Mountaineers build 4-1 lead

Valley News photographer Jennifer Hauck captured this picture of Nighthawks right-hander Cordes Baker
on the mound as the rain began to come down.

Inclement weather, which forced Vermont to play a doubleheader in the first place, once again interfered with the team’s schedule Thursday.

The Mountaineers were set to play a doubleheader of two seven-inning games on Thursday against the Upper Valley Nighthawks at Mayfield Sports Complex. Instead, the first game only made it to the fifth inning with Vermont up 4-1. The action was suspended with one out and will resume tonight prior to the teams’ regularly scheduled meeting.

The first game will likely begin at 5 p.m. They teams will play the completion of seven innings and then play a regular nine-inning game afterwards.

Thursday’s originally scheduled nightcap will be made up in Upper Valley on a later date, with an Aug. 1 doubleheader likely.

Upper Valley jumped out to a first-inning lead Thursday, loading the bases with just one out. Al Molina drove in a run with a single through the left side, but Vermont third basemen Jeremy McCuin relayed a throw to the plate in time to prevent a second run.

Nighthawks left fielder Joey Denison, who was attempting to score from second, appeared to get under the tag at the plate. But home plate umpire Al Libardoni called him out, much to the chagrin of Upper Valley manager Nick Cenatiempo. Cenatiempo, the assistant coach to Mountaineers manager Joe Brown at Cortland State, vehemently disagreed with the call. It was the first of several run-ins between Cenatiempo and the umpiring crew. Cenatiempo was also heated over a fifth-inning safe call on a stolen base attempt from Vermont.

The Mountaineers answered with a three-run second inning against Upper Valley right-hander Cordes Baker. Troy Scocca doubled to lead off the frame and scored on Slade Heggen’s bloop single. Mccain drew a two-out walk, and both runners scored on Trevor Ezell’s double off the wall in left field.

Vermont tacked on another run in the fifth. Joe Tietjen was hit to lead off the inning, moved to second on a groundout and stole third. With heavy rain coming down, Mountaineers shortstop Mike Osinski brought him in with a single to right field that Upper Valley’s Shea Sullivan couldn’t quite snare with a diving effort.

ROSTER SHUFFLING: With the league’s roster lock date approaching quickly, Mountaineers GM Brian Gallagher has been searching for players to add depth to the Vermont roster. With recent losses, including Louisville catcher Zeke Pinkham, Gallagher is still looking for a catcher, a fourth outfielder and an extra infielder. Pitching is also important, and a likely signee is Norwich pitcher and 2015 Mountaineer Billy Whaley, a graduate of Northfield High School.

FINAL VOTE: The league announces the winner of the All-Star Game Final Vote tonight. It is a contest in which a player from each team is nominated to join the festivities in Newport, R.I. The Mountaineers’ nominee was right-hander Jonathan Stiever, who enters Friday with a 1-1 record and a 1.90 ERA over 23-plus innings. He’s struck out 19 and allowed seven walks, holding opponents to a .180 average.

RAINOUTS: The rest of the league did not fare much better Thursday as much of New England was hit by storms. Mystic’s game against Valley and Winnipesaukee’s versus Keene were both cancelled due to rain. Three out of seven scheduled games were completed.