Original link: http://www.necbl.com/view/necbl/news-1185/news_537113
Danbury Westerners 9, Valley Blue Sox 6
The four-seed Danbury Westerners (3-0) defeated, held off and upset the Valley Blue Sox (1-2) in Game 2 of the teams’ Divisional Semifinal series to advance to the Southern Divisional Finals at Rogers Park on Thursday night. Westerners starting pitcher Sean Hogan (Williams College) picked up the win with a stellar scoreless outing (5 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts), and fellow starter Owen Langan (Northeastern University) bore the loss for the Blue Sox after getting roughed up by Danbury (2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Noah Jensen (Elon University) recorded the save for the Westerners.
The Westies tallied one run in the bottom of the second inning by way of an RBI double from right fielder Henry Strmecki (University of Dayton) and four more in the home half of the third via another RBI double by third baseman Nicholas Lorusso (University of Maryland) and a three-run home run by catcher Jack Payton (University of Louisville) to give the home team an early five-run advantage. Danbury scored twice more in the fourth inning by way of a pair of RBI base hits from left fielder Cameron Masterman (University of Louisville) and first baseman Andrew Jenkins (Georgia Tech) to bring the score to 7-0.
Valley finally tallied their first run of the contest in the top half of the sixth inning thanks to a solo homer by shortstop Mason LaPlante (Yale University) before the Westerners scored their final runs of the night in the bottom of the same inning courtesy of an error and an RBI double by Strmecki. Thus began the Blue Sox’ attempted comeback beginning in the visitor’s half of the eighth inning when right fielder Luke Franzoni (Xavier University) jacked a solo longball of his own. In the ninth inning, Valley brought home four runs to bring the score to 9-6, the eventual final tally, via a pair of RBI singles from third baseman Travis Holt (High Point University) and designated hitter Cole Andrews (Miami University) plus a sacrifice fly by first baseman Steven Luttazi (University of Massachusetts Amherst) along with a dropped third strike. Danbury now awaits the winner of the Semifinals series between the six-seed Ocean State Waves and one-seed Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.
Upper Valley Nighthawks 7, North Adams SteepleCats 3
The two-seed Upper Valley Nighthawks (3-0) defeated the three-seed North Adams SteepleCats (1-2) in Game 2 of their Semifinals matchup to sweep and take the series win, eliminate the SteepleCats in and advance to the Northern Divisional Finals at Joe Wolfe Field on Thursday night. Nighthawks relief pitcher Zane Kmietek (Marist College) picked up the victory with a scoreless outing after taking over for starter Jordy Allard (University of Richmond) in the fifth inning (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K), and fellow reliever Jordan Yoder (Lafayette College) suffered the loss for North Adams (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K).
The SteepleCats struck first in the bottom of the third inning via an RBI single by designated hitter Charles Middleton (University of the Pacific) before a three-run fourth inning by Upper Valley that saw an RBI from catcher Kevin Pitarra (University of North Carolina Wilmington) and a two-run single by center fielder Brett Callahan (St. Joseph’s University) gave the visiting team the lead. The’ Cats promptly tied the ballgame up at three runs apiece in the home half of the fourth with the help of an RBI single by right fielder Matt Shilling (Liberty University) and a sacrifice fly by center fielder JuJuan Lacewell-Cason (Shippensburg University), the team’s final runs of the summer.
Nighthawks left fielder Andrew Walker (Xavier University) singled and designated hitter Kyle Novak (James Madison University) doubled to break the tie in the top of the sixth inning and drive home two runs to reclaim a 5-2 lead. Another two-run inning in the visitor’s half of the eighth, courtesy of an error and an RBI single by outfielder Alan Roden (Creighton University), all but made it a final 5-2 contest to propel the ‘Hawks to the next round of the postseason. They will now await the winner of the five-seed North Shore Navigators and one-seed Keene Swamp Bats’ Divisional Semifinals series.
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