image description

Nighthawks Walk Off To Defeat SteepleCats

By John WoodNorth Adams SteepleCats
Print Story | Email Story

HARTFORD, VT. —For the third time this year, the SteepleCats have learned very well why there’s the saying “It ain’t over till it’s over”.

In their first of three matchups over the next five days, the SteepleCats traveled up to Maxfield Sports Complex on Wednesday to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks. After North Adams was just out away from a big division win, the Nighthawks pulled off some 9th inning heroics to defeat the SteepleCats 5-4.

In his seventh appearance on the mound for North Adams, Chris Cepeda manned the hill for the SteepleCats at the start of the game. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the 1st, the Nighthawks were able to strike first in the 2nd as a wild pitch allowed outfielder Ty Adcock to cross the plate.

Jordan DiValerio, the starting pitcher for the Nighthawks, had the SteepleCats’ number through the first three innings, allowing just two base runners at which North Adams left stranded. Yet in the 4th North Adams finally saw their first run come across, as Joe Porricelli, who reached on a single, was brought home after Matt Koperniak hit into a groundout for the second out of the inning.

The SteepleCats then repeated their offensive performance in the 5th inning. A late arrival to North Adams, shortstop Dillon Mendel roped a single into the outfield to score catcher Alex Rodriguez, giving the SteepleCats their first lead of the game.

After Cepeda escaped another bases-loaded situation in the 3rd and held his own in the 4th, Joe Kemlage of American International College then came on to relieve. Another late arrival to the SteepleCats, Kemlage walked his first batter faced yet worked his way out of the inning with a big strikeout to leave a Nighthawk stranded. Yet after Ty Adcock doubled in the 6th inning, Chris Berry was able to send a single into the outfield to score Adcock, tying the game for the second time.

However, the SteepleCats were able to quickly answer in the next half inning with some two-out magic they’ve been producing all season. After singles by outfielders Jeffery Brown and Greg Cavaliere, shortstop Dillon Mendel drove a ball out of the infield for back-to-back RBI singles to bring in Brown, reclaiming the lead for North Adams.

One of the most surprising performance of the night came from an unlikely pitcher in SteepleCats catcher Tyler Serricchio. After Kemlage’s night on the hill ended after two innings, the UNC Asheville junior came on in the 7th as North Adams is currently dealing with a shortage of arms in the bullpen. After getting his his opponent to fly out to right field, Serricchio struck out the next two batters to end the inning and help preserve the North Adams lead.

As DiValerio’s night ended on the mound for Upper Valley, the SteepleCats continued right where they left offense had left off in the 7th, but this time against right-hander Jordy Allard. After a single and a second baseman’s error landed Joe Porricelli on second, Tony ortiz drove him in as a he grabbed a single to center to make it a 4-2 ball game.

Since the SteepleCats are short on pitching, another position player in Dillon Mendel took to the mound for North Adams in the 8th. The Rowan University was able to to get the Nighthawks to hit into three putouts, sending the game into the 9th.

Just as they did in the previous inning, Upper Valley opted to change pitchers and bring in University of West Georgia’s Ryan Parker. The right-hander was able to hold of the SteepleCats offense, throwing a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout.

Down two runs, the Nighthawks saw their chance to comeback in the bottom of the 9th. After a leadoff single by Chris Berry and Austin Wilhite double, Mendel worked his way to two outs after two pop outs from the Nighthawks. Yet catcher Ross Cadena was able to get a hold of a ball for Upper valley, sending it into the outfield for a 2-RBI double, tying the game at four. Then on the very next pitch outfielder Anthony Meduri drove a single to left field, scoring Cadena from third and securing a walk-off win for Upper Valley.

The SteepleCats on the road again on Thursday as they travel to New Hampshire to take on the Winnipesaukee Muskrats at 6:05. They then return home to Joe Wolfe Field on Friday to face the same Upper Valley Nighthawks at 6:30. Tickets for Friday’s game or any SteepleCats home game can be purchased at www.steeplecats.org or at the ticket booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

 

Tags: steeplecats,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

MCLA Men's Lacrosse Falls in League Opener

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Ryan Carroll scored four goals Wednesday to lead the SUNY Polytechnic men's lacrosse team to a 21-4 win over MCLA.
 
Drury graduate Nathan Haley scored two goals for the Trailblazers, who got 14 saves from Drury alumn Neal Brierley.
 
MCLA (0-6, 0-1 North Atlantic Conference) goes to Maine Maritime on Saturday.
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories