Written by Jackson Walsh

Director of Broadcasting & Media

SANFORD, Maine–  The Sanford Mainers outlasted the North Adams SteepleCats 2-0 in a pitchers duel at Goodall Park. Sanford now sits alone in second place in the North division at 18-17, while North Adams drops to 16-17. 

Sanford sent Josh Kopetski (Rhode Island) to the mound,the Maine native delivered the best start of his NECBL career. Kopetski fired six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, and struck out three. The lefty faced the minimum through six as he picked off both of the runners who reached base. “We really needed our starting pitching to step up, and we got that out of Kopetski and then some,” said Mainers manager Nic Lops. 

The Mainers opened the scoring in the fourth on an RBI double from Dom Tozzi (Coastal Carolina) to plate Brennan Hudson (Georgia), who reached on a walk. Kopetski was backed up in relief by Drew Smith (UCONN). Smith tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and followed it up with a scoreless eighth. The game was 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth with two outs while Kyle Douin (Southern Maine) came to the plate. The Augusta native came through with an RBI single to score a much needed insurance run. 

Sam Mitchell (Alabama) toed the rubber in the ninth looking to close the game. After a single and a hit-by-pitch North Adams had runners on first and second with one out. Mitchell was able to induce a ground ball and Sanford turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. It was Mitchell’s team-high fifth save of the summer. 

Sanford will head to Holyoke tomorrow to take on the Valley Blue Sox, before heading into the All-Star break. 

About the Sanford Mainers:
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 13 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.