By: Brendan Bowlin

Lynn, Mass – The Nighthawks, despite notching eight hits, would fall to the Navigators in a 6-3 loss, putting them at .500 for the first time since June 13th. Nicholas Mazzotta and the bullpen had brilliant outings, but it was the Navigators ‘pen to hold the Nighthawks to just two hits after a brilliant first four innings offensively.

The Navigators would score the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Sam Parks would start the bats off with a single and would quickly steal second during Ethan Wilson’s at-bat. Wilson would be hit by a pitch and put two aboard early for North Shore. Davis Baker kept the bats flowing as he hit a single into left field to load the bases for Coach Hawke’s squad. Michael Perraza drove in the first run on a fielder’s choice, and the second run would come in on a two-out ground rule double from Jack Gold to take a quick 2-0 lead. Hemmesch would force a flyout to end the first. 

The Nighthawks would find their movement in the top of the third. The Bucknell product, Michael Trommer, ripped a double into left center field, and Mazzotta would move Trommer over to third on a groundout. It was AJ Brotz, however, that hit a dribbler easy enough for him to beat and for Trommer to score the Nighthawks’ first run. Preisano would ground out to third to end the Nighthawks’ third, but it was a competitive run to keep them steady. 

The Navigators would respond with a big 4-run bottom half of the third. Davis Baker started with a leadoff walk and would quickly be brought in by an RBI Triple from Michael Perazza. Perazza would score on a deep sac fly from Jaydon Aukai Kea. Jack Gold would get back on for the Navigators as he was plunked by Tyler Hemmesch. With two outs on the board, Jack Rickheim would rip an RBI Double into left field, scoring Gold, but Rickheim would be brought in by a blooper from Simmi Whitehill that was a tough play for Nicholas Mazotta to snag. The day would end for Tyler Hemmesch as another Marist Fox on the roster, Steven Mazza, would make his pitching debut for the Nighthawks. He would force Sam Parks to ground out to AJ Brotz to end the third. The Navigators extended their lead to 6-1. 

Upper Valley’s productive bats wouldn’t shy away, however, with one out already against them to lead off, it was back-to-back singles for Nick Shuhet and Ryan MacDougall. Michael Trommer would reach on a walk to load the bases up for Nicholas Mazzotta, who hit a screamer up the middle that would leak up the middle, scoring Shuhet. Although Nick Monile would hit into a fielder's choice right at the Navigators’ fresh arm, Sean Zaslaw, AJ Brotz would hit a chopper right at Simmi Whitehill, which was tough to handle for him. Ryan MacDougall would come into the score. The Nighthawks again chip away at the Navigators’ lead, but still trailed 6-3.

No run production would come from either team after the top half of the fourth. New pitchers Steven Mazza and Thomas Goldberg pitched two solid innings each, allowing only one hit and one walk, while combining for eight strikeouts. It was Matt Bruno to hold the Navigators to their six runs as he delivered a walk and strikeout bid in his inning of work. The offense mustered two hits against the North Shore pitching staff but would fall 6-3 in their third meeting with the Navigators. 

The Bryant Bulldog Sean Zaslaw earned the win in relief for the Navigators. He pitched an inning and two-thirds of no-hit ball, earning his first win on the season in his fourth NECBL game. It marks his first win in two years, dating back to his time in the Futures League.

Ryan Griffin got the save in his inning of work. He only allowed one hit and struck out one. 

Tyler Hemmesch was tagged with the loss, his first loss of the season. In his two and two-thirds innings start, he allowed six hits and six earned runs, walking two and striking out one. 

The Nighthawks continue their road trip on Monday, as they have a doubleheader versus the Newport Gulls. First pitch of game one is at 3:00 PM with JT Guerrero given the ball. Game two will start 30 minutes after game one, with Nick Tamburro getting his second start of the season.