Keene SwampBats vs North Adams Steeplecats

Final Score: SwampBats 8, Steeplecats 5

Keene, NH – The Keene SwampBats defeated the North Adams Steeplecats on Friday night at Alumni Field by an 8-5 score. Keene pulled ahead in the sixth inning after a back-and-forth game, with Ripken Reese (Kent St) giving the SwampBats the lead. Keene wins their 30th game of the season for just the third time in franchise history.

The Steeplecats jumped out on the board first with two runs early in this one, but Keene got the bats going soon after.

In the bottom of the second, the SwampBats answered with four runs. Chandler Tuupo (Charleston Southern) tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI double. Then, with two outs, an RBI single from Marshall Lipsey (FAU) scored two runs and made it 4-2 Keene.

After North Adams took a 5-4 lead in the sixth, the SwampBats tied it up with another RBI hit from Lipsey, this time a double to left center. Reese gave Keene the lead with a two-run homer blast to center. In the eighth, Reese added another run with an RBI single to right field. This made it 8-5, and Ben Dean (Dayton) would slam the door in the ninth, securing the save for Keene.

Sanford Mainers vs Vermont Mountaineers

Final Score: Mainers 2, Mountaineers 0

Sanford, ME – The Sanford Mainers shut out the Vermont Mountaineers at Goodall Park on Friday night by a 2-0 score. The Mainers got the victory behind timely hitting and a masterful pitching performance from the Maine native, Josh Kopetski (Rhode Island), who tossed a complete game.

Going into the seventh inning, both teams were having a classic pitcher’s duel. With just five combined hits from both teams and no runs accounted for, Sanford was the first team to get on the board. With two runners on, it was Sam Miller (Binghamton U) in the seventh who came in clutch with a two-RBI single to make it 2-0, and that’s how it held. Kopetski was fantastic for Sanford, allowing just five hits in his nine innings of work. 

Upper Valley Nighthawks vs. North Shore Navigators (Game One)

Final Score /7: Upper Valley 9, North Shore 6

Lynn, MA- The Navigators hosted the Nighthawks for a doubleheader with game one getting underway at 4:15pm. The Navigators got to work right away in the top of the first when Alec Welshans (Elon) hit an RBI triple to drive in the first run of the game for North Shore. Marc Willi (UMass Amherst) followed up by driving in Welshans on a double to increase the lead to 2-0. The Nighthawks fired right back in the bottom of the inning when Cole Fellows (Columbia) hit an RBI double to put Upper Valley down 2-1. Anthony Greco (William & Mary) then drove in Fellows and Jack Elbeery (Minnesota) to give the Nighthawks the lead at 3-2. The Hawks weren’t done yet, as Michael Trommer (Bucknell) drove in another run on a single to make the score 4-2 going into the second. 

In the top of the second, the Navigators responded right back when Conor Moriarty (Bowdoin) hit an RBI single to put the Navs down 4-3. Nater Wachter (Southern New Hampshire) then drove in Moriarty on a single to tie the game at 4-4. As per the events of the game thus far, Upper Valley fired right back in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Neri (Rider) hit an RBI single to give the lead back to the Nighthawks at 5-4. Neri would spark a rally, as Anthony Greco (William & Mary) drove in another run on a single to increase the lead to 6-4. Luca Reyes (Florida International) drove in Neri on a single, and AJ Brotz (Marist) drove in both Greco and Reyes on a single of his own, finishing the rally with a 9-4 lead. 

The Navigators weren’t done yet, as in the top of the fifth, Jaydon Aukai Kea (Vanderbilt) hit an RBI single to cut away at the lead and make the score 9-5. Ethan Wilson (Winthrop) later came around to score on a wild pitch, but that wouldn’t be enough as the Nighthawks took the win at 9-6. Mason Phillips (West Georgia) shined on the mound for Upper Valley, collecting nine of the team’s thirteen strikeouts and playing a huge role in the win. 

Upper Valley Nighthawks vs. North Shore Navigators (Game Two)

Final Score /7: North Shore 5, Upper Valley 4

Lynn, MA- Game two of the doubleheader got underway in Lynn at 6:05pm, with the Navigators looking to avoid the sweep. A motivated Navs team got going right away in the bottom of the first when Ethan Wilson (Winthrop) drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Sam Parks (Stonehill) to get on the board first at 1-0. In the bottom of the third, Ethan Wilson (Winthrop) struck again when he hit an RBI single to increase the lead to 2-0. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Sam Parks (Stonehill) would double the Navigator lead by driving in two on a single to make the score four-zip, much to the pleasure of the home crowd.

In the top of the sixth, Michael Trommer (Bucknell) would get Upper Valley on the board by driving in two on a single to make the score 4-2, North Shore still leading. In the bottom of the inning, Aidan Sengenberger (Seton Hall) scored on a wild pitch, adding an insurance run for North Shore and increasing the score to 5-2. 

The Nighthawks threatened to tie in the top of the seventh, when Anthony Brotz (Marist) hit an RBI single to chip away at the lead and make the score 5-3. Cole Fellows (Columbia) followed up with a clutch RBI triple to put the tying run on third for Upper Valley while down by one. Ryan Griffin (Northeastern) would clutch up for the Navs, striking out Nick Shuhet (Rider) for the save and a 5-4 North Shore win.

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.