Keene SwampBats Down North Adams
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The SteepleCats battled back from an early deficit and pulled within one run midway through Saturday night’s contest, but a late offensive push by the Keene Swamp Bats resulted in an 8-4 defeat in New England Collegiate Baseball League action at Joe Wolfe Field.
Keene struck first in the opening inning. Jackson Smith led off with a single and later scored on an RBI double by Jackson Marshall. Eli Stephens followed with an RBI single to put the Swamp Bats ahead 2-0.
The SteepleCats answered in the second inning. After Matthew Colella lined a double into the gap, Parker Camelo delivered an RBI single to score Colella and cut the deficit to one.
North Adams’ defense kept the game close over the next two innings. A great catch at third base robbed Michael O’Brien of extra bases in the second, while center field and left field each came up with impressive grabs during a scoreless third inning.
The Swamp Bats added to their lead in the fourth. Consecutive singles put runners on second and third before an error allowed both to score, extending the advantage to 4-1.
The SteepleCats quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Nelphie Lopez opened the frame with a double before Sean Stephenson singled to put runners at the corners. Sebastian Rose followed with an RBI single, and after Stephenson aggressively advanced around the bases, Colella drove in another run with a groundout to trim the deficit to 4-3.
Richie Kerstetter provided a strong inning out of the bullpen in the fifth, retiring three of the four hitters he faced after issuing a leadoff walk. Steven Sams entered in the sixth and struck out one, though Nico Senese led off the inning with a solo home run that pushed Keene’s lead to 5-3.
The game remained within reach entering the seventh inning, but the Swamp Bats created separation. Smith led off with a double and later scored, while Senese came through with the biggest swing of the night, ripping a two-run double to extend Keene’s lead to 8-3.
The SteepleCats continued to compete throughout the final innings. Colella singled in the seventh, and Nicolas Lobello followed with a base hit of his own. In the eighth, Rose collected another hit after Bobby Stang reached after being hit by a pitch.
North Adams added one final run in the ninth. Camelo opened the inning with a single to right field and then put his speed on display. After stealing third, Camelo raced home to score, bringing the SteepleCats within four.
Camelo and Colella each finished with two hits on the night. Lopez doubled and scored a run, Rose collected an RBI and two hits, and Stephenson added a hit and scored.
The SteepleCats (1-12) will look to bounce back on on Sunday when they host the Upper Valley Nighthawks at 4 p.m.s on Sunday afternoon.
