Hot bats carry Mountaineers
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Mountaineers left-hander Joe Spano hurls a pitch toward home plate in the top of the second inning of Sunday’s game against Holyoke. Kyle Martel/Times Argus Staff |
Toolbox
By KRIS MARTIN Correspondent - Published: July 13, 2009
MONTPELIER — Holyoke starter Kyle Sumple was dealing early on, but the Vermont Mountaineers got to him in the middle innings, scoring three runs in the fourth and four more in the seventh to down the Blue Sox 8-2 in New England Collegiate baseball action Sunday.
"We've got a few guys that are pretty hot right now," Mountaineer manager Troy Moock said. "They say hitting is contagious, and it's like monkey see, monkey do. A couple of guys square balls up and the rest of the group starts to believe that they can. It's like a pack of firecrackers."
Sumple had been cruising right along through the game's early innings, striking out five batters in a row at one point, but in the fourth the Mountaineer offense started to catch up. Singles for Jantzen Witte, Esteban Rosado and Tadd Bower set the table for Kevin Nieto, who singled with the bases loaded to score Witte for the game's first run. Kevin Vance followed, ripping a two-run single to right centerfield that pushed the score to 3-0. For a team hoping to make noise in the playoffs, hot bats with runners on base will be key.
"Our bats got hot this past week," Vance said. "We had to swing the bats tonight; Holyoke can do some swinging of their own. It felt good to make solid contat and get the RBI's for the team."
In the bottom of the fifth the Mountaineers tacked on some insurance. A single from Clay Jones was followed by Esteban Rosado's single. Rosado's hit was misplayed into a two-base error allowing Jones to score, making it 4-0.
The Blue Sox got their offense going in the top of the sixth. Alex Hilliard reached on a fielder's choice and first baseman Murray Watts crushed a double. Stephen Arcure then walked to load the bases. Rob Lawler then singled home the Holyoke's first run, and one batter later Steve Rodriguez remained patient, drawing another walk to score the second Blue Sox run to make it 4-2.
Mountaineers starter Joe Spano — while not spectacular — was solid, pitching his way through five and two-thirds innings. Spano struck out five batters and had to labor through five walks. Manager Troy Moock has normally saved Spano for the back end of games, but with the prevalence of lefty bats in the Holyoke lineup, Spano, a lefty, kept his team in the game.
"It was good to finally get a start in and I'm glad that coach gave me the opportunity," Spano said. "It's a little tough going longer, keeping your stamina up. I didn't feel like I tired out too much up until the end there. You can tell that the hitters have gotten better throughout the season, but I like to think the pitchers have adjusted and gotten better too."
In the bottom of the sixth the Mountaineers knocked Sumple from the game and then loaded the bases when Nick Martinez reached on a catcher's interference call. With Ethan Paquette already crossing the plate thanks to a throwing error earlier in the inning, Henry Dunn then slapped a two run single to provide some more breathing room. A wild pitch one batter later allowed Martinez to scamper home making it 8-2.
"It makes the game a lot easier when you know your guys are going to score runs," Moock said. "It's just a matter of time before we bust something open. Joe pitched well. He got a little bit sporadic at the end but you have to throw a lefty at all the lefties that Holyoke has in their lineup. I feel good about the guys we have and their ability to put zeros up and keep us within a couple runs."
Reliever Justin Jackson was strong out of the bullpen for the Mountaineers, striking out the side in the top of the seventh before giving way to Cole Shain who finished the eighth and ninth.
The Mountaineers (17-10) will face Sanford Tuesday at Recreation Field at 6:30 P.M.
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