NEWS

The New England rain got the better of the NECBL, but four teams were in action and saw incredible pitching performances Tuesday night. Vermont, Upper Valley, Martha’s Vineyard, Danbury, Valley and Ocean State all saw their games postponed due to storms. Mystic and Bristol’s bullpens dueled on a foggy Tuesday night, and Keene returned to the top of the NECBL standings powered by an outstanding pitching performance.

Mystic Schooners vs. Bristol Blues

Final Score/6: Schooners 2, Blues 1 

Mystic, CT- A Cross-state matchup got underway in Mystic Tuesday night with the Schooners hosting the Blues on a foggy night. Jack Kernodle (Princeton) started things in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout to score Anthony Belisario (UConn). The scoring would die down until the third inning when Trevor Hansen (Manhattan) launched his second homer of the season into the parking lot to tie the game for Bristol at 1-1. In the bottom of the inning, AJ Aschettino (Northeastern) scored on a passed ball to put Mystic ahead, 2-1. 

As for pitching, Blues’ starter Brendan Yagesh (Virginia Tech) tallied two of the team’s five strikeouts while Schooners’ starter Brady Bouchard (Binghamton) counted for three of Mystic’s four in the contest.

All game fog loomed over the field, getting to a point in the bottom of the sixth inning where batters were unable to see into the outfield, leading to the game being called. 

The game was finalized and finished with a final score of 2-1 in six innings. The Schooners take on the Blue Sox in Holyoke, Wednesday, June 11th at 6:35 p.m. Bristol gets the day off before hosting the Navigators on Thursday, June 12th at 6:30 p.m. 

Box Score

 

Keene SwampBats vs Newport Gulls

Final Score: SwampBats 1, Gulls 0

Keene, NH – The Keene SwampBats improved to a league-best 4-1 record Tuesday night when they blanked the visiting Newport Gulls 1-0. This game was the definition of a pitcher’s battle, with only eight total hits and one run combined from both of these teams. For Keene, they turned to left-handed starter Alex Walsh (Jacksonville), who delivered. Walsh didn’t allow a baserunner until the top of the third inning and ultimately tossed four shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five batters.

On the other side, it was the Gulls’ starter, Finbar OBrien (Gonzaga), who was equally as effective in shutting down the SwampBats' offense. O’Brien went four strong innings of scoreless baseball, where he only allowed one hit, walk, and struck out four.

Both teams turned to their bullpens, which proved to be excellent down the stretch. Reliever Joey Abbazia (Florida Atlantic) tossed two more shutout innings for Keene, where he allowed one hit and struck out three. For Newport, Jack Cropper (Northeastern) got the ball first in their bullpen, and he was great. Cropper struck out two batters and didn’t allow a hit in his inning of work. John Downing (Seton Hall) was called up next in Newport’s bullpen, and he was able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth before cruising to a 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the SwampBats finally scored to get on the board. Left fielder Michael O’Brien (Mississippi State) drew a walk and ended up stealing second base to put a runner in scoring position. With two outs, designated hitter Jack Herring (East Carolina) broke the scoreless tie and singled into right field. The hit score O’Brien from third and gave Keene the only run they needed for the night.

SwampBats pitcher Ben Dean (Dayton) locked down the game by throwing three innings of one-hit ball. Dean struck out two of the last three batters in the ninth, with the last out being a caught stealing on a bullet throw from catcher Zack Thompson (Mercer), who was just recently named NECBL Offensive Player of the Week. 

In the end, Dean took home the win for Keene, while Caden Connolly (Michigan) was credited with the loss for Newport. The next game for the SwampBats will be on Wednesday when they host the North Adams Steeplecats at 6:35 p.m. The Gulls will go back home to host the Ocean State Waves on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.

 

Box Score

 

Vermont Mountaineers vs Upper Valley Nighthawks

GAME POSTPONED TO JUNE 11 @ 6:30 PM

Montpelier, VT – The Mountaineers and Nighthawks were rained out Tuesday night, but both teams will remain in Montpelier for a makeup game Wednesday evening. Action is set to get underway at 6:30 PM.

Danbury Westerners vs Martha’s Vineyard Sharks

GAME POSTPONED TO JULY 2 @ 6:30 PM

Danbury, CT – The Westerners and Sharks could not avoid the rain on Tuesday evening and, unfortunately, had to postpone their matchup. Martha’s Vineyard will have Wednesday off before taking on the Mystic Schooners Thursday night. The Westerners will also have Wednesday off, but continue their homestand Thursday when they host the Vermont Mountaineers.
 

 

Ocean State Waves vs Valley Blue Sox

GAME POSTPONED TO TBD

 

Kingstown, RI – The Waves and Blue Sox, like the other two games, were postponed tonight due to rain in the area. The Waves will head to Newport Wednesday evening to take on the Gulls at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Sox travel home to Holyoke for a Wednesday night matchup with the Mystic Schooners.

 

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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the New England League started play in 1994 and has sent over 230 alumni to the Major Leagues with nearly 30 alumni taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.