Tunnel City Freight Holds Off Pirates in BABL Playoff Opener
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Tunnel City Freight Saturday picked up a 4-2 victory over the Pirates in the Berkshire Adult Baseball League playoffs, overcoming an early deficit with four unanswered runs.
The teams will meet again at Joe Wolfe on Sunday morning at 10 for Game 2 of the best-of-three series; the third game, if necessary, is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Pirates struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Jason Ryan struck out to begin the inning, Phil Sullivan singled and Chad Walker reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Sullivan to advance to third. Ryan Nalepa then delivered an RBI single to bring Sullivan home and give the Pirates the lead.
After a walk, Norm Sweet followed with an RBI single to extend the Pirates’ advantage to 2-0.
Tunnel City Freight answered in the top of the third. Jared Martin drew a walk before Nate Feder singled, and Nolan Brassard also walked to load the bases. DJ Clark was then hit by a pitch, bringing home a run. Kevin Lamb followed with a double play that ended the inning, but not before another run crossed the plate, tying the game at 2-2.
Tunnel City took the lead in the fourth. After a leadoff walk and a double put runners in scoring position, a sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run. Tunnel City added another baserunner with a walk, but the Pirates escaped the inning trailing 3-2.
The Pirates had opportunities to respond, including a pair of singles in the bottom of the fifth, but Tunnel City worked out of the inning without allowing a run.
Tunnel City added an insurance run in the sixth. After a single and stolen base, a strikeout briefly put the Pirates one out away from escaping the inning. However, a wild pitch allowed the runner to score, pushing the Tunnel City lead to 4-2.
The Pirates could not find an answer in the final two innings. Tunnel City retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 4-2 victory.
Ryan Nalepa started on the mound for the Pirates, while Matt Clark got the start for Tunnel City Freight.
The Pirates received offensive contributions from Sullivan, Nalepa and Sweet, while Tunnel City’s offense steadily built its lead after falling behind early.
Tunnel City ended the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the six-team 33-and-older division of the BABL. This weekend's other 33-yo semi-final involves the Pontoosuc Lake Monsters and Dalton Moneymakers, who play their second and, potentially, third game on Sunday at Mount Greylock Regional School.
The league's 20-year-old division semi-finals also are this weekend. The top-seeded and unbeaten GB Millers are taking on the Pittsfield Patriots; the Berkshire Thunder and Housatonic River Monsters are squaring off in the other half of the bracket.
The semi-final winners in both divisions will meet Aug. 15 and 16.
