KEMP ENTERS RECORD BOOKS; MAINERS DOWN LOWELL 3-2

LOWELL, Mass. – Brian Kemp went 3-for-5 with three singles and a run scored as the Sanford Mainers defeated the Lowell All-Americans 3-2 in NECBL play at Stoklosa Alumni Field on Saturday evening. Kemp’s third hit, a one-out single to centerfield in the top of the seventh inning, was his 55th of the season, which set a new Mainers record for most hits in a single season. Kemp passed Ryan Crew, who had 54 hits for Sanford in 2004. Tyler Stovall and Michael Gedman each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Noah Lankford had an RBI-single and scored a run for the Mainers (13-21) in the victory. Kevin Nolan and Bobby Brown each drove in a run in the game for Lowell (13-18).

The Mainers started the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Brian Kemp (St. John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.) led off with an infield single to shortstop and moved to third base on a single by Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario) which put runners at first and third with no outs. Tyler Stovall (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio) followed by driving in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield which scored Kemp.

Sanford extended the lead to 3-0 with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jeff Grantham (St. John’s/Randolf, N.J.) led off the inning with a walk and moved to second base on a hit-and-run groundout to shortstop by Max Most (Marist/Port Washington, N.Y.). Grantham would score to make it 2-0 on a single up the middle for Noah Lankford (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio), who drove in his 10th run of the season. Scott Guillerault (Wheaton/South Portland, Maine) followed with a single to right field to move Lankford to third base. Lankford would then come in to score on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Michael Gedman (Le Moyne/Framingham, Mass.).

Lowell cut the deficit to 3-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Heath Wall reached on a throwing error by Guillerault at third base and then moved to third base on a double down the left-field line by James Chevalier. Kevin Nolan followed with a single through the left side of the infield to drive home Wall to get Lowell on the scoreboard.

The All-Americans further trimmed the Sanford lead with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Destan Makonnen led off with a double off the base of the wall in centerfield and moved to third on a wild pitch by Sanford reliever Brett Carnline (Wharton County JC/Conroe, Texas). He then scored on a groundout

to first base by pinch-hitter Bobby Brown. Carnline then got Wall to ground out and struck out Chevalier to end the ballgame.

Eric Katzman (Michigan/Harrington Park, N.J.) started on the mound and earned the win (2-1) for Sanford. In six innings on the rubber, he gave up just one unearned run on six hits, walked two, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out three. Carnline allowed one run on one hit and struck out five over the final three innings of the game to pick up his first save of the season.

Nick Cenatiempo started on the hill and took the loss (1-3) for Lowell. In six innings of work, he gave up three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three.

The Mainers return to action on Monday, July 23 when they visit the Keene Swamp Bats. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Field in Keene, N.H. Matt Janik and Bob Lund 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.