KEMP STEALS VICTORY FOR MAINERS

SANFORD – Brian Kemp had only one hit on the evening but still managed to be the major offensive catalyst for the Sanford Mainers in their 8-6 victory over the Manchester Silkworms in NECBL play at Goodall Park on Wednesday night. Kemp scored three runs, drove in another and recorded three stolen bases on the evening to push his league-leading total to 21. Cody Allen and Bubba Ruddy each drove in two runs in Sanford’s (11-16) third consecutive victory. Ryan Lavarnway, Jeff Vigurs and Anthony Russell all had two runs batted in for Manchester (11-16) in the defeat.

The Mainers opened the scoring with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cody Allen (Central Michigan/Coleman, Mich.) reached first base when he was hit by a pitch by Silkworms starter Baldwin Vargas. Allen came all the way around to score when Max Most (Marist/Port Washington, N.Y.) ended up at third base on a throwing error by Manchester third baseman Stephen Crawford. Most scored to make it 2-0 on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Bubba Ruddy (Cypress CC/Orange, Calif.).

The Silkworms answered with two runs of their own in the top of the second inning. Ryan Lavarnway and Crawford led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Kyle Higgins followed by grounding into a double play which would move Lavarnway to third but ultimately limited the damage in the inning. Jeff Vigurs hit a double into the gap in right-center field to score Lavarnway. Then, Anthony Russell singled back up the middle to bring home Vigurs and tie the game 2-2.

Sanford would immediately strike back and take the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Scott Guillerault (Wheaton/South Portland, Maine) led off and was hit by a pitch. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tim Kalczynski (Michigan/Farmington Hill, Mich.), Guillerault came in to give the Mainers a 3-2 lead on a sharp single through the right side by Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario). Helps stole second base and then scored on a single through the right side by Brian Kemp (St. John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.). Kemp then stole his first of three bases on the night and scored from second on Allen’s single up the middle to make it 5-2.

Manchester inched closer with a run in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Higgins singled off the glove of Guillerault at third base and then stole second. Two batters later, Russell singled up the middle to drive in his second run of the game, scoring Higgins from second base to cut the Sanford lead to 5-3.

The Mainers answered right back with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Kemp reached on a fielding error by Higgins at shortstop. Kemp then stole second and scored two batters later when Most looped a single into right-center field to extend the Sanford lead to 6-3.

Once again, the Silkworms inched closer with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Lavarnway led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single to right-center field by Crawford. Higgins followed and bounced into his second double play of the evening while Lavarnway moved to third. Vigurs would pick up his second RBI of the evening on a double down the left-field line to plate Lavarnway and cut the lead to 6-4.

Once more, the Mainers would re-extend the lead to 7-4 by answering immediately with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kemp was once again the driving force in the scoring, as he worked a two-out walk and then stole second base for the third time on the evening. Kemp would come in to score when Allen hit a triple down the right-field line to pick up his second RBI of the night.

Manchester made things interesting again with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Casey Frawley was hit by a pitch from Sanford reliever Richie Armento (St. John’s/Bayside, N.Y.). Frawley would move to third base when T.J. Baxter reached second base on a throwing error by the second baseman Helps. Both runners would score to cut the Mainers lead to 7-6 on a single through the left side by Lavarnway.

Sanford would put the final touches on their victory with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Most led off with a single to left field and moved to third base when Silkworm reliever Jacob Wiley threw away a pickoff attempt. Most then scored when Ruddy doubled over the head of left fielder Brian Kelaher. The double gave Ruddy his second RBI of the night and his team-leading 17th of the season.

Drew Murray (Georgia Southern/LaGrange, Ga.) started on the mound and earned the victory (2-2) for Sanford. In five innings of work, he gave up three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out six. Phil Negus (Wake Forest/Milford, Mass.) pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings to pick up his second save of the season.

Vargas started and took the loss (1-4) on the rubber for Manchester. Over five innings, he gave up six runs (three earned) on five hits, walked two, hit two batters and struck out five.

The Mainers return to action on Thursday, July 12 when they visit the Pittsfield Dukes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Mass. Matt Janik and Dan Sturtevant 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.