Postgame Journal: Navs come-from-behind to win 2010 NECBL crown

LYNN, Massachusetts (Tuesday, August 10, 2010) – Catcher Garret Smith (Boston College) delivered a two-out, two-run title-clinching double to lift the North Shore Navigators to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Danbury Westerners in the third game of the NECBL Championship Series.

The win gives the Navs their first NECBL championship in franchise history, despite starting the season winless through six games.

Danbury actually took a lead over the first two innings thanks to a solo home run to right field by the second batter of the game in right fielder Brandon Boudreaux (Tulane). In the second, a sacrifice fly to center field by shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez (Maryland) made it 2-0.

North Shore tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the third on singles to the outfield by second baseman Matt Hamlet (Boston College) and center fielder Braxton Graven (Bellarmine). Both were hit with two outs with Hamlet’s going to straight-away center and Graven’s to left-center field.

The Navs took the lead again in the fifth inning when third baseman Jack Mayfield (Oklahoma) drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs, scoring shortstop Cody Dent (Florida) for the go-ahead score.

In the seventh, the Westerners made things interesting with a pair of runs to tie the game at 4-4. The second batter of the inning, left fielder Brett Knief (North Carolina) delivered an RBI double to left-center field bringing Danbury within one. Two batters later, Boudreaux singled to left field bringing home Knief as the tying run.

Smith came through in the clutch with a his two-out, two-run double that was lined into deep right field, scoring third baseman Anthony Melchionda (Boston College) and Mayfield for the title-winning runs.

Nolan Corr (Wheaton) was the Navigators’ starter, allowing nine hits and four runs over six innings, which did not credit him for a win. It marked the first instance that a North Shore starter did not earn the win during the playoff run. Daniel Duval (RPI) earned the win as he allowed two baserunners in the seventh inning, but escaped the jam.

Bryant Gauthier (Southern New Hampshire) came in for the eighth, allowing just one hit. Closer Hunter Rivers (Jacksonville State) retired the final three batters for Danbury in succession, ending with a line shot right to left fielder Jason Banos (Columbia) for the final out.

Westerner starter Michael Anarumo (LeMoyne) lasted just three innings, allowing four hits and two runs for a no-decision. Matt Alvarez (Boston College) allowed a hit and two runs in 1.1 innings to take the loss.

Following the final out, the celebration began with fans jumping out onto the field to congratulate the team and ending with a dinner that was enjoyed by all of the players and fans in attendance.

The teams ended the season separated by one game, with the Navs finishing at 31-20 overall.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Danbury at North Shore, NECBL Championship Game 3

Tonight the North Shore Navigators face the Danbury Westerners in the deciding game three of the best-of-three NECBL Championship Series on Tuesday evening at Fraser Field. The Westerners won both regular season meetings on July 1 and 26, but this series is tied at 1-1.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, while the Westerners finished one game worse at 24-18. Both teams are 5-3 currently on the postseason.

Nolan Corr (0-1/Wheaton) will be the starter for the Navs, while Mike Anarumo (0-1/LeMoyne) makes the start for Danbury. Corr was the losing pitcher of the Navs’ 5-4 loss to Newport on Thursday night, allowing five hits and three earned runs in five innings. Anarumo threw three innings and allowed three runs and three hits over a pair of appearances against the Navs this season. He suffered the loss in the opening game of the Western Division Championship against North Adams.

Get a quick lodown of everything you need to know for the game with this quick audio podcast.

Westerners even NECBL Championship Series with win at home

Michael Williams (Kentucky) went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs as the Danbury Westerners used a five run third inning to defeat the North Shore Navigators 9-3 on Monday night in the middle game of the NECBL Championship Series.

Sean Hagan (St. John’s) threw six strong innings giving up three runs, striking out six and walking four and allowing three hits to pick up the victory.  Matt Alvarez (Boston College) and Ian Gardeck (Dayton) pitched the final three innings.  Alvarez struck out two batters in two innings of work while Gardeck struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning. Daniel Patrick (Pepperdine) lasted just three innings as he took the loss for the Navigators. Patrick gave up six of the nine Westerner runs and all six were earned.

The Navs and Westerners face-off in a winner-take-all game three on Tuesday in Lynn. Mike Anarumo (LeMoyne) will face Nolan Corr (Wheaton).

Postgame Journal: Mowing ‘em down; Kyle leads Navs to win in Finals opener

Kevin Kyle (left) struck out 12 Westerners in a 2-0 win on Sunday.

LYNN, Massachusetts (Sunday, August 8, 2010) – Starter Kevin Kyle (Clemson) struck out 12 over seven-plus innings as the North Shore Navigators were 2-0 winners over the Danbury Westerners in the opening game of the NECBL Championship Series on Sunday night at Fraser Field.

The Navs improved to 5-2 this postseason and are now one win away from their first-ever league title, while the Westerners fell to 4-3.

The only scoring in the game came in the bottom of the first inning as the Navs got the only two runs they needed. The second batter of the game in second baseman Matt Hamlet (Boston College) doubled to deep right-center field, scoring left fielder Jason Banos (Columbia) for a 1-0 lead. With one out, third baseman Anthony Melchionda (Boston College) plated his Eagle teammate Hamlet on a single to right field.

Westerner starter Kevin Kilpatrick (St. John’s) was able to shake off the rough start keeping his team in the game, but six hits did not do the trick compared to North Shore’s eight.

Kyle walked surrendered just four hits and two walks en route to evening his record to 1-1. Hunter Rivers (Jacksonville State) came in for the ninth and allowed just one walk, earning his third consecutive save.

Kilpatrick fell to 1-1, despite throwing a complete-game eight innings and allowing eight hits and two earned runs, while walking one and fanning two.

The Navigators will look to sweep the series from Danbury two games straight on Monday night at Rogers Park. Daniel Patrick (Pepperdine) goes for North Shore, opposite Sean Hagan (St. John’s). Patrick earned the win in the deciding third game of the East Division Semifinals against Sanford on Wednesday, pitching a solid 6.1 innings, allowing six hits and four runs.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Danbury at North Shore, NECBL Championship Game 1

Tonight the North Shore Navigators and Danbury Westerners open the best-of-three NECBL Championship Series on Sunday evening at Fraser Field. The Westerners won both regular season meetings on July 1 and 26.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, while the Westerners finished one game worse at 24-18. Both teams are 4-2 on the postseason.

Kevin Kyle (0-1/Clemson) will be the starter for the Navs, while Kevin Kilpatrick (1-0/St. John’s) makes the start for Danbury. Kyle was the losing pitcher of the Navs’ 5-1 loss to Sanford on Tuesday night, allowing five hits and four runs in six innings. Kilpatrick allowed just two hits over six innings in a 4-3 win at Fraser Field on July 1. He earned the win in a 5-3 win over Bristol on Tuesday, allowing three unearned runs and three hits over 7.1 innings.

Get a quick lodown of everything you need to know for the game with this quick audio podcast.

Postgame Journal: Too little, too late for Navs against Danbury

Danbury has won three of the last four games.

LYNN, Massachusetts (Thursday, July 1, 2010) – The North Shore Navigators rallied in the late innings, but could not muster enough runs while down in the ninth as they fell to the visiting Danbury Westerners, 4-3, at Fraser Field on Thursday night. A travel delay, which pushed back the start of the game for 30 minutes, did not slow Danbury to their third win in four games. Despite the loss, the Navs have still won 12 of the last 15 games.

North Shore’s Michael Johnson (Dartmouth) and Danbury’s Kevin Kilpatrick were locked in a pitcher’s duel until the Westerners broke out for three runs in the sixth inning. Left fielder Tucker Nathans (Binghamton) drove in the first run on a single to the outfield with none out. First baseman Anthony Hajjar (Fairfield)’s sacrifice fly to center field made it 2-0, while Brett Knief (North Carolina) hit a single to right field with two outs, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.

North Shore clawed their way back into the contest with a pair of runs in the eighth inning on RBI singles by Garrett Smith (Boston College) and Ben Waldrip (Cypress). Waldrip, a potential tying runner, was picked off when he made a wide turn around first base and the relay from right fielder Knief beat him back to first base.

The Navs got one more in the ninth off of Ian Gardeck (Dayton) on an RBI groundout by second baseman Tyler Kuehl (Point Loma Nazarene), but two runners were stranded on base ad Smith grounded out to third base to end the threat and the game.

Kilpatrick picked up his first win of the summer for the Westerners as he allowed just two hits over six innings, while Gardeck allowed the final run of the game, but notched his third save of the year.

Johnson fell to 1-2 with the loss as he allowed seven hits and three earned runs over 5.2 innings. Jeff Tardiff (LeMoyne) and Mark Williams (Marietta) came on for 3.1 innings of relief and allowed just one unearned run combined.

The 12-9 Navigators welcome the New Bedford Bay Sox to Fraser Field on Friday night, while the 11-8 Westerners visit Vermont.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Danbury at North Shore

  

Tonight we travel down to Fraser Field where the North Shore Navigators take on the Danbury Westerners in the opening game of a two-day homestand.

Michael Johnson (1-1/Dartmouth) will be the starter for the Navs, while the Westerners starter is TBD. The Navs come into the game just a half-game behind first-place Sanford at 12-8 in the East Division, while the Westerners are 10-8 and right in the thick of things in the West Division.

Get a quick lodown of everything you need to know for the game with this quick audio podcast.