Early Recruiting Returns for the Mountaineers

Hesslink with Rice. /GLEN RUSSELL, BFP

It's been a while since I've posted on Smart on Sports, and much of that is due to moving to Maine for my senior year of high school, and then my transition to Boston College. I'm all settled in, and despite the fact that opening day is over eight months away, NECBL teams are starting to fill in their rosters. A quick check at the Mountaineers roster page reveals 12 players, so I figured it's worthwhile to take a look at these incoming players.

(Even though I'm sure we won't necessarily see all of them play in Vermont next summer)

***

Here's a list of the 12 players.

RHP Witt Campbell, Middle Georgia College
LHP Ricky Constant, UMass Lowell
LHP William Hesslink, Boston College
RHP Ross Mintzer, Lock Haven U
RHP Keegan Romig, Washington (U of)

C Will McInerny, UCLA
C Austin Young, UMass Lowell
2B Noah Hsue, Washington (U of)
DH JD Mundy, Virginia Tech
OF Zach Diewert, Missouri Columbia (U of)
OF Matthew Mulkey, Winthrop
OF Austin White, Rhode Island (U of)

If one of these names looks familiar, it's probably Hesslink. Hesslink is a lefthander from Shelburne, Vermont, who played a pivotal role for Rice in their run to multiple state championships.

A quick breakdown on each player:

Campbell – 6-0, 180 lbs — In his first collegiate season Campbell took the SSAC by storm, earning second-team All-Conference honors as well as the freshmen of year award. Last year, he appeared in just two games as a sophomore after an injury.

Constant — 6-5, 190 lbs – Constant posted a 2-0 record with a 10.20 ERA in 10 appearances and three starts, fanning 10 in 15 innings. He spent the '16 summer in Nashua and piled up 45 strikeouts in just 31 innings, earning a No. 3 Futures League prospect ranking by Baseball America.

Hesslink – 6-2, 225 lbs – After four sucessful years at Rice, Hesslink completed a postgraduate year at Avon Old Farms. Perfect Game ranked him as the top overall player in Vermont, and a scouting report describes him as a "big time two-way prospect who swings the bat very well and throws even better."

Mintzer — 6-0, 175 lbs – A JUCO transfer to Lock Haven from Rowan Glouchester, Mintzer had a strong sophomore season. He made 13 appearances, six starts, and struck out 53 in 48 innings of work, walking just 12. He's expected to have an immediate impact at LHU.

Romig – 6-2, 191 lbs – Entering his freshman year at Washington, Romig joins a program that finished 28-26 a year ago, finishing seventh in the Pac-12. He was the 28th ranked recruit in the state, per Baseball Northwest.

McInerny – 6-0, 177 lbs – Playing in 15 games as a freshman, McInerny hit 2-for-18 (.111). There's a backup at the Bruins catcher position, but he should get more playing time this season.

Young – 5-10, 190 lbs – Breaking out in his redshirt freshmen year, Young hit .295 in 40 games, scoring 18 runs and driving in 16. He's made appearances in the Futures League and had success as well, so he's no stranger to the summer.

Hsue – 5-8, 125 lbs – Also entering his freshman year alongside Romig, Hsue is a left-handed middle infielder with plenty of speed, described by Huskies coach Lindsay Meggs as "very explosive, from his feel for the short game and his ability to run the bases, to his sneaky power and his knack for getting big hits."

Mundy – 6-0, 210 lbs – As a freshman, Mundy had a big role for the Hokies, appearing in 40 games while starting 21. A patient hitter, Mundy drew 22 walks in 117 plate appearances, slugging five home runs and posted an .820 OPS. He played in the Northwoods league this past summer.

Diwert – 5-11, 235 lbs – Transferring from JUCO Polk State, Diewert has a potent mix of power and speed. In 54 games, the outfielder hit seven home runs and piled up 27 extra base hits while also going 32-of-36 on stolen base attempts.

Mulkey – 6-2, 180 lbs – Enters his junior year after playing in 55 games as a sophomore, totaling nine multiple-RBI games and hitting .247/.366/.309. He posted high strikeout numbers, but had 11 doubles and drove in 27 runs, both fourth on his team.

White – 5-11, 164 lbs – White enters his freshman season at URI, a recruit out of Portland, Conn. White hit over .430 in every year he played in high school, easily one of the top players in the state, and has a strong combination of speed and power.

A Non-Comprehensive Guide to Former Mountaineers

Wake Forest right-hander Rayne Supple had a strong season with the Mountaineers, and looks to build
off his success in his sophomore year. (WF image)

Wow, college baseball is less than a week away. Mired in blizzard-like conditions in New England, it sure doesn't feel like players will start their seasons shortly, but it's a welcome sight. One of my favorite things going into the season is to keep tabs on former Mountaineer alumni, and several will have key roles this season. Here's a list of former Vermont players looking to build off summer success, embrace larger roles, or continue to thrive in the spring.

Devin Hairston, SS - Jr., Louisville — 2016: .361/.415/.478, 56 R: A preseason All-American on a top-10 team in the country, Hairston is easily the most talented player on this list. The right-handed hitting shortstop enjoyed a stellar sophomore season and earned an invite to the USA Collegiate National Team. Expected to hit at the top of a strong Cardinals lineup, Hairston looks to continue to establish himself as one of the top talents in the country.

Colin Lyman, RF - Sr., Louisville — 2016: .301/.364/.392, 30 RBI: Lyman stepped into a bigger role last year, starting 47 games and hitting over .300 for the Cardinals. After two years on the Cape following his time in Vermont, Lyman is a talented defensive outfielder who'll figure to be a key part of Louisville's lineup this season. He had 10 extra base hits last year, including four triples, and drove in 30 runs while scoring 31.

Rayne Supple, RHP - So., Wake Forest — 2016: 23.1 IP, 0.55 K/BB, 8.49 ERA: Command issues plagued the Vermont native in his first season with the Deacons, but a strong summer with the Mountaineers has him poised to improve. Expected to slot into a middle innings role this spring, Supple has the potential to work his way into the weekend rotation or a more high-leverage position. He struck out 27 in in 24 2/3 innings this summer, and dazzled in his last start, striking out five over six shutout innings.

Teddy Rodliff, LHP - Jr., Stony Brook – 2016: 39.1 IP, 8.67 K/BB, 3.20 ERA: It should come to no surprise to Mountaineers fans that Rodliff flourished last summer in the Cape. The southpaw struck out 13 and allowed just four earned runs over 27 innings, a lights-out relief option for the Harwich Mariners. This is a guy who can be overpowering on the mound and exceptional at protecting leads, so when the Seawolves are in tight games – he'll be the guy they turn to.

Laren Eustace, OF - Jr., Indiana — 2016: .248/.365/.381, 6 SB: Eustace started 26 games as a sophomore, and will challenge for a bigger role this year. The junior outfielder had an All-Star-caliber summer in the Northwoods League, hitting over .330 for the Green Bay Bullfrogs. The Hoosiers missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012 last year after a 3-7 start, and a strong offensive push is needed to help them return.

Michael Osinski, SS - Jr., Longwood — 2016: .305/.374/.391, 17 2B: The anchor for the Mountaineers this past summer, Osinski enters his junior season after an impressive year in Montpelier. He played in 41 games, hit .351, and was an All-Star starter in the NECBL. One of the top talents in the Big South conference, Osinski will be a key contributor in the middle of the lineup.

Tom Cosgrove, LHP - Jr., Manhattan — 2016: 90 IP, 2.58 K/BB, 3.70 ERA
Joe Jacques, LHP - Sr., Manhattan — 2016: 75.1 IP, 1.85 K/BB, 4.30 ERA
Joey Rocchietti, RHP - Sr., Manhattan — 2016: 88.1 IP, 2.57 K/BB, 3.87 ERA: Baseball America's top prospect in the MAAC, Cosgrove is a southpaw who led the Jaspers a season ago in wins (5), innings (90), and ERA (3.70). He'll be a key member of the rotation alongside two other Mountaineer alums in Jacques and Rocchietti. Jacques is another lefthander who was lights out with Vermont last summer, while Rocchietti turned in six strong starts.

Troy Scocca, OF - Sr., Fairfield — 2016: .283/.377/.434, 17 XBH: A key contributor in Vermont's lineup this past summer, Scocca is a preseason All-MAAC selection and one of the leading reasons the Stags are favorites to win the conference again. Scocca had five home runs last spring as a member of the MAAC's No. 1 scoring team, and is a talented outfielder as well.

Mikael Mogues, 1B - Sr., Seton Hall — 2016: .251/.385/.403, 10 2B: Mogues is another player on this list who can take a step forward and really drive a team. He had a strong junior season, but really stepped it up last summer in Vermont, hitting .313 and driving in 25 runs in 40 games. If the left-handed hitting first basemen can build on that, expect a big senior season from the slugger.

Joe Tietjen, OF - Sr., UNC-Asheville — 2016: .344/.416/.553, 10 HR: A preseason All-Big South selection, Tietjen is looking to cap off a stellar career. He's improved each spring, and enjoyed a strong season with the Mountaineers last summer, hitting .280 with 17 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases. A power and speed threat, Tietjen is a talented outfielder who'll no doubt be a leader for the Bulldogs.

Sam Delaplane, RHP - Sr., Eastern Michigan — 2016: 50 IP, 1.75 K/BB, 4.50 ERA: The NECBL Reliever of the Year and a major reason why Vermont won the championship in 2015, Delaplane enters his senior year with the Eagles. He led Eastern Michigan with 24 appearances last spring, and will shoulder a big load again this year. Delaplane is coming off another championship summer, as he won a Cape Cod League title with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Game 45 Recap: Mountaineers miss playoffs

Vermont manager Joe Brown and Trevor Ezell discuss strategy during the 3-1 loss. 

For the first time since 2010, the Vermont Mountaineers will watch from afar as the New England Collegiate Baseball League postseason gets underway.

The Mountaineers, who rallied from a 2-11 start to the summer, ended the regular season in a four-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northern Division. The league’s bizarre tiebreakers resulted in a four-team, three-game mini-tournament, and Vermont fell, 3-1, to the Keene Swamp Bats on Wednesday afternoon.

In front of a surprisingly big crowd for a weekday game, the Mountaineers left eight runners on base as a lengthy season came to the end. Entering with just three pitchers available after a doubleheader in Upper Valley on Tuesday, Vermont couldn’t back a strong pitching performance from Kevin Kernan as the Swamp bats earned the right to advance to Wednesday night’s tiebreaker finale against the Nighthawks.

The playoff tiebreaker will be remembered for its share of controversy. Winnipesaukee, who lost to Upper Valley in the other play-in, trotted out their third basemen to start on the mound. Vermont had a pitcher play right field, and coaches and viewers across the country questioned the league’s decision. Nobody has been more opinionated on the matter, however, then Mountaineers manager Joe Brown.

Vermont entered Wednesday with a 19-25 record but won the head-to-head season series with all three of the teams they were tied with.

“Quite honestly, I felt we should’ve been in the playoffs,” Brown said. “I talked with a lot of people, including my college administrator, and they were wondering what were doing to kids. I even had a couple college coaches call me concerned about their players, and that was something we had to be cautious with today.”

The Mountaineers roster was decimated, as is the case with many teams throughout the NECBL. Still, the league’s newly created four-team tiebreaker resulted in additional work for teams that were left grasping for players. The league’s decision angered Brown, who might not return for a fifth year with the Mountaineers.

“This organization has been amazing and the best one I’ve ever been involved with,” Brown said. “It could be time for someone else to maybe come in (and manage). I love the Mountaineers and the people I’ve met, but I’m not philosophically aligned with the league.”

“Until changes are made, I’m not sure I could be a part of that,” he added. “It’s way bigger than me, it’s about the kids. I coach for the kids. The NCAA is about the best interest of student athletes; so should summer leagues.”

Brown’s Mountaineers fell behind 2-0 in the third inning, as Aubrey McCarty dropped a RBI single to center field and Patrick Sullivan added a sacrifice fly. The Swamp Bats tacked on a late insurance run in the sixth when Ryan Costello launched a leadoff home run.

Kernan took the loss in his first start of the summer, scattering six hits and a walk over six innings. Sean Callahan threw a scoreless seventh in the defeat.

Keene got a stellar start from southpaw Ryan Avidano, who threw 4 1/3 in the win. He struck out seven and worked around two walks and four hits. Carmen Giampetruzzi recorded two outs, and Ivon Clough threw a scoreless sixth before running into trouble. He gave up a one-out RBI double to Trevor Ezell and the tying run came to the plate, but Michael Pastore relieved him and got two quick outs for the save.

Vermont last missed the playoffs in 2010, when they went 15-27.

Keene went on to fall, 5-0, to Upper Valley in the nightcap.

Game 43/44 Recap: Mountaineers split double-header, results in four-way tie

Vermont center fielder Joe Tietjen avoids a tag at the plate during the Mountaineers 11-4 Game 1 win.

On a night where the teams lingered at the ballpark for half an hour after the final pitch to hear their fate, the prevailing story was one of weariness and frustration.

Directed at the league’s tiebreaker, four tired teams will rise bright and early Wednesday morning to play games at noon in the start of a four-team, three-game, two-location playdown — just for the right to travel to take on top-seeded Sanford as the fourth and final playoff team in the North.

For Vermont, Upper Valley, Keene, and Winnipesaukee, it’s a frustrating end to a long and winding regular season. In a league plagued by turnover, having to continue a brutal stretch of games entering the postseason is a steep task. They’ll be immediately at a disadvantage in the first round of the playoffs, as well, with the potential of having played five games in three days.

Mountaineers manager Joe Brown, who’s voiced his opinion during an interview earlier this season, didn’t hold back in a postgame talk — as he rightfully shouldn’t.

“It’s absurd and it needs to change,” Brown said of the NECBL’s tiebreaker. “You’re not doing these young men any favors and the quality of play is diminished. It’s not complaining, it’s about getting it right. Get it right. How many times do you have to do the same thing over and over and realize it’s totally silly?”

“That’s why people aren’t coming to our league right now,” Brown added. “It’s why we’re having issues with getting players.”

Brown’s Mountaineers split a doubleheader with Upper Valley. CVU high school graduate Rayne Supple took a no-hitter into the sixth in the opener, backed by an offensive outburst as Vermont rolled to an 11-4 win. In the nightcap, runs were few and far between, and a wild pitch was the deciding factor as the Nighthawks took a 2-1 win.

The split, paired with Winnipesaukee’s 13-inning loss at the hands of No. 1 overall seed Mystic, results in four teams tied with identical 19-25 records. However, instead of looking at the head-to-head record, which Vermont has an unmatched 9-6 mark, the league dictates a four-team playdown.

Vermont will host Keene at 12 p.m., while Upper Valley takes on the Muskrats. The winners will travel to the top seed at 6:30 p.m. for the decisive playdown. Vermont and Upper Valley are the top two seeds, followed by Winnipesaukee and Keene.

“We basically have beat head-to-head every single team we have to play again which is absurd,” Brown continued. “It’s something I’ve never heard of in my life. Whether it be for Upper Valley or Winnipesaukee, somehow we could have tiebreakers for teams 1-2-3, but teams 4-5-6 have to keep playing.”

“Might as well have teams one and two just go on and play the championship,” he finished.

How the pitching lines up will be the big storyline tomorrow, as both Winnipesaukee and Vermont are coming off double-digit innings. Brown addressed the situation further, simply stating he had no idea who would start tomorrow.

Supple lifted the Mountaineers in Game 1, baffling the Nighthawks. He worked around two errors and pair of hit batsmen to hold Upper Valley hitless until Joey Denison's leadoff double in the sixth inning. Supple gave up a one-out single but induced an inning-ending double play to polish off six scoreless innings.

He was backed by more than enough run support, as Vermont chased Nighthawks starter Joseph Levasseur after recording just four outs. The Mountaineers scored three in the first, five in the second, and added one in the third and two more in the fourth for the resounding 11-4 win.

Trevor Ezell, Joe Tietjen, and Will Morgan all turned in multi-hit games. Morgan went 2-for-3, driving in three runs with a double, a single, and a stolen base. Tietjen had a two-run double in the second as well.

Levasseur took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits. Reliever Mike Coss coughed up four runs and recorded just two outs, and Billy Layne gave up two in 1 1/3. Cordes Baker, however, was unhittable out of the Nighthawks pen. He threw 3 2/3, striking out three and not allowing a hit.

Supple dominanted in Game 1.

Upper Valley scored all four runs against Mountaineers first basemen Mikael Mogues, who had a go of it on the mound. He recorded one out, giving up RBI singles to Walker Grisanti, Eric Leitch, and Austin Embler, as well as a sacrifice fly to Joey Denison. Sean Callahan recorded two quick outs in relief of the big left-hander.

Vermont’s offense slowed in Game 2 against Nighthawks southpaw Wes Engle, who spun a gem. He walked Ezell to open the game, and the Mountaineers speedy third basemen stole two bats and scored on a dropped third strike. After that, however, Engle was dominant. He struck out a season-high 10 in 5 1/3, working around four hits to allow the lone run.

Mountaineers starter Fitz Stadler retired eight of the first nine batters he faced but ran into trouble in the fourth. He walked Embler, gave up a double to Al Molina, and Charlie Colcannon came up with a one-out bloop single. It just kicked off the outstretched glove of Vermont second basemen Jeremy Giles, who was sprinting back into the outfield and couldn’t come up with it.

Stadler limited the damage, however, stranding the bases loaded. Upper Valley would ultimately break the 1-1 tie in the sixth against Vermont reliever Chandler Sedat. Sedat, the team’s top arm, hit Denison with one out. A single from Concannon moved Denison to third, and he came home on a wild pitch for the decisive run.

Upper Valley reliever Nick Jones polished off the win, retiring four of the final five batters he faced.

“We swung the bats well, but it’s a completely different game and you have to try to turn the page quickly,” Brown said of the difference. “They had a lefty who threw great, and then they had Jones and we knew that. We competed and had chances. I’m proud of the guys. They came down here after a day off and split.”

Game 42 Recap: Blue Sox 3, Mountaineers 1

Christian Isbell hurled eight strong innings
in a tough loss. He struck out six. 

For the second straight night in a row, one inning doomed the Vermont Mountaineers.

Searching for a win to keep pace with the likes of Winnipesaukee and Keene, Vermont jumped ahead in the first frame, but the combination of a three-run second and strong pitching from the Valley Blue Sox resulted in a disappointing 3-1 loss.

The Mountaineers fell to 18-24 and sit tied with the Upper Valley Nighthawks for sixth place. They’re both a game out of fourth place, as Winnipesaukee rolled to a win over North Adams last night. Now, Vermont’s playoff fate will be decided on the last day of the season.

Monday’s scheduled doubleheader against the Nighthawks was to Tuesday due to rain. To make the playoffs, Vermont needs a combination of things to happen. If they sweep the doubleheader, Winnipesaukee needs to lose one of their last two games against either Valley or Mystic, as the Mountaineers hold the tiebreaker.

If Vermont splits the doubleheader, they’ll need both Keene and Winnipesaukee to lose all of their remaining games. The Swamp Bats play in Newport tonight. If Vermont is swept by Upper Valley, they’re officially eliminated from the playoffs.

For a 13-year-old franchise, just a year removed from their third championship in team history, sneaking in on the last day of the season is an unfamiliar situation. Vermont won the division in the regular season each of the past two years, securing home field advantage all the way through the league championship series. Now, they’re fighting to just get in, and would be playing much of the postseason on the road.

Sunday’s loss to the Blue Sox didn’t help their cause. Vermont starter Christian Isbell hurled eight innings, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced. However, a pair of walks and two hits in the third allowed Valley to take the lead for good.

A strong start from left-hander Greg Jacnewitz, paired with two innings apiece from reliever Conor Donovan and Sam Donko allowed the Blue Sox to hold Vermont in check. Jacnewitz gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan Fineman in the first inning, but it was all the Mountaineers would manage.

Jacnewitz threw five innings, striking out six and scattering six hits. Donovan bridged the gap to the eighth with a pair of scoreless innings, striking out three and stranding a runner at third. Donko, finally, recorded his sixth save. He retired the first four batters he faced, then worked around a pair of baserunners in the ninth.

Trailing 1-0, the Blue Sox got to work in the second. After going 1-2-3 in the first, Chris Starch and Mark Grunberg each drew walks with one out. Zach Goldstein doubled in a run, and Kipp Moore poked a two-run single in the hole to break the tie.

Isbell would respond by allowing just three hits over the final six innings while striking out five, but Vermont’s woes with runners on base continued. They out-hit Valley, 8-6, but left eight runners on base. It was similar to Saturday’s loss to North Adams, where they stranded 12 runners in a one-run loss. Vermont’s average has dipped to .250 with runners in scoring position, a mark below the league average.

It was a tough loss, and it put’s considerable pressure on Tuesday’s doubleheader. Tonight, Mountaineers fans should tune in as Winnipesaukee visits Valley and Keene travels to Newport. Both games begin at 6:30 p.m. Vermont will be rooting for the home team in both matchups.

Game 41 Recap: SteepleCats 4, Mountaineers 3

Michael Fairchild hurled a complete game, but was a tough-luck loser thanks to five Vermont errors.

In a flashback to the shaky start to the season for the Mountaineers, Vermont struggled with runners in scoring position and had errors come back to haunt them in a disappointing 4-3 loss at the hands of the visiting North Adams SteepleCats Saturday night.

With the bases loaded for the SteepleCats in the fifth in a tied game, Mountaineers left fielder Keegan Meyn misplayed the bounce on a run-scoring single, then airmailed a throw into the North Adams bullpen attempting to catch a runner taking third. Both errors brought in runs on a three-run play, and the SteepleCats built a 4-1 lead that would hold up against a Vermont rally.

The loss, Vermont’s fifth of the season at the hands of North Adams, dropped the team into a three-way tie for the fourth playoff spot in the Northern Division. Currently jockeying with Upper Valley, Winnipesaukee, and Keene in a race to the postseason, Vermont’s fifth straight loss at home allowed the Muskrats and Nighthawks to pull even. Winnipesaukee knocked off Valley, 5-3, while Upper Valley had the night off.

The loss makes things more difficult for Joe Brown’s club. Instead of entering their final three games alone in fourth, Vermont is now stuck in a three-way tie. The Mountaineers, Muskrats, and Nighthawks all have three games remaining, with Vermont and Upper Valley squaring off in a doubleheader on Monday. It’s a tremendously close division, and this level of parity has made for intense competition down the stretch.

Vermont jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning, as Trevor Ezell drew a leadoff walk against SteepleCats ace Braxton Wilks and came around to score on Mikael Mogues’ single. It was all they would manage against Wilks, however, who worked in and out of trouble.

The All-Star southpaw walked seven and gave up four hits in five innings of work, but came away with his NECBL-best seventh win of the summer. Vermont loaded the bases with nobody out in the third, but Wilks induced a pop-up then struck out Will Morgan and Meyn back-to-back.

Vermont starter Michael Fairchild worked around several jams, but ran into trouble in the fifth. A double, a hit batsmen and a single loaded the bases, setting up Meyn’s blunder. Fairchild rallied to go four more strong innings, turning in a complete-game effort. The right-hander went a season-high nine innings, scattering eight hits and a walk while striking out four. He was a tough-luck loser, as a shaky Mountaineers defense committed five errors behind him.

Fairchild’s strong rest of the game enabled the Mountaineers to work back into it against the SteepleCats bullpen, though. Catcher Ryan Fineman greeted reliever Josh Simpson with a one-out home run to left field in the sixth, launching a shot that was easily gone off the bat. A costly passed ball from SteepleCats catcher John Mazza allowed another run to come across against Simpson, as Trevor Ezell scored third and alertly swiped home as well when Mazza couldn’t locate the ball at his feet.

However, the SteepleCats hunkered down. Andrew Camiolo worked around a one-out single in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts, and right-hander Brian Stepniak threw two scoreless innings. He gave up a two-out double in the ninth, but induced a game-ending flyout from Meyn. There was miscommunication between two SteepleCats, but left fielder Nick Riotto made a diving catch to end the game.

The loss dropped Vermont to 18-23. North Adams jumped into the second spot in the Northern standings after Valley dropped a doubleheader, improving to 23-19.

Game 40 Recap: Mountaineers 10, Muskrats 4

TJ Santiago went 7 2/3 in the win, his fourth straight start of 5+ IP. 

Spotless defense, strong hitting, and good pitching. Seems like a pretty straightforward recipe for success, and that’s the complete team effort the Vermont Mountaineers turned in on Friday night, rolling to a 10-4 win over the Winnipesaukee Muskrats to take over sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot.

The Mountaineers piled up 15 hits, breaking out of a recent mini-slump that saw them enter last  night’s slugfest having scored just seven runs in their previous four games combined. Starter TJ Santiago continued to establish himself as one of the team’s most reliable pitchers, allowing three runs over seven-plus innings in his fourth straight of at least five innings.

Will Morgan went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, Jeremy Giles had a two-run shot of his own, and Slade Heggen, Michael Osinski, and Mikael Mogues all turned in multi-hit efforts. Entering the ninth with a three-run lead, Vermont broke it open, scoring four runs against a pair of Muskrats relievers.

The win was pivotal for Vermont, who improved to 18-22 and put a game between themselves and the Muskrats. Upper Valley knocked off Valley, however, keeping pace and pulling a half-game within the Mountaineers. Monday’s doubleheader between the league’s two Vermont franchises will potentially be huge.

Vermont built a 6-3 lead and it appeared it would hold up behind Santiago and reliever Chandler Sedat, but the Mountaineers offense added some for good measure. Osinski, Morgan, and Heggen all had RBI singles, while Heggen came around to score his third run of the game on a wild pitch.

The Mountaineers jumped ahead 3-0 early, with leadoff hitter Trevor Ezell singling and coming around to score on a Mogues RBI single in the first. A costly fielding error, one of four on the day for the league’s best defense, set up Giles two-run home run.

Winnipesaukee answered in the second against Santiago, as Michael Alescio singled in a run, but Vermont stayed ahead. Joe Tietjen brought in a run with a single in the fourth, and the Muskrats Ryan Stekl hit a solo shot to answer in the bottom of the frame.

Muskrats starter Cain Spangler, making his first start after serving as a closer for much of the season, began to labor in the late innings. He worked a 1-2-3 sixth with three groundouts, but walked Mogues in the seventh and was chased when Morgan launched a two-run shot.

Spangler took the loss, allowing six runs, three earned, on 11 hits and a walk. He struck out six over 6 1/3.

Santiago eventually left with two outs in the eighth after giving up his second home run of the game, a solo shot to Anthony Maselli. Sedat gave up a run on a fielders choice in the ninth, but it was too little, too late for Winnipesaukee.

Santiago got the win, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks, striking out nine. Sedat threw 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing a run while striking out one.

Vermont returns to action tonight, hosting the North Adams SteepleCats. The SteepleCats, in the three-spot, were dealt a tough, 13-inning loss to Sanford. North Adams took an 8-2 lead into the ninth, but Sanford rallied for six runs to tie, then won in the 13th on an infield single.

North Adams shut out Vermont, 10-0, on Tuesday. The SteepleCats are a perfect 4-0 against the Mountaineers this summer, and they’re looking to finish off the season sweep.