FIVE-RUN SEVENTH LIFTS MAINERS; SANFORD WINS BARN-BURNER AT VERMONT, 9-6

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Tyler Stovall’s two-run single up the middle scored Tim Kalczynski and Jeff Helps was the big blow in a five-run seventh inning as the Sanford Mainers went on to defeat the Vermont Mountaineers 9-6 in NECBL action at Montpelier Recreation Field on Wednesday night. Five other Mainers each drove in a single run in the victory for Sanford (15-22). Mike Sheridan drove in three runs on a pair of doubles in the defeat for Vermont (21-15).

The Mainers got the scoring started with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. With one out, Scott Guillerault (Wheaton/South Portland, Maine) reached via a walk and moved to second base on an infield single to shortstop by Max Most (Marist/Port Washington, N.Y.). After a delayed double steal moved the runners to second and third, Guillerault came in to score the game’s first run on a passed ball charged to Vermont catcher Chad Durakis.

Sanford extended the lead to 4-1 with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jeff Grantham (St. John’s/Randolf, N.J.) led off with a single to right field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Guillerault. However, first baseman Mike Sheridan committed an error on the play by muffing the throw from Vermont starting pitcher Mike Gaggioli and allowing Guillerault to reach base and Grantham to move up to third base. Grantham scored to make it 2-0 Sanford on a sacrifice fly to left field by Most. After a walk to Tim Kalczynski (Michigan/Farmington Hills, Mich.), Guillerault scored from second on an RBI single back up the middle by Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario). Kalczynski would score two batters later when Noah Lankford (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio) singled to centerfield.

The Mountaineers sent nine men to the plate and scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Sanford lead to 4-3. Billy Cather led off with a first-pitch double to left-center field and scored when A.J. Pollock immediately followed with a double to the gap in right-center field. Curt Smith then picked up an infield single to shortstop on which Pollock was unable to advance. Matt Prokopowicz followed and laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third base with one out. Sheridan then doubled to the gap in right-center field to drive in both runners and chase Sanford starter Richie Armento (St. John’s/Bayside, N.Y.) from the ballgame. Despite issuing two walks to load the basses, Mainers reliever Kurt Heaton (Suffolk County CC/Selden, N.Y.) was able to get Shaun Hagey to ground out to second base to end the inning with the Mainers still holding a one-run lead.

Sanford would extend the lead to six runs at 9-3 with five runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Guillerault got things started with a double over the head of left fielder Matt Wulfers. After a groundout to shortstop by Most moved Guillerault to second base, Kalczynski singled through the left side to drive in his first run of the year as Guillerault scored to make it 5-3. After a walk to Helps, Kemp singled to right field to drive in Kalczynski from second base to extend the lead to 6-3 and move Helps to third Base. Kemp then stole second base, his league-leading 31st steal of the season; tying a Mainers single-season record (Kyle Brown also stole 31 bases in 2003). Kemp’s single chased reliever Jim Clancy from the game. Mike Powers took the mound and promptly walked Lankford to load the bases. Tyler Stovall (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio) put the exclamation point on the inning for Sanford with a two-run single back up the middle, scoring Helps and Kemp to make it 8-3, as well as moving Lankford to third base. Lankford would then score on Durakis’ fourth passed ball of the ballgame to give the Mainers a six-run lead.

The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 9-6 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Pollock reached on a bunt single up the third-base line and Smith worked a walk to chase Heaton from the mound. He was relieved by Phil Negus (Wake Forest/Milford, Mass.) who was greeted with an RBI double to right field by Prokopowicz to score Pollock and make it 9-4. Sheridan then hit a fly ball to centerfield which fell for a runs-scoring double as Kemp lost it in the lights. Smith scored from third to cut the lead to 9-5. After a walk to Durakis loaded the bases and pinch-hitter Robbie Nickle struck out looking, Lanny Stanfield worked a walk to drive in Sheridan.

Armento started on the mound and earned the victory (1-3) for Sanford. In 5.1 innings of work, he gave up three runs on eight hits, walked two and did not record a strikeout. Brett Carnline (Wharton County JC/Conroe, Texas) pitched two scoreless and hitless innings to close out the ballgame, striking out four to earn his second save of the season.

Gaggioli started on the hill and took the loss (3-3) for Vermont. Over six innings, he gave up four runs (one earned on nine hits, walked three and struck out six.

The Mainers return to action on Thursday, July 26 when they host the Lowell All-Americans. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Goodall Park in Sanford. Matt Janik and Matt Haley 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.