3+ Hours of Ejections, Stolen Bases and Walks

(Photo Credit Roger Crowley)  Danbury's Daniel Spingola steals second base.

Last night, the Danbury Westerners arrived at Recreation Field to play the Vermont Mountaineers for a 6:30 game. Three and a half hours later, three ejections by the same team and a hidden ball trick made up the Westerners wild 10-9 victory, which included 22 hits, 15 walks and 24 strikeouts between the two teams.

There was only one word to describe the play of both teams last night.

"Unique," as anybody who was there would have described it.

A hectic seventh inning proved to be the difference, as the Westerners added three runs to go ahead for good. The first two batters reached on a leadoff triple and a walk, then slugger Riley Palmer knocked in two with a single. Westerner outfielder Zachary Blanden slid in with a close play at the plate, which drew Mountaineer manager Joe Brown out of the dugout.

Brown argued the call, believing that Blanden was out. Home plate umpire Mike Torr threw him out after he yelled in disagreement.

The game started off with the Mountaineers jumping out to a 4-1 lead through two innings of play. It was a back and forth game, with five lead changes throughout.

Danbury followed up with a stretch where they scored two runs in three straight innings to go up 7-6 going into the bottom of the fifth, but a RBI single by Kevin Krause, followed by a two-run home run for Mark Podlas put Vermont up 9-7.

Fireworks started in the 7th when Brown was ejected, and continued throughout the rest of the game.

In the top of the ninth, Daniel Spingola's single started the Westerners off. He stole second, then the very next play swiped third. It was a very close play at third, and it drew Mountaineers Assistant Coach Justin Fredenburg out to argue. Fredenburg's temper rose, and he was the second Mountaineer thrown out.

Later in the inning, with one out and runners on second and third, Westerner Alex Tuccio lined out to Mountaineer shortstop Thomas Roulis on a diving play. The Westerner at second, Riley Palmer moved off the base when he believed Roulis had thrown the ball back to Mountaineer pitcher Pat Delano.

Palmer was promptly tagged out by Roulis, as they executed the hidden ball trick to perfection.

This caused Westerners manager Jamie Shevchik to come out of the dugout in protest, which in turn brought Mountaineers General Manager Brian Gallagher out. Gallagher, when reached for comment, "I just wanted to get the game going."

Gallagher was ejected after coming out to home plate, where Shevchik and Torr were discussing. This marked the third Mountaineer to be ejected.

The fireworks ended with the Mountaineers going 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Danbury's Rob Blanc (3-2, 2.97 ERA) got the win, while Vermont's Joey Graziano took the loss (2-3, 5.85 ERA)

The final line might have been the craziest numbers in the NECBL this summer. The two teams combined for 73 at bats, 23 hits, 19 runs, 13 stolen bases, 24 strikeouts and 15 walks. Woah.