Jason Banos (Columbia) became the sixth Navigator to homer this season. (Gene Boyars/Columbia University Athletics)
LYNN, Massachusetts (Wednesday, July 7, 2010) – Web gem caliber defense and timely hitting was the story on Wednesday night at Fraser Field as the North Shore Navigators romped past the Lowell All-Americans, 9-3. The Navs have won two games in a row and eight of their last 11 to improve to 16-10, while the All-Americans have lost a whopping ten in a row to fall to 5-18.
With the top two teams in the Eastern Division winning, the race remains status quo with North Shore ahead of Sanford by a game in the standings.
Michael Johnson (Dartmouth) and David Laufer (Boston College) were locked into a tight pitcher’s duel through three innings until Johnson ran into his first bump in the Lowell fourth.
After recording a double play for the first two outs, Matt Collins (Tufts) hit an RBI double to left field to score Tim Quinn (Franklin Pierce). However, Johnson got out of the inning without any further damage as he was gunned down at third base to end the threat.
The Navigators got on the scoreboard with a three-run fourth inning against Laufer. Jason Banos (Columbia) led off the inning with a solo home run to right field (1), depositing a 3-2 pitch over the wall just inside the foul pole. With two outs, his Lions teammate Dario Pizzano (Columbia) drove in a run on a single through the middle, while Pizzano scored on an infield single by the next batter, Jared Pritchard (Oklahoma).
Both starters exited the game after five complete innings. Johnson had no credit in the decision, despite allowing just five hits and a run, while walking one. Laufer pitched slightly worse, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, while walking one.
The teams traded scoring again in the sixth inning as Lowell added two and North Shore three. Collins was the offensive threat again as he drove in two on a single to right. For the Navs, Braxton Graven (Bellarmine) worked a full count and earned a bases loaded walk for the fourth North Shore run, while Cody Dent’s (Florida) single through the right side plated Graven and Ben Waldrip (Cypress).
North Shore got the insurance they needed with three runs with a man retired in the eighth to put the game out of reach. Dent singled to left and advanced to second on a relay throw in from the outfield to score the first run of the frame in Pizzano. Two more runs came in when Tyler Kuehl (Point Loma Nazarene) singled into left field, scoring Dent. A fielding error by Lowell catcher Higgins allowed Pritchard to score the ninth and final Navs run.
Johnson’s beautiful performance was not rewarded with a win, while Laufer fell to 1-2 in defeat. The winning pitcher was Mark Williams, who improved to 2-1, despite also blowing the save. He allowed two hits, two runs, and two walks.
The Navigators return to action on Saturday when they welcome archrival Sanford to Fraser Field. It will be the third game of our “Super Saturday” tripleheader, which also includes the Futures at Fenway doubleheader.
Last night, The College Baseball Blog reported that the Lowell All-Americans were officially approved to move to Old Orchard Beach, Maine at the NECBL monthly meeting. According to the report, the move is still pending an official inspection of the Ballpark at Old Orchard Beach, but it is a formality as it will be up to the standards of the NECBL.
