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Moutaineers' Offense Holds Off SteepleCats To Secure Win
By John Wood, North Adams SteepleCats
10:59PM / Monday, July 16, 2018
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MONTPELIER, VT. —If there has been one needle in the side of the SteepleCats this season, it would have to be falling into early game deficits.

In between home games, the SteepleCats took a road trip up to Montpelier Monday Night to take on their division rivals in the Vermont Mountaineers. With the Mountaineers jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the SteepleCats came close to coming back but eventually came up short as the Mountaineers’ offense held off North Adams for a 10-5 victory.

A usual relief pitcher, Jeff Hayner made his first start on the mound for North Adams in Monday’s contest. The Mountaineers took advantage of this quickly as Benjamin Bavly roped a triple into center field, bringing in Bryce Kelley who reached prior on a walk. Bavly then scored the second run of the inning as first baseman Ronald Medina sent a double also into center field to drive him in.

Unlike Vermont, the SteepleCats couldn’t seem to find their offense early as Mountaineers starter Mark Connor held North Adams to just five hits in his first five innings on the hill. In that time, the SteepleCats stranded five runners on the base path as driving in runners has been an issue for North Adams throughout the season.

Yet after a rough 1st inning, Hayner looked to have settled down, getting the SteepleCats through the 2nd and 3rd innings without any further damage. But after the Mountaineers loaded the bases via a walk and two singles, Hayner had trouble locating the strike zone, walking two straight to bring in two more runs with the Mountaineers now holding a 4-0 lead.

As Hayner’s night ended after the 4th, Andy Purpura came on to relieve for North Adams in the 5th. The Centenary College sophomore got a quick two outs for the SteepleCats, but the Mountaineers were able to drive in another run before the third out, as Paul Witt singled to left field to drive in Nolan Tressler.

Now down 5-0, the SteepleCats finally got their offense going as Mark Connor began to feel the wear and tear of the innings on his arm. With Joe Porricelli reaching on a walk and then stealing second and reaching third on a wild pitch, Tony Ortiz hit a deep sacrifice fly to bring Porricelli in for the first North Adams run.

After allowing a deep triple to outfielder James Ciliento in the next at-bat, Connor’s night ended there after 5.2 innings, surrendering six hits while striking out three. A then wild pitch from relief pitcher Felix Garcia enabled Ciliento to score from third, making it a 5-2 game. With Matt Koperniak, Jacob Jablonski, and Cris Ruiz reaching after that to load the bases, Felix’s night was cut very short as he was relieved by Daniel Hobbs. The right-hander then got Jeffery Brown to fly out to cut the SteepleCats’ big inning short.

The Mountaineers then answered in the bottom half of the inning, bringing in two more runs off Purpura when Ronald Medina singled to left field. With it now 7-2, the SteepleCats found another run in the next half inning when Tony Ortiz singled to center to bring in shortstop Dillon Mendel.

The Vermont offense was held quiet in the bottom of 7th, as Cameron Kovachik then relieved Purpura for North Adams. The Duke right-hander allowed two walks but struck out one to get his team out of the inning.

A big inning for both offenses occurred in the 9th, first starting with two runs for North Adams as relief pitcher Levi Abrahamson came in with the bases loaded and walked two straight batters to bring Cris Ruiz and Jeffery Brown across the plate. As it seemed a comeback could be in fruition, the Mountaineers put the game just out of reach as they drove in three more runs off relief pitcher and two-way player Jackson Coutts courtesy of two singles and a wild pitch.

Indigo Diaz came on to close in the 9th for the Mountaineers. The Canadian-born right-hander came up huge for Vermont, striking out the last two batters and securing the big divisional win for the home team.

The SteepleCats return home on Tuesday to take on the Keene SwampBats at 6:30. Tuesday is also MCLA night at Joe Wolfe Field, as the SteepleCats welcome all of MCLA’s great faculty and students to the ballpark. Tickets for Tuesday's game can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or at the ticket booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

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