FIELDING MISCUES, DEAD BATS COST MAINERS; SANFORD FALLS 6-0 AT NORTH ADAMS

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Sanford made five errors in the field and collected only two hits at the plate as they fell 6-0 to the North Adams SteepleCats in NECBL action at Joe Wolfe Field on Thursday night. Dan Williams had the biggest blow on the night for North Adams (7-7), delivering a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning which put the Mainers (6-11) up against a three-run deficit which they would never recover.

North Adams struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning on a one-out solo home run to left-center field, his first of the season and the first on the campaign for the SteepleCats as well.

The SteepleCats would score three more times in the bottom of the fourth inning when the wheels began to fall off for the Mainers. Michael Moras reached when Cody Allen (Central Michigan/Coleman, Mich.) mishandled a fly ball hit to him in left field. Moras would score when Dan Williams immediately followed with a two-run home run to left field, his first of the season to extend the North Adams lead to 3-0. Two batters later, Tom DiBenadetto would reach on a fielding error by Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario) at second base. DiBenadetto would come all the way around to score from first on a hit-and-run double to right field by Danny Menendez.

North Adams would continue to build their lead with another unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sean Conley led off the inning and reached on Helps’ second error of the night at second base. After a sacrifice bunt by Max Pinto moved Conley to second, Moras followed with an RBI double to the gap in right-center field to make it a 5-0 North Adams lead.

The SteepleCats would once again strike for a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning. DiBenadetto led off with an infield single behind the bag at second base and then moved to second when Menendez reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jeff Grantham (St. John’s/Randolph, N.J.). That chased Mainers starter Taylor Cragin (Texas Christian/Friendswood, Texas) from the game and brought Nick Carlucci (Southern Connecticut State/Franklin, Mass.) in from the bullpen to make his first appearance on the mound for Sanford. Two batters later, he gave up an RBI single through the left side to Kevin Mort which brought DiBenadetto in to score and extend the SteepleCat lead to 6-0.

Grantham was held hitless in the game for the first time on the season, snapping his 15-game hitting streak.

Cragin started and took the loss (1-1) on the mound for the Mainers. Over five-plus innings of work, he gave up six runs (three earned) on five hits, walked one and struck out six.

Duran Ferguson started and earned the victory (1-1) on the mound for North Adams. In six shutout innings, he gave up two hits, issued no walks and struck out nine. Tim Adleman pitched three perfect innings to close out the Mainers and earn his first save of the season.

The Mainers return to action on day, June 28 when they return home to host the Holyoke Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Goodall Park in Sanford. Matt Janik and Mike Lord will have all the action at http://www.sanfordmainers.com.

A complete box score of tonight’s game will be available via http://www.necbl.com.

Founded in 2002, the Sanford Mainers are a non-profit organization and the premier collegiate baseball team in the state of Maine, playing their home games at historic Goodall Park. A proud member of the NECBL, the Mainers annually aid in progressing the careers of the future stars of professional baseball, in addition to bringing top-notch collegiate baseball to the Sanford area. For more information visit http://www.sanfordmainers.com or call the Mainers front office at (207) 324-0010.