LIVE: Keene shuts out Navs in Game 1

KEE 0 0 0 / 1 0 0 / 0 0 0 - 1 5 1
NSR 0 0 0 / 0 0 0 / 0 0 0 - 0 5 2

9:11 PM: Swing and a miss, the game is over.

9:09 PM: Belcher hits a deep fly to right, 2nd out - Provencher tags and reaches 3rd. The throw skipped past the 3B, but the shortstop was there to back it up. The game is on Garton now.

9:08 PM: Kuehl bunts him over to 2nd.

9:06 PM: Provencher reaches to lead off the inning with a base hit to left!!

9:03 PM: Reliever James Wise in to close for Keene - I'm personally stunned that they pulled Meagher, who confounded the Navs for 8 shutout innings today.

9:02 PM: We go to the bottom of the ninth.

8:56 PM: ...and he hits into a double play. :( We go to the 9th. Changes: Belcher to SS, Geason in at 3rd base. Costello still pitching.

8:54 PM: Zurcher punches a 1-out single and is lifted for pinch-runner Jesse Bruinsma. McNaughton up...

8:49 PM: Bottom of the 8th - top of the order up - time to get it going!

8:44 PM: Hill squibs it down to first base - the inning is over, and the frustration continues. Costello is back out there to start the 8th.

8:41 PM: Graham picks up the Navs' first extra-base hit of the game, a 2-out rip into the corner in left field - he stands at 2nd base with 2 outs for John Hill.

8:35 PM: Costello fans two more in the 7th (7 Ks overall)... on to the home half

8:29 PM: A 7-pitch 6th inning - Meagher continues to impress. Through 6 innings, it's still 1-0 Keene.

8:28 PM: Meagher Ks Provencher - his 6th strikeout of the game.

8:24 PM: A nice, quick 6th inning for Costello - time to get him some run support!

8:19 PM: Zurch hits a looper to right-center, but Lee tracks it down... the Navs threaten but do not score in the 5th.

8:18 PM: With 2 outs, Little executes a perfect hit and run, scorching a base hit to left. 1st + 3rd, 2 out for Zurcher.

8:15 PM: Garton gets it started the right way, ripping a base hit to left center.

8:12 PM: Costello strikes him out looking at the knees! That's 5 Ks for Costello... and at the halfway point, it's 1-0 'Bats.

8:10 PM: Chambers bats with two outs and Macias on third base.

8:03 PM: Meagher continues to quickly mow through the Navs batting order, much to the delight of the large Swamp Bats traveling contingent. Through four full, it's 1-0 Swamp Bats.

7:59 PM: Casey McGrew hits a grounder down to first base; Graham makes a sweet scoop and takes it to the bag for the final out of the 4th.

7:56 PM: Chester rips a base hit up the middle, scoring Evan Chambers to make it 1-0 Keene.

7:49 PM: McNaughton grounds out to third, stranding two runners in scoring position.

7:47 PM: With 1 out, Zurcher rolls a bunt down the third base line; he's just barely thrown out. The runners move up to 2nd & 3rd w/ 2 out for McNaughton.

7:43 PM: Wow... Hill knocks it up the middle toward second base - Tremblay ranges over to play it, boots it, and it falls to the ground, allowing the first two men of the inning to reach.

7:43 PM: Graham lines a base hit to right, the Navs' first hit.

7:41 PM: One pitch, one out to Grovatt, and the inning is over.

7:41 PM: Macias grounds out to short to end the K-streak.

7:40 PM: Valdes strikes out swinging. This is getting funny now.

7:36 PM: Meagher strikes out the side - wow! Through two quick innings, we're scoreless.

7:34 PM: The backwards-K streak ends, but Belcher goes down swinging for the second out.

7:32 PM: Tyler Kuehl becomes the third consecutive batter to strike out looking. At times like these, I randomly wonder what the record is for most guys striking out looking in a row.

7:30 PM: Costello gives up a base hit to Trembley, then battles back with two straight Ks to end the inning.

7:19 PM: Provencher grounds out to short to end the first.

7:17 PM: Meagher gives McNaughton nothing but breaking balls, and strikes him out swinging on a curve off the outside corner.

7:15 PM: Zurcher works a one out walk to become the game's first baserunner.

7:10 PM: Nice and quick! Costello mows down Grovatt, Chambers, and Hicks in order to get the game started off right.

7:09 PM: The first batter of the game, Dan Grovatt, flies out to left.

7:04 PM: Kudos to Navigators intern Lauren Darrah for her rendition of the national anthem.

7:02 PM: The teams have been introduced, the national anthems performed... and we're just about ready for baseball here in game one.

6:44 PM: Host families are being honored in an on-field ceremony.

6:35 PM: Starting lineups -

Keene / NS
Dan Grovatt 1B / Justin Little CF
Evan Chambers DH / Chad Zurcher SS
Cliff Hicks LF / Sean McNaughton LF
Josh Chester 3B / Mike Provencher RF
Chris Tremblay 2B / Tyler Kuehl 2B
Alex Lee CF / Nick Belcher 3B
Casey McGrew RF / Josh Garton DH
Franco Valdes C / Kent Graham 1B
Jose Macias SS / John Hill C

Tommy Meagher RHP / Matt Costello LHP

6:11 PM: Game 1 of the Quarterfinals between Keene and North Shore at Fraser Field is currently in a weather delay. They are currently aiming to start the game at 7 PM.

Elsewhere in the playoffs:
Vermont @ Sanford, 6:30
Manchester @ Newport, 6:35
North Adams @ Pittsfield, 7