By: Brendan Bowlin

North Adams, Mass. – The Nighthawks, in their final true doubleheader of the season, split with the third-place SteepleCats, dropping game one 4-0. Knowing that playoff implications were on the line, the team battled for an early lead along with strong pitching to keep the ‘Cats at bay, winning game two 7-3. For the final time at Joe Wolfe Field this season, it was the start of the grind to make the playoffs. 

Game One:

The SteepleCats struck first in the top of the first inning as they were the away side in game one of the doubleheader. Tadan Bell got the start on the bump for the Nighthawks. He quickly got SteepleCats All-Star Cuyler Baxter to fly out, but JT Thompson would follow up with a single to get on the basepaths. Another All-Star in Nelphie Lopez, steps in with one out. Thompson would get to second on the third pitch of the at-bat. Nelphie Lopez on the next pitch ropes in a single to score JT Thompson and the SteepleCats’ first run of the game. Although Bobby Stang was also able to get on, and Nelphie Lopez would swipe third on a flyout, Tadan Bell was able to get out of the inning. 

North Adams added one more at the top of the fourth with a Nick Guachione leadoff double. Tadan Bell, still on the bump for the Nighthawks, forced two flyouts from Corey Robinson and Qwynn Ahearn, who pinch hit for Nolan DeAndrade in the 7 spot of the lineup. Owen Arias would trade places with Guachione with an RBI Double to add another run to the lead of the SteepleCats. Bell once again limited the damage to just one, as the SteepleCats led it 2-0.

The top of the sixth saw the first inning of work for All-Star reliever Mateo Wells enter. Bobby Stang gave Mateo a friendly hello as he crushed a 321-foot home run over the right field wall to extend the SteepleCats' lead to three. After that, it was a 1-2-3 inning for Mateo to again limit the damage to just one on the SteepleCats. 

The last inning; a crucial one for the Nighthawks, but they would have to wait to respond to the SteepleCats’ last three outs to determine the damage control. Mateo Wells still looked to hold the opposition to just three, but the ‘Cats weren’t going to go down quietly. Although Mateo started strong with a strikeout, Gabriel Natividad would reach on a single. Cuyler Baxter roped a single as well, and the speed of Natividad got himself to third. JT Thompson was able to hit a deep fly to bring in run number four. Mateo again got the Nighthawks out of more potential damage, but they would be down to their last three outs.

The last opportunity saw Anthony Greco lead things off for the Nighthawks. North Adams, meanwhile, brought in Tommy Sullivan to close things down. Greco would take the first Sullivan offering before pummeling the next pitch into the outfield for a single. Boardman was plunked, and Luca Reyes battled for a walk to bring Joe Terranova to the plate with nobody out. Unfortunately, it was two infield flyouts from Terranova and Brotz, then a flyout to centerfield from Cole Fellows to earn the SteepleCats the game one shutout victory 4-0. 

Tristan Helmick (2-2) earned the win for the SteepleCats with six shutout innings, he allowed six hits and just one walk while fanning 6 batters. 

Tadan Bell (0-1) was given the loss in his first start. Through his four innings of work, he allowed five hits, two earned runs, and one walk while striking out three. 

Tommy Sullivan got the save in his inning of relief. He allowed just one hit and one walk. 

Game Two:

The Nighthawks found their way to score runs in the top of the first inning, AJ Brotz and Cole Fellows lead things off with back-to-back singles, AJ Brotz managed to score off of the Fellows single. Fellows would score on a wild pitch from SteepleCats starter Johnny Rugiero Jr. Nick Shuhet would make it to first on a dropped third strike and would get to third thanks to a Jake Elbeery double. Preisano drove in Nick Shuhet with an RBI single after a Trommer flyout. Anthony Greco would ground into a double play to end the top half of the first.

Cuyler Baxter would also lead things off for the SteepleCats and reach on a walk. JT Thompson would follow things up with a walk. Gabriel Natividad reached on a fielder's choice to retire Cuyler Baxter, but the bases would be cleared thanks to a 3-run homerun from Sean Stephenson to tie the game at 3 all. Although Palinski reached on an error and stole second, Nick Tamburro and the Nighthawks would escape the frame just giving up 3 runs. 

The new talents in Luca Reyes and Matt Dieguez start things off with back-to-back singles for the 2nd straight inning. AJ Brotz would walk to load the bases. Cole Fellows would hit a sacrifice fly to score Luca Reyes. Although Shuhet would walk to load the bases, Jake Elbeery grounded into a double play to end the inning. 

The top of the fifth added more cushion to the lead of the Nighthawks. Although Elbeery flew out to start the inning, Trommer got things going with a single. Preisano would reach on a fielder's choice, keeping the Nighthawks at first. So with two outs and runners on first for Anthony Greco, he would walk and Preisano reached second earlier with a passed ball. Luca Reyes walked to load the bases once again for the Nighthawks. Newcomer Matthew Dieguez continues his hot streak in his first ever game as a Nighthawk, a two-run RBI single to score Preisano and Greco, and force a pitching change for the SteepleCats as they turned to Brenden Morris. Brotz cracked a ball into left field and thanks to an error by SteepleCats’ left fielder Max Palinski, Luca Reyes scored the third run of the inning for the Nighthawks. A Cole Fellows flyout ended the top of the fifth, but the Nighthawks rallied their way to a steady 7-3 win.

The Nighthawks tandem of Nick Tamburro and Tyler Hemmesch would only allow 2 hits across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to secure the doubleheader split against North Adams. 

Nick Tamburro (1-1) earned the win for the Nighthawks. Through five innings he allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), two walks, and garnered three strikeouts. 

 Johnny Ruggiero Jr. (2-1) was given the loss for the SteepleCats. He gave up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with 5 walks and only struck out three. 

The Nighthawks inch ever so closely to third place as they now sit 16-20 on the season. North Adams falls to a 17-19 record, just one game ahead. 

The Nighthawks will have the day off before heading to Keene, New Hampshire, on Thursday to take on the first-place Keene Swamp Bats. First pitch is at 6:35 PM with Brandon Adams expected to start on the bump for the Nighthawks.

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