Postgame Journal: Derailing the champs

NEWPORT, Rhode Island (Saturday, August 7, 2010) – The North Shore Navigators are headed to the NECBL Championship Series, thanks to a 5-2 win over the Newport Gulls on Saturday night at Cardines Field. Heading into Friday’s second game, the defending NECBL champion Gulls had won 11 straight games, but the Navigators broke that streak tonight to end their season.

The Navigators jumped out in the second inning with four runs on five hits against Gulls starter Geoff Brown (Washington), all with two outs. Brown was very successful against North Shore during the regular season as he threw a complete-game four-hitter at Fraser Field on July 31, but it was a whole different outcome this time around.

Third baseman Jack Mayfield (Oklahoma) doubled to center field and scored on an RBI single through the infield by designated hitter Garrett Smith (Boston College) two batters later. Shortstop Cody Dent (Florida) singled and then two runs came in on a double to right field by left fielder Jason Banos (Columbia). He came around on a perfectly placed single into left field by second baseman Matt Hamlet (Boston College) giving the Navs a 4-0 cushion that starter Crayton Bare (Baylor) had to work with.

The Gulls got one back in the third on an RBI single to right field by left fielder Brendan Kelliher (George Washington). The inning led off with shortstop David Bentrott (Washington) getting hit by a pitch and a single to left field by catcher Bryce Nugent (Marist).

In the top of the fourth, Banos connected for a towering home run over the 20-foot right field fence with two outs (1), giving the Navs a 5-1 lead.

Bentrott drove in Newport’s second and final run on a sacrifice fly to medium-depth right field for a sacrifice fly, driving in the final run of the game and eventually the Gulls’ season.

The Navs needed to play keep away and that they sure did. Bare earned his second win of the postseason, allowing six hits and a pair of earned runs over a solid six innings. Bryant Gauthier (Southern New Hampshire) and Dan Duval (RPI) held the lead for Hunter Rivers (Jacksonville State) to earn his second save of the playoffs.

Newport used five total pitchers against the Navs with starter Brown taking the final loss of their playoff run. Brown allowed five hits and four earned runs over just two innings, before going to the bullpen. The final four pitchers for the Gulls in John Farrell (William and Mary), Mark Appel (Washington), Mike Francisco (Villanova) and Seth Simmons (East Carolina) combined to allow just three hits and a run over the final eight innings.

This will be North Shore’s first trip to the NECBL Championship Series in their three-year franchise history. The opening game of the best-of-three clash against the Danbury Westerners will take place at Fraser Field on Sunday at 6:15.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: North Shore at Newport, East Division Finals Game 3

Tonight the North Shore Navigators travel down to Cardines Field for the decisive third game of the East Division Championship Series against the Newport Gulls. The current best-of-three series is tied at 1-1, while the Gulls won the regular season series, 4-2.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, good for second place in the Eastern Division, two games behind the top-seeded Gulls at 27-15.

Crayton Bare (1-0/Baylor) will be the starter for the Navs, while Geoff Brown (0-0/Washington) makes the start for the Gulls. Bare, who was 3-1 during the regular season, allowed just two hits in a five-inning no-decision against Newport on June 13. Brown, who was a perfect 3-0 during the season, threw a complete-game four-hitter at Fraser Field on July 31.

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

Postgame Journal: Johnson twirls gem to tie East finals

LYNN, Massachusetts (Friday, August 6, 2010) – Lefty Michael Johnson (Dartmouth) spun a gem on Friday night, leading the the North Shore Navigators to a 2-0 win in the second game of the best-of-three Eastern Division Championship Series at Fraser Field.

Offense was hard to come by as two Ivies, in Johnson and Eric Eadington (Harvard) threw outstanding outings. Eadington took the loss despite allowing three hits and one earned run while pitching 6.2 innings. Both teams managed just three hits, so defensive miscues dumped the Gulls.

The Navs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double to right-center field by third baseman Anthony Melchionda (Boston College).

In the third, shortstop Cody Dent (Florida) walked and scored on a passed ball that went right through the legs of Newport’s Chris Forsten (William and Mary) for the second score.

Both pitchers received their first decisions of the postseason, while Hunter Rivers (Jacksonville State) earned the save.

The division title will be decided in Newport on Saturday at 6:35, where the Navs dropped the opening game on Thursday.

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In the Western Division Championship Series, Danbury’s Alfredo Rodriguez (Maryland) hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to propel the Westerners to a 7-6 win over North Adams in game two at Rogers Park. The series will be decided in North Adams on Saturday.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Newport at North Shore, East Division Finals Game 2

Tonight the North Shore Navigators face the Newport Gulls in the second game of the Division championship series at Fraser Field. The Gulls lead the best-of-three series, 1-0, while the Gulls won the regular season series, 4-2.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, good for second place in the Eastern Division, two games behind the top-seeded Gulls at 27-15.

Michael Johnson (0-0/Dartmouth) will be the starter for the Navs, while Eric Eadington (0-0/Harvard) makes the start for the Gulls. Johnson, who was 1-3 during the regular season, allowed just a run and two hits over five innings against the Gulls in the regular season finale on July 31. Eadington, who was 1-0 during the season, threw two innings against the Navs on June 30.

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

Postgame Journal: Gulls go all in, take all out

Geoff Brown threw a complete game for the Gulls.

LYNN, Massachusetts (Saturday, July 31, 2010) – The Newport Gulls were already winners when they arrived at Fraser Field on Saturday afternoon. Heck, they clinched at least a share of the East Division regular season championship. A 4-1 win over the North Shore Navigators assured them the whole thing.

The Gulls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by catcher Chris Forsten (William and Mary). Forsten’s base hit to shallow center field plated designated hitter Dan Gamache (Auburn) who walked with two outs. Navs starter Michael Johnson (Dartmouth) picked Forsten off of first base to end the threat.

North Shore tied the game in the fifth inning when designated hitter Jack Mayfield (Oklahoma) singled to center field. Right fielder Dario Pizzano (Columbia) scored the run on a fielding error by Newport center fielder Kyle Johnson (Washington State).

Newport scored one in the seventh and two more in the eighth to close the game out. Pinch hitter Kevin Quaranto (Siena) led off the top of the seventh inning with a triple that rolled all the way to the wall in center field. After left fielder Brendan Kelliher walked, he was cut down on an RBI double play that Gamache hit into, giving Newport the advantage.

Gulls third baseman Kenny Diekroeger (Stanford) reached on a fielding error by shortstop Cody Dent (Florida), which scored the third Newport run in the form of shortstop David Bentrott (Washington). Right fielder Zach Elgie (Kansas) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Johnson.

Geoff Brown (Washington) earned the win for Newport as he pitched a complete game, four-hitter, allowing an unearned run and a walk.

Johnson threw an impressive five innings for the Navigators, surrendering two hits and an earned run, while walking two and fanning ten. James Ramsey (Trinity) fell to 0-1 with the loss as he allowed one hit, a run, and a walk over an inning.

The second-seeded Navigators will open the 2010 NECBL Playoffs on Monday night against the third-seeded Sanford Mainers at Fraser Field. Newport, the top seed, hosts fourth-seed Laconia at Cardines Field.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Newport at North Shore

 

Tonight we travel down to Fraser Field where the North Shore Navigators take on the Newport Gulls in the NECBL regular season finale. Newport topped Laconia this afternoon to win the East Division championship.

The Navs have a 25-16 record, while the Gulls have the top record in the NECBL at 26-15. With the Gulls’ win today, the Navs can not win the East Division title as Newport has a 3-2 series advantage against North Shore.

Michael Johnson (1-3/Dartmouth) will be the starter for the Navs, while Geoff Brown (2-0/Washington) makes the start for the Gulls. Brown is the reigning NECBL Pitcher of the Week as he threw a complete game against Keene on July 25.

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