Mountaineers dominate 12-1
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JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR/TIMES ARGUS |
Toolbox
By KRISTOPHER MARTIN Correspondent - Published: July 11, 2009
MONTPELIER – So much for bad omens.
Manchester Silkworm's leadoff batter A.J. Rusbarsky took Mountaineer starter Brad Altback deep to lead off, but Vermont proved resilient charging back in the bottom of the inning and added another in the bottom of the second en route to a 12-1 win in New England Collegiate Baseball action on Friday.
West Burke native Ethan Paquette jacked a two-run shot in the third inning to break out of a season-long slump and give the Mountaineers a 4-1 lead.
As usual Henry Dunn did his damage on the bases but Dunn also got the bat working in the fourth. A -RBI double for Dunn in the inning followed by a sacrifice fly from Jantzen Witte pushed the lead to 6-1.
For a team that in the past has had trouble stringing together hits, the Mountaineers had no problem figuring out Silkworm starter Evan Stecko-Haley. To be fair to Stecko-Haley, the Silkworm defense did its part to help the Mountaineers with errors that helped add runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
"Everyone was hitting the ball and Brad pitched real well," Paquette said. "It was especially good after last night's game."
The Mountaineers lost a tough 1-0 game to Lowell Thursday night.
"I knew that after Brad gave up that homerun, that he was going to bear down," Paquette added. "He's like a bulldog out there on the mound."
As the season starts to wind down to the final two weeks, a win over the Silkworms, who are mired at the bottom of the NECBL Eastern Division, was a gift from the playoff doctor.
Paquette continued to tear the hide off the ball in the fifth inning, ripping a double to help the Mountaineers open a 12-1 lead.
"It was definitely different than last night," Vermont manager Troy Moock said. "The kids really came out and did a great job. We've been pushing, crossing our fingers and staying positive."
Behind the plate, the Mountaineer Kevin Vance did an admirable job behind in the absence of Jayson Hernandez.
"Kevin is a great athlete who just loves to play," Moock said of his new backstop. "We've had him out on the mound, playing third base, and now his bat is coming around, too. Ethan has been putting on some good at bats the past 14 days or so too. He's been having some good at bats and not giving them away."
On the mound Altback settled to pound the strike zone and pitch a solid game, going eight innings and striking out eight. At one point he retired 16 batters in a row through the middle innings. CJ Evans closed the game in the ninth getting the batters in order.
The Mountaineers (16-10) will host a make up of rain-delayed game on Sunday against the Holyoke Blue Sox.
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