Pilgrims outlast Vermont in 13 innings

The Plymouth Pilgrims batted around in the top of the 13th and scored three runs to end an almost four hour game, beating the Vermont Mountaineers 5-2. It marked the end of a league-best seven game winning streak for Vermont, who dropped their first game in ten days. 

Ben Hall turns two. /Crowley Photo

It was a pitching duel to start, as both teams starters went eight innings apiece. Plymouth's Andrew Grant didn't allow a run and struck out four in a dominant start, allowing just six hits while not walking anyone. However, the Pilgrims couldn't find much offense off of Vermont starter Daniel Koger. 

Koger needed just 78 pitches to go eight innings, his only blemish coming in the seventh inning when he spotted Plymouth two runs. He was picked up by his teammates, who rallied in the bottom of the ninth, to avoid taking the loss. He gave up just five hits while striking out three.

Vermont threatened several times early against the Pilgrims, but their opportunities were squandered by double plays. Chandler Brock and Trey Amburgey hit singles in the first and Amburgey and Jack Parenty did in the second, but inning-ending double plays kept Grant's sheet clean.

Plymouth got just one runner in scoring position over the fist six inings, but three straight singles and a passed ball brought home two runs in the seventh. Michael Martin and Vince Guglietti hit back-to-back singles and moved over on a sacrifice bunt. 

Martin came home on a passed ball from Vermont catcher Josh Treff and then Guglietti came home on a RBI single from Brent Rooker. Plymouth went to their bullpen in the ninth, and they blew the two run lead.

Parenty hit a ground ball to Pilgrims shortstop Josh Ake, who threw it wild to give Parenty second base. Amburgey reached on a single to move Parenty over and then pinch hitter Robbie Knightes grounded into a fielders choice, scoring Parenty.

Knightes then moved to second on a wild pitch before coming home on a RBI single from Ryan Donovan. Donovan swung on the first pitch and chopped a ball that died in the grass in front of short. He barely beat out the throw to first to tie the game. 

Vincenzo Aiello took the blown save for Plymouth, who's bullpen shut down the Mountaineers until the bottom of the 12th. Coulton Lee threw two strong innings until he walked Harasta to lead off the 12th.

Harasta was pinch ran for by Alex Caruso, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brock. Parenty then beat out an infield single to set up first and second for Amburgey, who lined a base hit into left field.

Caruso was sent home and gunned out at the plate by Rooker. On the play, Parenty rounded second and then hesitated before taking off for third. Plymouth catcher Logan Koch threw down to third and got him out erase a potentially game-winning run.

Plymouth loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 13th on reliever Jared Gesell, who left with all three runners aboard. Vermont brought in Rob Strader, who got a flyout before giving up a go-ahead two-run single to Pilgrim designated hitter Matt Walsh.  Strader then gave up back-to-back walks to bring home another run to give Plymouth a lead for good.

Gesell took the loss, while Pilgrim reliever Coulton Lee picked up the win. Thomas Jankins picked up the save as he threw a scoreless 13th. 

Ryan Davis toes the mound for the Mountaineers, who dropped to 9-5, tomorrow night when they travel down to Sanford to take on the Mainers (7-7). Davis is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and has struggled over his last two starts, allowing a combined 21 hits and 13 runs over nine innings of work. 

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

Mistakes plague Muskrats as Mountaineers win opener

LACONIA, N.H. — The Laconia Muskrats beat themselves on Friday night as errors, wild pitches, hit batters and passed balls accounted for all five runs as the Vermont Mountaineers won their season opener, 5-0.

Early mistakes plagued the Muskrats and starter Jordan Sheffield as a pair of error-filled innings- a two-run second and a three-run ninth- was plenty of support for Mountaineers starter Ryan Davis. 

Trey Amburgey and Alex Caruso reached on errors in the second and came around on a two-base error to give the Mountaineers an early 2-0 lead.

Both pitchers were very strong in the innings that followed, as Sheffield allowed just four hits and struck out five. He got out of several jams and made a couple of athletic plays off the mound, including an unassisted groundout where he beat out Caruso to first.

Davis, meanwhile, allowed just one hitter past second base over six shutout innings. Laconia hitters struggled against his combination of strong offspeed pitches and a quick-working style to strike out eight Muskrats.

His strong start was needed for the Mountaineers who don’t have their full roster yet and are especially weak on the pitching side. Several pitchers haven’t arrived yet as the Super Regionals are currently going on; returning reliever Robert Strader is still pitching for Louisville.

The second inning was an odd one. Amburgey led off and reached on an error to Muskrat’s third basemen Braxton Martinez. Caruso followed it up with a walk and Elliot Ashbeck pushed them over with a sacrifice bunt.

Sheffield struck out catcher Trey West and a ground ball to shortstop Cornelius Copeland looked to be the last out but it was booted and Caruso and Amburgey raced home to get a 2-0 lead. 

Laconia got in a favorable situation in the seventh as they got Christopher Beall on with a leadoff error on shortstop Ben Hall. Davis left and handed the ball over to Jared Gesell, who shut the Muskrats down. He got a lineout, a groundout and catcher Evan Harasta threw out Beall trying to steal.

The Mountaineers almost struck again in the eighth after Jack Parenty led off the inning with a bunt single- his third hit of the game. 

Chandler Brock moved him over with a bunt but the inning ended on a strange play.

Muskrat catcher Jacob Henson fired a bullet to second as they caught Parenty off second. However, the ball was in the dirt and snuck through into center. Parenty took off and manager Joe Brown sent him home but he was thrown out at the plate by Laconia center fielder Jack Sunberg.

The bottom of the eighth was more drama as Sunberg beat out an infield single after the first two Muskrats went down on strikes. 

He stole second to get into scoring position but designated hitter Corey Geisler grounded out to Hall who made a strong defensive play.

Vermont struck for three more runs in the top of the ninth in a bizarre sequence of events. Robbie Knightes and Blake Tiberi singled and were moved over to third on a bunt. The Muskrats intentionally walked Ashbeck, then a wild pitch, walk, passed ball and hit batsman brought in all three of them.

Mountaineers Jared Gesell, who had replaced Davis in the sixth, finished off a strong three-inning outing with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout after giving off a leadoff double. Gesell fanned four and gave up just two hits.

Laconia went through four different pitchers after Sheffield, who was handed the loss despite not allowing an earned run. Davis picked up the win while Gesell earned the save.

The Mountaineers host the Valley Blue Sox tonight at 6:30 p.m.