Mainers eliminate Mountaineers
Vermont’s Johnny Knox reaches base safely as the throw gets away from Sanford first baseman Christopher Willis during the Mountaineers’ home opener on Tuesday, June 4. Photo: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur / Times-Argus
By Jamie Biggam, Staff Reporter, Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
SANFORD, Maine — Mother Nature threw a wrench in Vermont’s plans to maintain homefield advantage for the playoffs and the Sanford Mainers took advantage at the comfy confines of Goodall Park while eliminating the Mountaineers on Monday night.
Vermont entered the New England Collegiate Baseball League postseason as the top seed and took care of business in the quarterfinals by sweeping the No. 8 Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. The Mountaineers semifinal opener against No. 4 Sanford was suspended Sunday in the top of the seventh inning, forcing players to make the three-hour trek to the Pine Tree State in order to finish up Game 1 on Monday before playing Game 2 later in the evening.
Although coach Mitchell Holmes’ team kept things close, the visitors walked away empty-handed after suffering losses of 7-4 and 5-3. Vermont ends the season at 32-13, while Sanford (30-18) will face the No. 2 Newport Gulls (31-16) in the best-of-three NECBL championship series. The Mainers head back to the NECBL finals for the first time since 2016.
