McNaughton, Navs torch Holyoke, 9-1

Joe Gravellese, Navigators Sports Information Department

Powered by the red hot bats of Sean McNaughton (4-for-4, two triples, a double, and a walk) and Mike Provencher (2-for-4 with 2 RBI), the North Shore Navigators pounded the Holyoke Blue Sox, 9-1, on a muggy night at Fraser Field. Springfield College’s Jimmy Lisowski (1-0) pitched seven solid innings to score his first win of the season, while keeping his ERA at a miniscule 0.98. Lisowski allowed one run on five hits, striking out three batters on the night.

“I’m the type of guy where when I’m on, I’m on,” chuckled McNaughton after the game. “I felt pretty good tonight and I had a clear mind.”

The Navigators wasted no time jumping on Holyoke starting pitcher Rob Gariano (2-3), scoring one run in the first inning and never looking back. Justin Little dropped a base hit into centerfield to start the home half of the first. Two batters later, McNaughton lashed a triple to right, putting North Shore on top.

North Shore added another in the third on an RBI single by McNaughton before ripping the game open with four runs in the fourth.

After newcomer Mathew Costello and John Hill struck out to start the inning, Derek Trent ignited a two-out rally with a double to left field. Gariano plunked Chad Zurcher and walked Little to load the bases for Mike Provencher, who came into the game tied for second on the team with 12 RBIs. He picked up two more, ripping a high fly ball off the rightfield wall to plate Trent and Zurcher.

That set the stage for McNaughton, who promptly blasted his second triple of the night over the head of centerfielder Alex Hilliard to bring home two more runs, making it 6-1 North Shore.

“Wasn’t that nice to see the boys swing the bat like that?,” said coach Jason Falcon after the game. “McNaughton was four for four, so he set the tone. We were kind of surprised he got pitched to either the second or the third time up with a base open, but he definitely was looking for a pitch. He’s that kind of kid. He looks for a mistake and he jumps on it.”

Holyoke brought in reliever James White to try to stem the tide in the fifth, but he was unsuccessful, as John Hill drove in Tyler Kuehl with a two out RBI single for North Shore’s seventh run. White allowed two more runs in the sixth to cap the scoring at 9-1.

Ryan Krull pitched two scoreless innings of relief to close out the game, improving the Navs’ record to 12-6. Holyoke falls to 10-9.

Justin Little fueled the Navs’ offense, reaching base five times from the leadoff spot and coming around to score two runs.

Derek Trent also starred at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

“I’m proud of all the guys up there,” said Falcon. “I did do some things to the lineup because we were a little concerned about producing runs, especially with the middle part of the order. I moved Provencher to the two-hole because the numbers were showing that he was pretty good at getting on base and scoring. I can't tell you if that attributed to tonight’s success, but we’ll find out.”

The Navigators continue their race for first place on Wednesday when they travel to Recreation Field in Montpelier to face the Vermont Mountaineers. Wednesday’s game is the first of four on the road before the Navs return home to face the Keene Swamp Bats on July 6. Fans can follow along with the team’s progress at their official website, www.nsnavs.com.