SteepleCats' Late Rally Falls Short Against Newport
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams SteepleCats had two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning but could not complete the comeback, falling to the Newport Gulls, 5-1, at Joe Wolfe Field on Tuesday night.
The game got off to a disastrous start for North Adams as Newport scored twice in the opening inning without recording a hit. SteepleCats starter Samuel Formus struggled with his command, issuing three walks to begin the game. A fielder's choice plated the first run before a sacrifice fly from Cole Johnson made it 2-0.
Despite the rocky opening frame, North Adams' pitching staff settled in. Tyler Tedeschi entered in the first inning and immediately escaped further trouble by striking out Mason Ligenza with the bases loaded. Tedeschi then tossed 3 and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four and repeatedly working around traffic.
The SteepleCats' offense, meanwhile, was quiet early against Newport starter Burkley Bounds. North Adams did not collect its first hit until the fourth inning.
That spark came off the bat of Evan Meier, who ripped a double that hugged the third-base line and barely stayed fair. One batter later, Nelphie Lopez delivered the SteepleCats' biggest hit of the night, lining an RBI single to right field to score Meier and cut the deficit to 2-1.
The momentum was short-lived, however. Sean Stephenson followed by grounding into his second double play of the evening, ending the threat.
Newport answered in the fifth. Cade Brown singled into left-center field and promptly stole second base. After advancing to third on a flyout, Brown crossed the plate on a passed ball to extend the Gulls' lead to 3-1.
The Gulls added another insurance run in the sixth. Cole Johnson reached on an infield single and Braxton Tramel followed with a base hit. Richie Kerstetter recovered to strike out two straight hitters, but a passed ball later allowed Johnson to score, making it 4-1.
Defensively, the SteepleCats turned in several highlight plays to keep the game within reach. Gus Gandy appeared headed for second base after dropping a blooper into shallow center field in the fourth, but he was erased trying to steal when the SteepleCats threw him out. An inning later, Devan Zirwas lifted a deep fly ball that was tracked down with a running catch, and in the seventh inning North Adams ended another Newport threat with an outstanding catch in right field.
The Gulls pushed across their final run in the seventh inning. Peter Mershon reached on a single after advancing into scoring position and eventually came home to give Newport a four-run cushion at 5-1.
North Adams had opportunities late but struggled to string together hits. Jake Butler singled in the fifth inning and Tony Woodie added a single in the seventh, yet the SteepleCats were unable to capitalize.
The final opportunity came in the ninth. Lopez was hit by a pitch and Woodie singled to left field, putting two runners aboard. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position. But Newport recorded the final out on a ground ball, stranding the potential rally and sealing the victory.
Meier's double and Lopez's RBI single accounted for the SteepleCats' only extra-base hit and lone run of the evening. Butler and Woodie added the club's other two hits.
On the mound, Tedeschi's long relief effort kept North Adams within striking distance after the difficult first inning. Trey Power, Kerstetter, David Johnson and Brady Burgess combined to finish the game, with Burgess retiring all six batters he faced and striking out three over the final two innings.
Despite being held to four hits, the SteepleCats battled until their final at-bat before Newport closed out the 5-1 victory. North Adams will look to bounce back quickly as it returns to Joe Wolfe Field on Wednesday night to open a two-game series against the Ocean State Waves.
