Bristol Blues vs. Danbury Westerners

Final Score: Danbury 14, Bristol 6

Danbury, CT – Despite just five hits on the night, the Danbury Westerners poured 14 runs on the Bristol Blues to win by eight and move into a playoff spot. 

Both teams opened up with a pair of runs in the first, as two errors from Danbury and one from Bristol highlighted a messy inning. Bristol recorded the only hit in the frame, a single from Mikael Petersen (Brown).

Sloppy play continued plaguing the Blues in the third, as a walk, a hit by pitch, and two more errors helped Danbury put up a four-spot. A Gavin Donahue (Sacred Heart) double and an Aidan Cohall (Florida International) single had the two hits in the inning for the Westerners, giving them a 6-2 lead.

From there, Danbury did not relinquish the lead. Even when a persistent three-run Blues fifth inning tested the Westerners, they stayed strong and responded with five runs of themselves in the sixth. This big inning, as well as a two-run 8th, was done on just two combined hits. Over these two frames, there were four walks, four wild pitches, two hit by pitches, and a dropped third strike to help the Westerners. Though Donahue did add to his big day with a two-run home run.

With the win, the Westerners have gone from last place in the South Division to currently holding a playoff spot in less than a week. Holding a four-game win streak, Danbury is back in the mix with a 17-19 record, while Bristol has lost two in a row but still sits in first at 25-14. 

The Blues look to bounce back against the Mystic Schooners on Friday at 4:30 pm, and while it may be tough to catch third-place Martha’s Vineyard, the Westerners seek to stay hot this Saturday at 6:30 pm against the Ocean State Waves.

Box Score

Upper Valley Nighthawks vs Keene SwampBats

Final Score: Keene 11, Upper Valley 2

Keene, NH — The Keene SwampBats dominated the Upper Valley Nighthawks 11-2 in a one-sided affair that saw Keene score seven runs in the fourth inning. James Lodi (Central Florida) got the start for the SwampBats, and the Nighthawks countered with Jack Ruditzky (Rider). 

Jack Herring (East Carolina) started the scoring off for Keene with an RBI single in the first inning. 

The Nighthawks took the lead in the second inning. Santiago Ordonez (North Florida) trotted up to the plate. A baserunner took a short lead, as Ordonez called his shot and sent the ball soaring over the outfield wall for a two-run shot. 

Keene quickly tied the game up in the bottom of the second, responding to Upper Valley’s home run, with a Ryan Jaros (Rutgers) solo-shot. Michael O’Brien (Arkansas Little Rock) added to the highlights match with another home run, this time a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, bringing the lead to 4-2.

The SwampBats woke up the rest of their offense heading into the fourth inning. Ty Mainolfi (Dayton) singled to get the huge inning run, driving in one run. Connor Peek (Georgetown) scored on an error, and Herring added one more with a single. Keene then scored on a walk, an error, and a sacrifice fly to finish off the seven-run inning. 

The huge inning by Keene sealed the win before the game started, as the defense of Keene was able to hold the Nighthawks scoreless after the second inning. 

John Malone (Samford) got the win for the Swmapbats, coming in relief for Lordi. Ruditzky was handed a loss.

The SwampBats are back in action Friday as they host the North Adams SteepleCats. The Nighthawks return to the baseball diamond as they get set for a double header against the North Shore Navigators.

Box Score

North Adams SteepleCats vs Ocean State Waves

Final Score: North Adams 4, Ocean State 2

South Kingstown, RI — The North Adams SteepleCats braved the Ocean State Waves, defeating them 4-2 in a low-scoring defensive performance from both teams as they totaled just 10 combined hits. 

The SteepleCats were able to jump out to an early lead as Sean Stephenson (Iona) was able to score as Ocean State was distracted by a groundout. JT Thompson (Rutgers) added two more runs in the top of the fourth with a double, bringing the lead to 3-0. 

Damian Rodriguez (Iona) added the final run for the SteepleCats in the sixth inning with a ball that found a pocket in the Waves' defense that went for a triple, driving in one run in the process. 

The Waves were able to claw their way back into the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Gavin Greger (Bryant) sent a ball over the wall for a solo home run. In the eighth inning, the Waves looked to build off the moment from the home run as Justin Hackett (Bryant) stole home, bringing the game within two runs. However, the SteepelCats were able to trap the Waves, holding them scoreless for the rest of the eighth and the ninth innings, securing the win. 

Jake Foster (Rhode Island College) got the win while Brenden Morris (Colorado Mesa) was giving the save for North Adams. Rhys Bowie (Wake Forest) was given the loss for the Waves.

The SteepleCats return Friday as they head to Keene to face the one-seed SwampBats. The Ocean State Waves head to Valley to face the Blue Sox for a header this Friday night. 

Box Score

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.