Navs drop a tight one in Keene

The Navigators lost game one of today's day-night, two-state doubleheader, 6-5, to the Keene Swamp Bats. The team bus should be arriving here at Fraser Field in the next twenty minutes as the team prepares to take on the Vermont Mountaineers tonight at 6.

Update:
3:54 PM - The team has arrived at Fraser and the field is now being prepared for batting practice.

4:48 PM - Uh oh... the Vermont Mountaineers aren't here yet and it's only 77 minutes until game time.

5:07 PM - The Mountaineers have arrived.

Navs fall to Sanford, 5-3

Joseph Gravellese, Navigators Sports Information Department

After cruising through six innings, Navigators starting pitcher Matt Costello ran into trouble in the seventh, putting the first two Sanford batters on base. As he has done so many times this season, Coach Jason Falcon turned to the bullpen to put out the fire, bringing in Jason Markovitz to protect the Navs’ 3-1 lead.

This time, however, the bullpen couldn’t hold back the prolific Sanford Mainers offense, who scored four unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings en route to a 5-3 victory over North Shore at Fraser Field.

Markovitz took the loss out of the bullpen – his first defeat of the season (4-1). Mike Wilson gutted through 6 2/3 innings, overcoming back-to-back home runs by Kent Graham and Frank Pesanello in the second inning to pick up the victory (3-1). Wilson allowed three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking three. It was not his best outing of the season, but it was enough to give Sanford a huge win.

With the win, Sanford ties North Shore for first place in the NECBL Northern division. The Navs are 22-11 while Sanford improves to 23-12.

The seventh inning breakdown began when Costello walked Devin Harris on four pitches. The next batter, Klint Reed, hit a deep grounder to short that was good enough for an infield single.

“There was [thought of taking him out after six innings], but [Sanford] had their eight, nine and one hitters up, so I said, ‘Okay… he has got a lefty to start the inning,” said Falcon after the game. “He was going to come out after that leadoff lefty, so who knows.”

“It wasn’t the pitch count so much as I just wanted to go one more, then give it to the bullpen,” explained Costello. “I wasn’t planning on giving up an infield single and walking a guy. If I didn’t walk guys, then hey, we win that ballgame.”

The early jam triggered Falcon to call on Markowitz, who has been virtually untouchable this year, giving up just one run on thirteen hits in fifteen appearances coming into the game.

The Mainers were undeterred. They roared back to take the lead - with the help of a few fortunate rolls.

Will Greenberg stepped up with the intention of sacrificing the two runners into scoring position, but his bunt was perfectly placed, allowing Greenberg to fly into first to load the bases.

Things went from bad to worse with Matthew Nandin at the plate. Nandin squibbed one down the first base line, to the left of the pitcher’s mound. Markovitz slipped as he attempted to play it, keeping the bases loaded and allowing a run to score to cut the Navs’ lead to 3-2. The next batter, Kyle Groth, reached on a fielder’s choice to tie the score.

Pinch hitter Gregory Hopkins was then hit in the arm with a 1-2 fastball, allowing Sanford to take a 4-3 lead without the benefit of a single hard hit ball in the inning. Markovitz recovered to strike out Brian Harris and Corey Hunt, but the damage was done.

“For Jason Markowitz to hit a batter, especially a pinch hitter who was batting .150, is a freak play,” said Falcon. “I don’t know why we were throwing that pitch, maybe it just got away from him. Maybe it got loose.”

Sanford finally got their hard hit ball in the eighth. Devin Harris welcomed Chris Kowalski to the game with a mammoth home run to the deepest part of center field, giving the Mainers a crucial insurance run. It capped a big day for Harris, who reached base three times, scored two runs, and stole a base.

North Shore was unable to recover, as Nick Centatiempo and Tony Chisman teamed up for 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief to close out the win.

The Navigators struck first against Wilson with their first back-to-back homers in the second. Graham hit one to left that barely cleared the wall to make it 1-0. Pesanello then one-upped him with a no-doubter, extending North Shore’s early lead.

Things continued to look good for the home team in the bottom of the third. Sean McNaughton continued his torrid pace with his seventh triple of the season to lead it off. Then, cleanup hitter Nick Belcher scorched one toward third that took an odd bounce over the head of Hunt, plating McNaughton.

The Mainers responded immediately with a run in the fourth. Costello walked D’Alfonso to start it, and Branson Joseph brought him home, dropping a triple over the head of Justin Little in center.

Eight Mainers batters reached base in the game, with only Hunt going 0-for-4.

On the flip side, McNaughton was the only Navigator with a multiple hit game, tripling in the third and singling in the fifth. McNaughton ended the day 2-for-4 with a run scored. Additionally, Little walked three times and stole a base, continuing his production from the top of the order.

The Navs have very little time to recover from this difficult loss, as they must get on a bus tonight to Keene, NH. They will stay in Keene overnight before playing the Swamp Bats tomorrow morning at 11 AM. After that game, they will travel home to face Vermont in their regularly scheduled game at 6 PM in Lynn.

It’s the start of a busy stretch for North Shore, who will play nine games in six days.

“It is a heavy schedule. But we are going up to Keene tonight, so we will be well rested,” said Markovitz following the game. “We have got to take it to them tomorrow, a little revenge, because they have been killing us at their little field. We have got to come in with a little chip on our shoulder and take care of business.”

Fans can keep up with all the action at the team’s official website, www.nsnavs.com.

LIVE: Sanford downs Navs, ties for first in the division

North Shore Navigators (22-10) vs. Sanford Mainers (22-12)

PITCHERS:
SAN - Mike Wilson (2-1, 4.67 ERA, .263 OBA)
NSR - Matt Costello (2-0, 0.64 ERA, .109 OBA)

SAN 0 0 0 / 1 0 0 / 3 1 0 - 5 8 1
NSR 0 2 1 / 0 0 0 / 0 0 0 - 3 5 1

9:43 PM: Navs lose, as they go down in order in the 9th.

9:38 PM: Devin Harris strikes out with two on in the 9th. Gallo pitched the 9th - time for a rally.

9:26 PM: Navs go down in order.

9:20 PM: Bottom of the 8th now - let's see if Belcher can get things started.

9:16 PM: D. Harris destroys a Kowalski offering, homering to the deepest part of the ballpark. Wowza.

9:13 PM: Kowalski in to pitch for NS.

9:12 PM: Wilson's line - 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K... and three runs, as McNaughton lines out to first.

9:11 PM: Provencher walks - there's two on for McNaughton. How 'bout another triple?

9:10 PM: And he does! He swipes 2nd on the 1-1 pitch. The count is now 2-1 to Provencher.

9:07 PM: You've got to think that with a right handed reliever on the hill, Little will be thinking long and hard about taking off for second base during this at bat. He's 12-for-13 on steals this season.

9:06 PM: Little walks, ending the day for Mike Wilson. In to face Provencher: numero 26, Nick Cenatiempo.

9:05 PM: Two quick outs in the home half of the 7th.

8:58 PM: Heeeeeeee struck him out swinging on a curve in the dirt!!

8:56 PM: Jason gets a huge out, striking out Brian Harris looking. If he can get Hunt here and keep it a one run game, it will be a job well done.

8:55 PM: Markovitz's 1-2 fastball to Hopkins is too far inside and clips him. The hit batsman forces in the go-ahead run - 4-3 Mainers.

8:53 PM: Gregory Hopkins is pinch hitting with the bases loaded and 1 out.



8:52 PM: That closes the book on Costello - he allows 3 runs.

8:51 PM: D'Alfonso grounds it to deep short, Belcher throws to second for one out, but the throw to first is not in time. Sanford ties the game and has runners on the corners with one out.

8:49 PM: Bad to worse - Nandin squibs one down the first base line, Markovitz slips and can't make the play. Bases still loaded and there's a run in - 3-2 Navs.

8:48 PM: Greenberg drops a sac bunt attept to the left of the mound, and beats it out down the line to load the bases. Suddenly the Navs are in a real mess - bases loaded, 1 out. Corners are in, middle infielders back.

8:44 PM: Sanford puts the first two men on (walk, infield hit) in the 7th, spelling the end of Costello's evening. Markovitz comes in out of the pen. Costello's line: 6+ IP, 4 H, (so far) 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K. Not his sharpest outing of the season, but so far, good enough to put the Navs in line for another big win. Let's see if the 'pen can hold the lead.

8:31 PM: Sanford puts two men on again but once again gets Hunt to fly out to left to end the inning.

8:14 PM: Sanford puts runners on the corners with two outs but Provencher makes a diving catch in right to rob Nandin and end the inning.

8:03 PM: Moving briskly along, we head to the 5th with the score 3-1 Navs.


7:58 PM: Brian Harris puts a scare into the crowd with a deep drive toward the wall in left but McNaughton is there to retire the side.

7:56 PM: Joseph is retired on a play at the plate - D'Alfonso grounds it to 3rd, Geason throws tot he plate, and Joseph is retired. Two down.

7:55 PM: Branson Joseph drops an RBI triple over the head of Justin Little in center. 3-1 Navs.

7:51 PM: Tyler Kuehl just absolutely robbed Nandin to lead off the fourth. He ranged to his right, almost all the way to 2nd base, went down and made a stop that would make Tim Thomas proud, set himself, threw to first, and got Nandin in time for the out. WOW.

7:43 PM: Belcher hits a hot shot to third, it takes a hop in the dirt over the head of the third baseman and into left for an RBI single.

7:42 PM: We've got one of the largest and most energetic crowds of the year on hand at Fraser.

7:41 PM: McNaughton with a leadoff triple.

7:39 PM: One-two-three go the Mainers.

7:34 PM: The 2nd inning is over, but not before the Navs put up two on back-to-back jacks.

7:30 PM: Geason walks on four pitches.

7:29 PM: Graham's homer was a close one... but Pesanello just smashed an absolute no-doubter. The outfielders didn't even bother to watch that one sail out. 2-0

7:27 PM: Kent Graham smashes a two out solo homer to left. 1-0!

7:25 PM: Here's what you missed during technical difficulties: Each time got a runner on base but could not bring him home in the first inning. Justin Little led off the home half with a walk but the next three batters (Provencher, McNaughton, and Belcher) all grounded out. Costello pitched a very quick 2nd inning, 1-2-3.

7:10 PM: We're having Blogger technical difficulties. Stay tuned.

7:02 PM: Greenberg strikes out looking, one down.

7:01 PM: He starts it off with a strike.

7:00 PM: Costello is on the hill and ready to go. Let's see how he goes against the lefty-laden Sanford Mainers.

6:51 PM: It's a real scorcher, a nice change of pace after all of that pouring rain.

6:48 PM: We have starting lineups!
Sanford - NS
Greenberg C / Little CF
Nandin 2B / Provencher RF
D'Alfonso DH / McNaughton LF
Joseph CF / Belcher SS
Groth 1B / Kuehl 2B
Harris SS / Garton DH
Hunt 3B / Graham 1B
Harris RF / Pesanello C
Reed LF / Geason 3B

Two, Navigator Style

The recent deluge upon New England has wreaked havoc on the NECBL schedule.

I have heard of twi-night doubleheaders, regular doubleheaders, day-night doubleheaders, two-stadium doubleheaders (Yankees/Mets) and, thanks to the NECBL, two-team doubleheaders, with the host taking on two different squads in one day.

But over the next 24 hours the Navs will embark upon something I've never seen before: a two-state doubleheader.

Following tonight's home game against Sanford, the Navs will board a bus to Keene, NH and will stay there overnight. They will take on the Swamp Bats at 11 AM before getting on the bus and coming home to face Vermont at 6 PM.

It's the start of a very busy period for the Navs. On Tuesday, they will play two 7-inning games against the Lowell All-Americans at Fraser, with game one starting at 4 PM. North Shore then travels to Holyoke on Wednesday for a single game on Wednesday night, then a pair of games on Thursday, both played at Holyoke's McKenzie Field: vs. Torrington at 3 PM, and their regularly scheduled game vs. Holyoke at 6:30 PM.

Are you confused yet?

It could be worse - Tonight, Holyoke hosts Vermont in a (really) Tripleheader starting at 4:30.
The Sox have to follow that up with another doubleheader tomorrow in Lowell.

In total, the league's twelve teams will play 10 games tonight.
Vermont @ Holyoke, 430
Vermont @ Holyoke, 7
Vermont @ Holyoke, 930
Keene @ Lowell, 5
Keene @ Lowell, 8
Danbury @ Torrington, 5
Danbury @ Torrington, 8
Sanford @ North Shore, 7
Newport @ North Adams, 7
Manchester @ Pittsfield, 7

Tomorrow is a slow day, with "only" nine games:
North Shore @ Keene, 11 AM
Holyoke @ Lowell, 5 PM
Holyoke @ Lowell, 8 PM
Newport @ Torrington, 5 PM
Newport @ Torrington, 8 PM
Vermont @ North Shore, 6 PM
Sanford @ Keene, 7 PM
Danbury @ Manchester, 7 PM
North Adams @ Pittsfield, 7 PM

Then, after a reasonably normal Sunday and Monday, there's another ten on Tuesday:
Lowell @ North Shore, 4 PM
Lowell @ North Shore, 7 PM
Sanford @ Vermont, 4 PM
Sanford @ Vermont, 6:30 PM
Danbury @ Manchester, 4:30 PM
Danbury @ Manchester, 7:30 PM
Pittsfield @ Torrington, 5 PM
Pittsfield @ Torrington, 8 PM
North Adams @ Newport, 6:30 PM
Holyoke @ Keene, 7 PM

I'm glad I'm not in charge of scheduling all of these games.

The marathon kicks off tonight at 7 as the Navs take on Sanford in a battle for first place - keep it here for updates!

7/24: Game vs. Keene PPD

Rain, rain, go away...Tonight's game against the Keene Swamp Bats (20-12) has been postponed due to the continuously awful weather conditions. A make-up date has not been disclosed, yet. The Navigators now have 11 games remaining on the schedule, with double-headers already scheduled for next Tuesday (7/29) in Lowell and next Thursday (7/31) in Holyoke (one game against the Blue Sox and another against the Torrington Twisters).

While there will be no action today, here are some pictures taken by Meaghen Hamill, the Navigators' Community Outreach and Activities Coordinator. Thanks Meg!




Navigators strut their stuff at a Boston Red Sox tryout at Fenway Park. (From left-to-right: Mike Provencher, Kent Graham, Chad Zurcher, Jason Markowitz, Tyler Kuehl, Justin Little, Mike Gallo and Nick Belcher.)






Though the Northern Division was defeated, 5-2, the Navigators were well represented at the 2008 NECBL All-Star Game. (From left-to-right: Jason Markowitz, Chris Prescott, Sean McNaughton, Mike Provencher and Tyler Kuehl.)






Rally caps were vital in the Navigators' fourteen-inning victory over the Keene Swamp Bats on July 21. The game was won on a single to left-field by Matt Costello. Mike Provencher (far left) scored the winning run.

Navs rally to win rain-shortened game in Sanford

Zander Kean, Navigators Sports Information Department

At approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, the overcast sky over Sanford, Maine began spitting light rain. That rain then turned into a downpour, pushing the start of the North Shore Navigators’ game against the Mainers back two hours.

Finally, Goodall Park drained well enough for the game to get underway at 8:30. And in what would turn out to be their last at-bat, the Navs broke open a pitcher’s duel to come away with a rain-shortened 4-1 victory.

With the win, North Shore (22-10) moved into sole possession of first place in the NECBL North and clinched the season series against the Mainers (22-12). The Navs have won four of five against Sanford.

“We got the offense when we needed it, maybe Lady Luck was on our side, maybe she knew the rain was coming,” head coach Jason Falcon said.

On the hill for the Navigators, Adam Herter began his night with a strikeout of Corey Hunt. And with the help of a double play in the second inning, Herter faced the minimum number of hitters through the first three innings and retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced.

“I felt good. The rain delay was kind of a bummer, just waiting around getting ready to play, but it worked out well for us,” Herter said. “I was just going after their pitcher. You have just got to stay sharp mentally and go out and bear the conditions.”

Sanford’s Pat Lehman began his outing just as well. Coming into the contest with a 0.90 ERA over his six starts, Lehman scattered four hits over the first five innings. In that span, he struck out six Navs and walked just one.

The Mainers put the game’s first run on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Anthony D’Alfonso drove a Herter offering just over the head of North Shore centerfielder Justin Little, reaching third as the ball bounced off the wall. Herter then struck out Devin Harris, but gave up a fly ball to Will Greenberg that was deep enough to send D’Alfonso home.

Mike Provencher and Sean McNaughton helped the Navs respond in the following inning. Provencher led off the inning with a double to the gap in left-center, and McNaughton roped a triple to the same spot to tie the score at 1. Two batters later, Nick Belcher hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to give North Shore its first lead of the night, 2-1.

But the Navigators weren’t finished in the inning. John Hill plated Matt Costello – who had reached on an infield single – with a triple to left-center. And Chad Zurcher followed with a line-drive base hit to right, sending home Hill for the fourth Navigator run.

Catchers aren’t typically known for their wheels, but Hill’s hustle gave him his first three-bagger of the season.

“I knew he had it in him, and I am probably the only guy that has said that. He got to third, looked at me and said, ‘thank you, I don’t think I will ever hit one again,’” Falcon said. “Maybe you don’t take that chance with a guy out, but we had the lead and we had a good guy on the mound, so I was thinking what the hell, let’s take a chance.”

In the bottom of the sixth, the rain came back with a vengeance as Herter worked a quick 1-2-3 inning. With the weather showing no signs of letting up, the Mainer players wasted no time in covering the infield with their tarp. By the time the rain stopped, the infield was completely soaked, and within a few minutes the game was called.

In his six innings, Herter allowed just two hits and an unearned run. He did not walk a batter and struck out three Mainers. He credited the Navs’ solid defense – North Shore came into the game with a league-best .972 fielding percentage – with allowing him to work through easy innings.

“I was trying to get the ball back as soon as I could; just trying to get it over the plate to let them put the ball in play. Luckily, [Sanford] hit the ball hard on the ground and our defense worked well under the conditions and we came away with a big win tonight.”

With Mike DiCato on the hill, the Navigators will look to build their division lead tomorrow – weather permitting – as they travel to Keene to take on the Swamp Bats.

Navs win rain-shortened game

After 6 innings in Sanford, the skies have opened again, forcing an end to tonight's game between the Navigators and the Sanford Mainers.

The Navs led 4-1 after 6. The game is official, so North Shore leaves Sanford with a huge win.

Joe + Zander will post the full report later tonight.

Game underway in Sanford

I have been informed by Joe Jasinski that the Navs and Mainers are underway in Sanford after a substantial rain delay, scoreless in the second inning.

Listen/watch

Game threading

Thanks to everyone who read or participated in last night's live game post. When I started posting live game diaries to the blog, I envisioned it being exactly how it was last night - with fans away from the park joining in, reacting live, and asking questions. I hoped to make everyone at home feel like they were at the ballpark with us, watching the game.

"Watching" the game alongside all of you last night made it even more fun. Thanks for being a part of it, and I hope you enjoyed it, too.

Navigators, Costello victorious in fourteen-inning epic

Joe Jasinski, Navigatos Sports Information Department

Fourteen innings; ten pitchers; an ejection; a defensive blunder by a back-up catcher…playing left field.

After remaining deadlocked at 1-1 after thirteen and a half innings, a Matt Costello line-drive over the glove of replacement left-fielder Franco Valdes allowed Mike Provencher to score the game-winning run in front of the faithful fans at Fraser Field.

Leading off the fourteenth inning, Provencher chopped a ball down the third base line, narrowly beating out the throw to first from Keene catcher Dan Petro (E. Tennessee St.). After Provencher stole second on another close play, Swamp Bat first-baseman Paul Karmas (St. John’s Univ.) was ejected from the game for arguing with the first-base umpire Paul Brooks.

It was Provencher’s first hit of the night, having been retired five times previously.

Starting left-fielder Dan Grovatt (Virginia) replaced Karmas at first base, and back-up catcher Franco Valdes (Virginia) moved out to left field. After Sean McNaughton was intentionally walked, pinch-hitting John Folino laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, advancing both base-runners to second and third. Tyler Kuehl was then intentionally walked, bringing Costello to the plate to face the new Keene reliever Sean Bierman (Vanderbilt).

Costello roped a first-pitch fastball to left field. Valdes advanced forward to make the catch, but allowed the ball to shoot over his glove, scoring Provencher uncontested.

The win puts the Navigators (21-10) a game and half ahead of the third-place Swamp Bats (20-12) in the NECBL Northern Division. North Shore also moves percentage points ahead of the second-place Sanford Mainers (22-11), who’s game versus Lowell was postponed due to rain.

Costello went three for seven from the plate, tied for the most hits of any batter in the game (Nick Belcher also had three hits). Despite his fourteenth-inning heroics, the joy was accompanied by fatigue, Costello said.

“Honestly,” he said, “I’m so tired that I do not even know how to react. It felt good; really good. This one was a lot of fun – but very tiring.”

Perhaps overshadowed by the longevity of the night was the six innings pitched by Navigators’ starter Wayde Kitchens, who threw six innings of consistency, giving up a single run on five hits while striking out three batters.

The Swamp Bats left thirteen men on base – the Navigators left eighteen – none more important than the two left on in the top of the tenth inning. A single, an errant throw to an unmanned second base by Costello and a walk loaded the bases with no outs for Keene. Ryan Krull then struck out Chris Trembley (Kent State) and induced a 5-2-3 double play to leave the mound unscathed.

“I really just wanted to get one guy at a time,” Krull said. “Just wanted to get that first guy. You have to start somewhere.”

North Shore sent four relievers to the hill through the eight innings following Kitchens’ departure. Jason Markowitz and Krull each gave two innings of shutout relief, followed by Chris Kowalski, who gave two and one-third innings. Despite inheriting two base-runners from Kowalski, Chris Prescott (1-0) did not allow a run in his inning and two-thirds work.

“It just says a lot about our guys,” Head Coach Jason Falcon said. “They are not going to give in to anybody. I do not know how many times they had runners in scoring position with less than two outs – but give credit to the players, they just do not want to give up anything.”

Justin Little led off the fifth inning with his second bunt single of the evening. After stealing second and advancing to third base on a passed ball, Little was brought home on a McNaughton ground out, making the score 1-0 North Shore.

Despite escaping a jam in the fifth inning with runners on second and third base, Kitchens’ shutout was erased in the sixth inning after Paul Karmas singled home Evan Chambers, who had reached on a double, one of two extra-base hits Kitchens surrendered.