Davis dominates after shaky first inning

Davis in his windup. /Crowley Photo

Nerves and a sellout Recreation Field crowd got to Vermont starter Ryan Davis, and he spotted Laconia three runs in a 33-pitch first inning. However, the junior from Le Moyne outdueled Jack English over the next five 2/3 innings and his teammates rallied around him for a late win.

Entering yesterday's game, the pitching matchup was a potential mismatch. English had locked down the Mountaineers over seven shutout innings in his last start, while Davis has been up and down this season after winning Pitcher of the Week honors to start the summer.

Turn's out that it wasn't a mismatch, but not the way you would've expected. Davis bounced back from the shaky first inning- in which saw manager Joe Brown come out to the mound and silenced a sellout crowd of 1,521- and retired 14 in a row and pitched into the seventh. Throw in a seven-run seventh from his teammates, who figured out English the third time through the lineup and chased him as well as two other pitchers, and we got a blowout. Vermont 9, Laconia 3

Davis had his offspeed working after the first inning, and he attacked the strikeout-prone Muskrats with the finesse of a surgeon. He struck out Jack Sunberg on a changeup, a pitch he felt he had rare command of, that made him look silly, and then struck out five guys over the next five innings to bring his total to six on the night.

"I was locating my pitches," Davis said. "I tried to keep them off balance and it was great to have an excellent defense behind me."

He didn't get a win, however, leaving at 117 pitches in the seventh after loading the bases as he struggled for the first time since the first inning. Davis's teammate, Sam Spencer, got him out of the jam with a groundout and he finished with a game score (Bill James) of 57.

Davis has now turned in four consecutive quality starts and has emerged as one of many aces on the Vermont team after struggling over back-to-back starts after winning pitcher of the week. He gave up nine runs, six earned, over just nine innings in matchups against Valley and Laconia. He combined to allow 22 hits and walk four.

"I had a rough game after my first start," Davis continued. "But since then, I feel like I've bounced back nicely and gotten used to pitching to the hitters in this league and really trusting my pitches."

He did need 117 pitches, so he's ruled out until the championship series- where Davis could make a start if the Mountaineers get there. With the way he's pitching, Vermont has a talented group of starters who can go deep in games and really help in these playoffs for the bullpen to get rest.

Game Scores: Presenting a plethora of pitching duels

Bill James devised a metric called the "Game Score" which measures a pitchers value per start. It's a way to see just how dominant they were in an individual start. I've decided to use each of the starters average game score to find the best pitching matchup on the schedule tonight. (Note: WAR stands for Wins Above Replacement and is calculated by Lewie Pollis's formula)

Most Highly Rated Game 
Mystic at Plymouth | 6:30 p.m.
Schooner's Michael Concato (57, 1.61 ERA, 1.7 WAR) vs. Pilgrim's Thomas Jankins (70, 0.41 ERA, 3.3 WAR)

Jankins has been undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the league- he enters with a NECBL-leading 0.41 ERA. Concato, on the other hand, doesn't qualify for the ERA title but has an impressive 1.61 ERA over 39 innings. Both are aces and have yet to meet, but Concato outdueled Pilgrims star Nicholas Berger while Jankins was impressive at the All-Star game as the South starter. Mystic and Plymouth have strong offenses, but it could be come down to a lone run or two as this duo should lock in a battle.

Runner Up
Ocean State at Newport | 6:35 p.m.
Wave's Mitchell Jordan (55, 2.20 ERA, 1.1 WAR) vs. Gull's John Kilichowski (68, 0.61 ERA, 1.8 WAR)

Kilichowski came late after pitching in the College World Series for the D-I Vanderbilt Commodores. He's been untouchable through 26 2/3 innings and is averaging almost 12 strikeouts per nine innings. He's made just four starts but already has the second highest single game score (82) with 12 strikeouts over seven shutout innings. Jordan had a 14-inning scoreless streak at one point with his best game being five shutout innings with six strikeouts.

One Brief Note
The best individual game score out of any of these pitchers was an 85 by Concato against last place New Bedford. The Dartmouth right-hander hurled eight shutout innings and struck out nine while allowing just three hits and not issuing a walk.

The Rest
Vermont's Ryan Davis (53, 2.68 ERA, 1.0 WAR) vs. Laconia's Jack English (60, 1.52 ERA, 1.9 WAR)
Keene's Matt Blandino (51, 3.99 ERA, 0.2 WAR) vs. Sanford's Nick Poore (64, 1.80 ERA, 1.0 WAR)

Lyman takes Player of the Week Honors

Lyman looks to lay down a bunt. /Crowley Photo

Vermont Mountaineer outfielder Colin Lyman, a rising sophomore from Louisville, was named the NECBL Player of the Week. He was the third Mountaineer to take home weekly honors, second only to Plymouth (4) for most on the year.

NECBL release:

"At the dish, Lyman certainly made his case for the league’s top performer last week. The Louisville rising sophomore torched the opposition by finishing 12-for-17 at the plate with a league-best .706 batting average. His versatility helped the Mountaineers win four more games as he contributed four runs, two doubles, one home run and four RBI while, most impressively finishing with six stolen bases in seven attempts, a mark that was second most in the league during that stretch.

The left-handed outfielder finished the regular season with a .379 batting average in 23 games, posting a 22-for-58 clip at the plate with 14 runs, three doubles, a triple, homer and seven RBI while totaling an impressive .930 OPS and .379/.413/.517 slash line."

Five Northern Division Quarterfinal Questions

Both of these matchups are interesting and exciting. Sanford might be the No. 2 seed, but Keene has a 4-2 lead in the season series. Vermont won the division and the season series against Laconia- but have been pummeled 11-0 by the resilient Muskrats after several off days.

Here are five questions about the Northern Division quarterfinals.

How good is Laconia's offense?

Martinez

It is the best in the league in terms of average (.270) and they feature strong bats up and down the lineup. They're aggressive (3rd in stolen bases) and have erupted in several games. The Muskrats have four guys over .315 on the season, including the dangerous Braxton Martinez.

They have seven guys who have 14+ RBIs, but I don't think this is the league's best offense. Mystic, Vermont and several Southern Division teams all score more runs. They might have a high average, but they're on base percentage and OPS is fourth. In conclusion, it's a top-five lineup but not the best in the playoffs.

What does Vermont do without Elliot Ashbeck?

Ashbeck

Elliot Ashbeck had one of the best seasons for a Vermont starter but was still snubbed for an All-Star spot. He was shut down by his college coach after going 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA over seven starts. The Mountaineers will miss him, particulary if they face off against Sanford as the Bradley right-hander was dominant against the Mainers- 14 innings of one-run ball while allowing just nine hits.

However, the Mountaineers shouldn't skip a beat- just like they didn't when they lost Evan Bell to knee surgery. Bell had had made three excellent starts, but Vermont has more then enough depth. Ryan Davis, Ty Wiest, Daniel Koger and Sam Spencer form a strong postseason rotation, and they can get spot starts from the likes of Jordan Doyle and Cameron Sorgie if needed.

What kind of momentum does Keene have?

Blandino

Once again, Keene started their season poorly. After last season's early debacle, many people had all but ruled out the Swamp Bats. That was before they were incredible in July, seized the division title and went on to take the championship from Newport.

Rinse. Repeat. A new squad of Swamp Bats- a group that Kevin Watterson said was the best he'd assembled on paper- started just as poorly, going 1-7. They bounced back, putting together win streaks of four and five to sit at .500 on July 2nd. A playoff spot was in reach, and Keene closed out the year winning five of eight to take the No. 3 spot, avoiding a playin game with North Adams.

Do they have momentum? Well, Keene- led by four hitters over .400 over the last five games- have looked like the Swamp Bats of last year with strong pitching and even better hitting. Momentum is questionable, however, as they have a depleted pitching corps- it should be interesting to see how they fare against a very talented Mainers pitching staff. Matt Blandino get's the start in game one.

Who enters on the hottest streak?

Lyman

Vermont. The division champions went 15-8 in July and cemented themselves as the Northern Division champions. They tied a franchise record in wins while also sharing the monthly lead in wins with Plymouth. Sure, they had a letdown at the hands of North Adams (eventually resorting to position players in a rout) as they tried to set the record, but they had the playoffs locked up.

Even more dangerous is Vermont's production from several different players. Colin Lyman has been hitting the ball exceptionally well- .706 over his last five games as he's 12 for his last 17. After Lyman, Ian Sagdal is hitting .500 after struggling early on and has really hit his stride. Those two, combined with the trio of All Stars in the lineup make this Mountaineers team a dangerous offense.

Best bullpen?

Gesell

It's hard to really judge this by individual stats, because many relievers in the NECBL end up starting a game or two. You can, however, look at situational stats. Laconia has never blown a lead after six innings (a perfect 15-0), while Vermont (23-2), Keene (17-4) and Sanford (17-2) have all been good.

However, entering the ninth, nobody has been as good as the Mountaineers. They're a perfect 23-0 behind the unconventional approach- seven different players have recorded saves. Jared Gesell leads the way, having picked up five while utility man Adam Picard has four.

Monday's Probable Pitchers: Playoffs

The NECBL Playoffs are underway tonight, with eight teams in action. New Bedford, Danbury, North Adams and Valley all went home empty handed.

No. 4 Laconia vs. No. 1 Vermont, Recreation Field at 6:30 p.m.

Jack English (Muskrats): The rising senior at Florida Gulf Coast toes the rubber against a Mountaineers squad he shut down last time out. On July 5th, he went seven shutout innings at Recreation Field and allowed just three hits while striking out five. He's an impressive 4-1 on the season with a 1.52 ERA over seven starts. He has 40 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings of work.

Ryan Davis (Mountaineers): Vermont sends Ryan Davis to the mound, a southpaw from Le Moyne who had success against the Muskrats on opening night- even earning him NECBL Pitcher of the Week honors. Davis went six shutout innings and struck out four while issuing just one walk. Laconia figured him out the second time around, however, as he gave up seven runs (three earned) over just 3 1/3 innings of work in his shortest start of the summer. He's currently turned in three straight quality starts and is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA on the season.

No. 3 Keene vs. No. 1 Sanford, Goodall Park at 6:30 p.m.

Matt Blandino (Swamp Bats): A 33rd round pick last year, Blandino is a righty from Central Connecticut State. He's split his time between the bullpen and rotation for Keene, and has turned in a complete game effort in one of his six starts. Blandino has an ERA of 3.99 and a 2-2 record. His complete game was a gem as he allowed just two earned runs and issued a lone walk while striking out three.

Nick Poore (Mainers): A southpaw who is a rising senior from Boston College, Poore has been excellent on a Mainers team that ranks second in the NECBL in ERA. He's 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances. He's yet to face the Swamp Bats, but has turned a pair of quality starts (back-to-back) and hasn't allowed more then an earned run per appearance. He also has 25 strikeouts in 25 innings and has issued just seven walks.

No. 3 Ocean State vs. No. 1 Newport, Cardines Field at 6:35 p.m.

Mitchell Jordan (Waves): A sophomore righthander from Stetson, Jordan has been the ace of the Waves rotation. He's made eight appearances, six of which were starts, and is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA. It's first on the team among pitchers who have started more then two games and he's struck out an impressive 27 in 32 1/3 innings of work. He's faced Newport twice this season- in a start and out of the bullpen and has given up three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings of work while striking out three.

John Kilichowski (Gulls): A sophomore from the D-I champion Vanderbilt Commodores, Kilichowski has carried over his collegiate success to Newport. The righty pitched in the College World Series and was dominant over four starts with the Gulls so far this summer. He's 2-2, but hasn't given up more then one earned run in any of his starts and has turned in back-to-back double-digit numbers in strikeouts. In his last start, he blanked North Adams over seven innings with 12 strikeouts and has an impressive 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Perfect Game clocked him at 90 with a plus curveball and a rare changeup.

No. 4 Mystic vs. No. 1 Plymouth, Forges Field at 6:30 p.m.

Michael Concato (Schooners): Dartmouth's Rookie of the Year, Concato is a 6-1 righty who has been dominant through sevens starts. He's 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA and is currently on an impressive 21 scoreless innings streak. He's gone three straight shutout starts of 6, 8, 6 and has three quality starts on the season. Concato faced Plymouth on June 29th and went five innings, allowing three runs- just one of which was earned- on eight hits while striking out four and not issuing a walk. He has 36 strikeouts in 39 innings of work and has a 1.18 WHIP.

Thomas Jankins (Pilgrims): Jankins, a righty from Quinnipiac, started the season on a 29 2/3 scoreless innings streak and has been absolutely dominant for the best team in the South. He's 5-0 with a 0.40 ERA (which leads the league by 0.35 over teammate Nicholas Berger) and hasn't given up a run over his last 11 1/3 innings. He's made five starts, four of which where he didn't allow a run and all were quality starts. Jankins set down the side with a strikeout in the All-Star game and has yet to face the Schooners.

Northern Division Playoffs set

With a Keene win and a North Adams loss, the Northern Division playoff matchups are set. It did not go to playin games, or get complicated with tiebreakers.

1. Vermont Mountaineers (27-15)
2. Sanford Mainers (24-18)
3. Keene Swamp Bats (21-21)
4. Laconia Muskrats (20-22)
-------------------------------
5. North Adams SteepleCats (19-23)
6. Valley Blue Sox (14-28)

No. 4 Laconia at No. 1 Vermont (Recreation Field, Robbie Mills Field, Rec if necessary)
No. 3 Keene at No. 2 Sanford (Goodall Park, Alumni Field, Goodall Park if necessary)

Northern Division 3-4 seeds come down to final day

Keene looks to defend their crown. /Ryan Beal

The NECBL is never disappointing in terms of playoff races, and the 3-4 seeds in the Northern Division are still up in the air on the final day of the season. Keene, Laconia and North Adams are within a game of each other, with the Swamp Bats and SteepleCats both needing wins. Their are several scenarios, so I'll do by best to take you through them.

North Adams hosts Valley, while Sanford hosts Keene. The Mainers already have the No. 2 seed locked up.

North Adams wins, Keene wins
The Swamp Bats improve to .500 and take the No. 3 seed, while North Adams pulls into a two-way tie for fourth with Laconia. The Muskrats and SteepleCats will play a one-game playoff to decide who takes on No. 1 Vermont, and it will be held in Laconia as they're 4-2 against North Adams.

North Adams wins, Keene loses
Three-way tie for third! All team's sit at 20-22 on the season. Laconia wins the tiebreaker for third place because of head-to-head (per NECBL commissioners office). Then, North Adam's and Keene will play eachother in a play-in game.

I'm not 100% sure how the NECBL decided that. Here's the head-to-head records.
                             Laconia        Keene      North Adams
Laconia                      x               3-3              4-2
Keene                      3-3               x                2-4
North Adams           2-4             4-2                 x

North Adams beats Keene, Laconia beats North Adams. Kind of like rock paper scissors.

North Adams loses, Keene wins
North Adams is done. Keene get's No. 3, Laconia get's No. 4.

North Adams loses, Keene loses
North Adams is done. Keene and Laconia tie for third so it goes to head-to-head record. They've each picked up three wins against eachother, so it goes to head-to-head record against the first place team, Vermont. Laconia is 2-4, Keene is 2-4. Another tiebreaker! It then goes to record against the second place team, Sanford. The Swamp Bats are 3-2, while the Muskrats are 1-5 so Keene get's the No. 3.

Simplified (3/4 seeds)
Keene, Laconia- NA loss, KSB win or NA loss, KSB loss
Laconia, North Adams/Keene- NA win, KSB loss
Keene, Laconia/North Adams- NA win, KSB win