KEENE, N.H.— The Keene SwampBats and Vermont Mountaineers combined for 39 hits in Keene’s 17-11 victory Monday night at Alumni Field.
On a 95-degree night in New Hampshire, Vermont’s Conlan Daniel hit a grand slam to tie the game at 11-11 after his team trailed by seven runs. But the hosts had the final word down the stretch to prevail in contest that featured four homers and lasted 3 hours and 54 minutes.
Vermont struck first with a base hit from Charlie Rogan to score Daniel. Keene responded with a grand slam in the bottom of the first to make it 4-1.
Joey Pagano’s third inning double plated Daniel to cut the deficit to 4-2. Rogan followed it up with a double of his own to slice the deficit to a single run. Vermont tied the game in the fourth on Sam Gates’ double to score Thomas Schreck.
Keene scored four times in the fourth to grab the lead again. The SwampBats added three more runs in the fifth to make it 11-4.
The Mountaineers cut the lead to five in the sixth on Daniel’s double to left, driving in Addison Ainsworth. Daniel scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-6.
Vermont plated five runs in the seventh to tie the game. Braeden Smith, Ty Acker and Ashton Gilio all reached base to start the inning. Ainsworth singled to drive in Smith. And Daniel launched a game-tying grand slam over the center field fence to knot the score at 11-11.
Keene scored two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth as the Mountaineers ran out of arms. Daniel pitched the eighth inning and teammate Koen Smith suffered the loss on the mound. Andrew Lepine was the winning pitcher to help Keene improve to 13-2.
Daniel led the way offensively for the Mountaineers with three hits and five RBIs, while Schreck and Rogan both notched two hits. Ten players had hits for the Mountaineers, who improve to 5-9.
Monday night’s contest marked a new season-high in runs, hits and length of game time for Vermont. It was also the highest-scoring game in the NECBL this season.
Vermont will return to action against the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.
SUMMER BASEBALL
Standouts honored
Martha’s Vineyard first baseman Evan Appelwickand Newport right-hander Finbar O’Brien took home the top NECBL honors this week after contributing in big ways in their teams’ victories.
After starting the season 1-5, Martha’s Vineyard has been on a tear while winning their past seven games. Appelwick has been an integral part of this success, and in last week’s slate of games he hit .462 with three home runs and eight RBIs to earn the Player of the Week award. His biggest game came in the 12-0 win over the North Shore Navigators, as he went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs while also reaching base via a walk and a hit by pitch.
After starting the NECBL season hitless through three games, Appelwick has found his rhythm. Starting 58 games for Miam of Ohio at the NCAA level, Appelwick hit .322 with 68 hits and a program record 21 home runs.
Newport’s O’Brien only recorded one start this week, but he was phenomenal to emerge as the Pitcher of the Week. In a league where rosters are deep and arms are frequently rotated, it’s rare to see a player throw deep into games. But O’Brien remained in a June 17 contest against the North Shore Navigators for five innings and struck out 11 batters. He gave up no hits and allowed only one opponent to reach base.
This strikeout total matched his season high with the Gozaga Bulldogs, as he fanned 11 batters in a May 2 contest against Loyola Marymount. The Gulls will rely on O’Brien to replicate these performances as they sit half a game behind the Bristol Blues in a tight battle for first place in the South Division.
Vermont’s Eddie Albert earned a spot on the Honor Roll after excelling on the mound for the Mountaineers.
