally walk Kyle Conley (Univ of Washington)
to load up the bases and Pittsfield would draw the infield in. Back
to back groundballs in the infield resulted in force outs at home
plate and the Dukes moved the infield back with two outs as
Pittsfield was gaining momentum. Nick Santomauro (Dartmouth) clubbed
a bases-clearing triple to right-center field giving Newport the 6-2
lead and handing the lead to Gulls closer Dan Mahoney (UCONN).
Mahoney retired the first two hitters he faced but in true
Pittsfield fashion, the Dukes refused to go down quietly. Matt Adams
(Slippery Rock) worked a walk, Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) singled, and
Perry Silverman (Canisius) walked to load up the bases. Domenic
DiRicco (Cornell) was hit by a pitch, scoring Adams, and bringing
the Dukes within three runs. With the tying run at first base, Jason
Martin (San Jose State) struck out swinging to end the game as
Newport advanced back to the NECBL Championship Series with a 6-3
win.
Newport will now play the winner of the Sanford Mainers and Keene
Swamp Bats series later in the week. Sanford won game one last night
15-4 and game two will take place tonight at Alumni Field in New
Hampshire. The miracle season ends for the Pittsfield Dukes,
following a first playoff appearance and a run deep into the
postseason.
The Dukes front office would like to thank everyone who made this
season so memorable. Thanks to the sponsors and host families for
Pittsfield for helping out the Dukes and making this a season to
remember.
