Game 23 Recap: Mountaineers 5, Swamp Bats 0

CVU alum Rayne Supple (Wake Forest) threw four shutout innings in his first start of the summer.

There's no place like home for the Vermont Mountaineers, and that fact has become more and more evident the past few weeks.

The Mountaineers blanked division-leading Keene on Sunday night, 5-0, to win their seventh straight in the friendly confines of Recreation Field. Vermont is 4-1 to start July and haven't lost at home since June 22nd.  Rayne Supple and Kevin Kernan combined to throw a two-hitter, Will Morgan went 3-for-4 and five different Mountaineers recorded RBIs in a solid all-around effort.

"We're playing good baseball," Vermont manager Joe Brown said. "This is a long season and we have faith in our pitching. It was well-rested, and you saw that. The defense was great and we had some big two-out hitting."

"If you get four or five runs with your arms right now, you should be able to maitain and hold it. As long as there's not errors behind you."

Errors and blowing late leads cost the Mountaineers early in the season, but they've largely avoided that troubling trend lately. Seven of their last 10 games have featured either one error or none, and that's led to a 7-3 stretch that puts them squarely in contention in the Northern Division.

Since starting the year 2-11, Vermont has pulled within 3 1/2 games of first-place Keene, and sit just three games out of the fourth playoff spot in the division. They've been one of the best teams in the division over the past two weeks, with the Valley Blue Sox and North Adams SteepleCats mired in losing streaks.

They face a big test tonight, hosting the red-hot Sanford Mainers (14-12) in a huge game for momentum. Since Vermont beat the Mainers last Tuesday at home, Sanford has won five straight — including a convincing 7-1 win over the Mountaineers at Goodall Park.

Vermont sends ace Jonathan Stiever to the mound, who'll have the chance to not only win a pivotal divisional game but also make his case for the All-Star Final Vote. Stiever is 0-1 with a 1.52 ERA over five appearances, three starts.

He set down the Mainers in order last Tuesday, throwing a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout. It'll be his first start since June 21st, when he recorded his only decision of the season, a loss to New Bedford.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Vermont bats go to work early: The Mountaineers offense provided an early cushion for Supple in the bottom of the first. Joe Tietjen reached on a one-out fielding error, moved to second on a groundout and scored from second on a hard-hit RBI single up the middle from Mike Osinski. It was the second straight game Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. With that lead in hand, Supple and Kernan limited the Swamp Bats to just two hits and didn't need any additional run support.

Supple solid in first start: Making his first start of the summer, Supple built off his excellent 1-2-3 relief outing the other night against Sanford, in which he struck out all three batters he faced. His pitch count was a problem, needing 78 pitches to complete four innings. Still, the hard-throwing right-hander looked impressive.

He struck out two of the first three batters he faced, fanning three on the night. Supple walked three in the second to load the bases, but induced an inning-ending pop-up that he drifted over and caught in foul territory to escape the jam. He stranded runners at third and at second over the next two innings, leaving five runners on base in the one-hit outing.

Kernan excellent in relief: After Supple left after four, Kernan stepped up, in a big way. He needed just over 40 pitches to throw five shutout innings, allowing just two baserunners to reach while striking out three. He stranded a hit batsmen in the seventh, then converted a double play to erase a leadoff single in the eighth.

"Kevin Kernan was outstanding tonight in relief," Brown said. "That was a huge double play. If that got up the middle, there's guys on first and second with nobody out and it can turn into a 5-2 game."

Morgan heating up: After being sidelined with an injury for a brief stretch, designated hitter Will Morgan is heating up. He went 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and a run scored, bumping his average up to .300 in 12 games and 40 at bats. After going 0-for-6 over his last two games, Morgan picked up his third multi-hit game on the season. He missed a week of action earlier this summer.

Contributions up and down the lineup: On a night where All-Star first basemen Mikael Mogues went 0-for-4 (still recording a RBI on a misplayed groundout in the seventh), several players stepped up. No. 9 hitter Jeremy Giles drove in a run with a RBI double in the second and laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the fourth and Slade Heggen brought in a run with a sacrifice fly out of the eight hole.

The Mountaineers and the 2016 All-Star Game

Vermont's picked up as of late, and have plenty of deserving All-Stars

The NECBL will release the 2016 All-Star rosters soon, with the cut-off date to determine the managers of each squad just two days away. Every team is represented on the roster, and the Mountaineers easily have several candidates, in my opinion, to make the team. Even though Vermont has the fewest wins in the league, the game is truly about putting the best players in front of Major League scouts, and they have multiple good players.

Here are the candidates. That's not to say they all deserve a spot, but these are the ones that have stood out since the beginning of the season.

Mikael Mogues, 1B
Mogues has played in all 21 of the Mountaineers games, and has rapidly become a fan favorite at Recreation Field. The 6-3, 260-pound former offensive linemen boasts a slash line of .351/.404/.481, with his average ranking fifth. Nicknamed "Smokey", Mogues has excelled in the spacious confines of Vermont's home park, hitting .500 (17-for-34) in 10 games there compared to a .233 (10-for-43) mark on the road. Ignoring his splits, Mogues has been a reliable contributor and should start at first for the Northern Division. His competition? SteepleCats first basemen Keaton Wright is hitting .306 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Wright deserves a spot on the team, but most likely as Mogues' backup.

Joe Tietjen, CF
A huge part of the reason the Mountaineers are slowly turning it around has been the addition of Tietjen, who is a talented defensive outfielder who's swung a hot bat and it quick on the basepaths. Tietjen opened his summer in Vermont on an 11-game hitting streak, and is hitting .321/.400/.623 in 15 games. He's quickly accumulated nine extra-base hits, showcasing power and speed with four doubles, three triples and two home runs. Tietjen is also 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts and has scored 13 runs atop the Mountaineers lineup.

Troy Scocca, RF
Scocca hit for the cycle last week, earning him a nod as the NECBL Player of the Week. It was more of the same for the righfielder, who's established himself in the Mountaineers lineup as one of the biggest producers. Scocca leads the team with 10 extra base hits and18 RBIs, and is second in runs scored (12). He's also boasts a capable arm from right -- in 19 games, he's thrown out three runners trying to advance.

Keegan Meyn, LF
This is a trickier selection, because in the first 10 games, Meyn was hitting just .154 with zero extra-base hits and just two runs scored. Over the past two weeks, however, he's been one of the hottest hitters in the entire league. In his last 10 games, Meyn boasts a .393 average with seven runs scored and pair of RBIs while getting on base at an unprecedented rate. He's boosted his on-base percentage to .466, third in the league, as he's drawn 18 walks (second).

Mike Osinski, SS
Excellent defense? Check. Capable bat? Check. Osinski has been a stalwart for the Mountaineers since the beginning of the summer, having played in 20 of 22 games. The slick-fielding shortstop has turned seven double plays and has shown good range. At the plate, he's been even more valuable. Osinski is eighth in the league in average (.329) and has scored 11 runs.

Chandler Sedat, RP
Sedat has been Vermont's most reliable reliever, having made four scoreless appearances out of the bullpen. He's struck out 15 in 13 1/3 innings of relief, posting a microscopic 0.53 WHIP while striking out five times as many batters as he walked. One of the younger members of the staff, Sedat has allowed just four hits and issued three walks, limiting opposing batters a .095 average. Arguably the most deserving pitcher on the Mountaineers staff to make it, so expect to see him in Newport.

Jonathan Stiever, SP/RP
With the way Joe Brown manages his pitching staff, Stiever has thrown both in the rotation and the bullpen, and he's flourished. He made the best start of any Mountaineer pitcher in the season opener, throwing five no-hit innings with four strikeouts against Upper Valley. He currently ranks 11th in the league in ERA (1.52) after allowing just one run over his first two starts, both five innings long. Stiever has made a pair of scoreless appearances out of the pen and has 13 strikeouts to just six walks in 17 1/3 innings.

Joe Jacques, SP/RP
Much like Cape Cod-bound reliever Teddy Rodliff of last year's squad, Jacques has flourished with an uncovential delivery. The southpaw has baffled opposing hitters, striking out 15 and holding opponents to a .221 average over 18 1/3. Jacques ranks 10th in the league in ERA (1.44), right in front of his teammate Stiever and also has a 1.18 WHIP.

---

I just listed off eight players who have had strong seasons, but there are only so many roster spots. Out of the hitters, I'm expecting Mogues and Osinski to start, at the very least. Mogues should beat out Wright, while the Northern Division lacks star power at short. Osinski leads in most offensive metrics, his main challenger either Valley's Kyle Mottice (.246) or Winnipesaukee's Anthony Maselli (.227), both who've struggled offensively.

After that, Tietjen should earn a spot, despite playing only 15 games. He's second among all outfielders in OPS+ (199), but the one in front of him is Winnipesaukee's Anthony Godino, who also plays center field. Scocca and Meyn have both been reliable as well, but it'll be interesting to see if they can find a spot. 

Pitching is always hard to determine, because the NECBL has plenty of strong arms. The Northern Division has plenty of capable starters  -- Andrew Politi (Winnipesaukee), Braxton Wilks (North Adams), William Tribucher (Sanford), and Mark Washington (Valley) all rank in the top seven in ERA and have each made over three starts. Jacques and Stiever are among the league best in the categories, but Sedat has the best shot in my opinion as an excellent reliever. 

All in all, my bold prediction is that the Mountaineers get five All-Stars this year: Mogues, Osinski, Tietjen, Stiever, and Sedat. Scocca, Meyn, and Jacques are on the edge.

Starters are announced at 1 p.m. on the NECBL's twitter account. 

Game 22 Recap: Mountaineers 10, Blue Sox 2

Mikael Mogues (left) and Keegan Meyn combined to lead a 10-run Mountaineers attack.

The Mountaineers entered Friday night’s five-game homestand opener looking for their sixth straight win at Recreation Field, and once again, they left little doubt. Aided by sloppy defense from the visiting Valley Blue Sox, Vermont exploded for five runs in the sixth and cruised to an 8-1 victory.

Keegan Meyn homered and scored three runs, Mikael Mogues drove in three runs, and TJ Santiago threw five solid innings in the win. Over the six-game home winning streak, Vermont’s outscored their opponents 55-17, building momentum as they reach the numerical midway point of the season.

“It’s a good win all the way around, and something we can hopefully build on with four more home games," Vermont manager Joe Brown said. "This is an advantage to play here in our crowd, especially with the ‘dog days of summer,’ to have these fans cheering for you.”

Hitting sixth in the Vermont lineup, Meyn has easily been the hottest hitter on the team for the last two-plus weeks. He drew a walk in the second and scored all the way from first on a fielding error in left for Vermont’s second run, then tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with a leadoff home run to the parking lot.

In his last six games, Meyn is hitting .421 (8-for-18). One of just three Mountaineers during that span to hit over .300, Meyn has provided a much-needed boost in the lineup for Vermont. He’s also been incredibly patient, drawing a pair of walks to run his total to 19 over 18 games started.

"It’s really just been a lot of at bats,"Meyn said of his recent success. "I’ve been working on some stuff and adding to my routine, and it’s just really clicking for me right now."

Brown offered another explanation, saying this happens with many players.

"He’s a perfect example of the summer league," Brown said. "You just have to hang in there. You’re frustrated early, haven’t played in a while, but then you get going. Doing what he’s doing now -- you’re so happy for the kid."

Mogues continued to have incredible success in the spacious confines of Recreation Field, driving in three runs with a pair of hits. He drove in the games first run with a double in the opening frame, then came up big again during the five-run sixth. Valley turned to left-hander Anthony Romanelli with the bases loaded and two outs, and Mogues greeted him by lining a two-run single into right field to run his season RBI total to 16.

"The bats came alive, and hitting's contagious," Mogues said. "We always play well at home, so this home stretch is crucial for us going into the all-star break. If we have a great week, we’re in the hunt for first or second. We’ll see where it takes us."

Santiago threw five innings in his second-longest start of the summer, the lone blip a leadoff home run surrendered to Valley centerfielder Brodie Leftridge in the second. Leftridge’s home run was the only baserunner he allowed in the first three frames, retiring nine of 10.

He scattered four hits and a walk over five innings, eventually leaving after giving up a leadoff single in the sixth. Santiago struck out five in the win, his first in four starts despite being one of the more reliable options in the Mountaineers rotation.

Vermont’s Mike Osinski added a RBI infield single in the fifth. Two more runs for the Mountaineers came against Blue Sox reliever Shane Ennis, who's wild pitch brought in a run from third in the sixth. Mogues scored from first on the play, as a throw down to get him at third sailed into left field.

It was convincing win for Vermont. Valley got a run back against reliever Michael Fairchild in the eighth as Derek Bauer had a RBI single up the middle, but the Mountaineers limited further damage as Joe Tietjen threw out a runner at third. Fairchild and Joe Jacques each threw two innings of relief in the win.

"We’re trying to set up our pitching, and I thought it was a great start from TJ," Brown said. "I think he benefitted from a great rest and gave us a great start into the sixth inning. I thought Joe Jacques threw well out of the bullpen, and Michael Fairchild hadn’t thrown in a bit so he needed to get out there."

Turning a 2-11 start into a 8-14 mark at the midway point of the NECBL season is nothing to ignore. The fact that the Mountaineers have won six straight at home is a strong point in the favor of a major turnaround. Additionally, Vermont hasn’t played themselves out of a playoff spot. A crowded Northern Division is separated by just 5 1/2 games between first place Keene and the Mountaineers. The fourth spot in the postseason is only three games away.

You can’t instantly become a contender, but thanks to Vermont’s recent 6-3 surge, you can start thinking more positive about their chances moving forward. After all, 21 games in 24 days awaits, and it’s anybody’s division.

The Mountaineers host divisional foe Winnipesaukee tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Vermont Mountaineers: Big homestand starting

Vermont is 6-4 at home and has won five straight in the spacious confines of Recreation Field. They’re hitting .282 as a team and scoring more then six runs per game, all considerably better marks then on the road. They’re hitting just .223, almost 60 points lower, while posting a 1-10 record away from Montpelier.

No player better exemplifies this case then potential All Star Mikael Mogues, the team's popular first basemen. Mogues is hitting .500 (17-for-34) at home, compared to just .233 (10-for-43) on the road. These dramatic splits are visible throughout the team -- Troy Scocca at .419/.171 and Trevor Ezell at .412/.077, albeit small sample size.

Even the pitching flourishes at home, with a 2.90 ERA compared to a 4.55 mark. Opponents are also hitting 60 points worse in pitchers park that is Recreation Field, so it's a built-in advantage that Vermont's thrived on.

For that reason, a five-game stretch of games in front of a routinely-packed home crowd could be huge for momentum. The Mountaineers, at 7-14, are two games back of Upper Valley and just 5 1/2 out of first place. The Northern Division is crowded, per usual, and Vermont can gain some valuable ground.

They’ll take on third-place Valley tonight, who enters on a three-game losing streak. That’s followed by three more divisional games, including meetings with fourth-place Winnipesaukee (12-11), division-leading Keene (13-9), and Sanford (11-12). The stretch ends with a Southern Division foe in Mystic (14-10), who’ve won four straight and are heating up.

Tonight’s foe has dropped six of their last 10, but Valley have some of the best pitching in the NECBL, led by a trio of capable starters. Mark Washington, Trent Astle, and Aaron Leasher have combined to make 12 starts totaling 64 innings, posting an impressive 1.97 ERA. Vermont will deal with Astle, a southpaw who’s turned in back-to-back quality starts and held the Mountaineers to three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 back on June 17th.

The Mountaineers have had good pitching and timely hitting at home recently, so these games can definitely make a huge impact on the season. Best case scenario is Vermont obviously sweeping the five-game set, and that would put them at 12-14 on the season, a far cry from their shaky 2-11 start. They’ve gone 5-5 over their last 10 games -- and all five losses have been on the road. Every win is valuable at this point in the season, with a little over half of the season remaining.

Game 20 Recap: Mountaineers 9, Mainers 5

Vermont's Davis Feldman threw five shutout innings in the win.

The Vermont bats keep coming alive, and the Mountaineers are already starting to set a new tone in the Northern Division.

Troy Scocca launched a game-tying triple and scored on an errant overthrow, Joe Tietjen and Will Morgan homered, and Vermont rallied for seven runs in the eighth inning to extend their home game winning streak to five with a 9-5 victory over the Sanford Mainers on Tuesday night.

“There was so much energy and I was just feeding off the crowd and the guys,” Scocca said. “This is huge, and I’m looking forward at the end of the season. We just started piling on runs and fortunately we came out with the win tonight.”

After a 2-1 loss earlier in the season to the Mainers where they were held scoreless over the final four innings, Vermont got to the Sanford bullpen. After the Mountaineers relievers squandered an early two-run lead, Vermont answered. Tietjen started the rally with a solo home run, and two batters later Scocca tripled in the gap to drive in two. The relay throw to get him at third skipped out of play and he trotted home with ease.

It was a big at bat for the right fielder, who was recently named the NECBL Player of the Week. Despite that honor, Scocca had been slumping lately — he had just one hit in his last 15 at bats. Vermont manager Joe Brown attributed that pitchers have a lot of respect for him, having hit for the cycle.

“I hate the word pressing, but with the success he was having, people are going to pitch you tough,” Brown said of his at bats. “With that comes a lot of respect, so you need to be smart. I think he started chasing a little bit, like a pitch off the plate early in the count. You have to have faith in your ability and let it come in. It was a good at bat.”

Keegan Meyn singled, moved to second on a passed ball, and then to third on a single from Morgan. His decision to break home and score on a dropped third strike was what Brown describes as the ‘biggest play of the game.’

“Most hitters in the summer on a strikeout would’ve hobbled down and gone, ‘ah, I can’t really go because the catcher might look at me,’” he said. As we were talking, I said, be prepared but read the catcher. He read that and gave us the second run.”

It was an important insurance run, but Vermont wasn’t done yet. Daniel Little dropped in a RBI single to center field, then scored two batters later from third when Trevor Ezell stole second and the throw to get him skipped into center field. The inning finally ended, but the damage was done — seven runs, seven hits, two errors, and 12 batters in total. Just two innings after the Mainers struck for five runs to take the lead, it was an impressive turnaround for the Mountaineers.

“We kind of got in a lull, like oh jeez, starting to feel sorry for ourselves, and I didn’t really like that,” Brown said. “I thought there was some unbelievable at bats late in the game and baserunning won us that game, 100%. Stealing bases, Troy (Scocca) going to third and forcing that throw, and I thought that and clutch hitting won us that game.”

The Mountaineers worked through three different Sanford relievers in the eighth. Ryan O’Connor and Dalton Brown were both charged with two runs apiece, while Blaise Whitman took the loss and gave up three runs without recording an out.

Michael Landestoy hit his first home run of the season, a two-run drive in the sixth off Kevin Kernan to put the Mainers up 3-2. Todd Czinge added a RBI double off of Kernan, who entered with a two-run lead but left after just 15 pitches in line of the loss. Reliever Fitz Stadler gave up a double to Johnny Slater and a triple to Ako Thomas, both bringing in insurance runs.

It spoiled a strong start for Feldman, who left after five shutout innings in line for the win. Feldman struck out two and scattered five hits and a walk in his second good outing in a row for the Mountaineers rotation.

“I had my fastball working and I could work it in and out and I jammed them a couple times,” Feldman said. “I was a little pumped up in the first, but I felt comfortable out there. I think I’ll be pretty consistent from here on forward.”

Sanford starter Cole Whitney struck out four of the first six Mountaineers he faced, but Morgan opened the third with a solo home run to right field. Ezell added a RBI groundout in the fifth for Vermont.

Stadler settled down and retired seven straight to end his night, and Jonathan Stiever needed just 11 pitches to toss a 1-2-3 ninth for Vermont.

“The two innings Fitz threw for us after that big inning were huge to shut them down,” Brown said. “Some people also would’ve thought we’d role Stiever back out to start, but we wanted to strengthen our bullpen with some guys who can really throw. He’ll come around on the back end and start. That was his bullpen, so it worked out.”

Brown feels confident in his pitching entering a grueling 10-game stretch before the All-Star Break. Memories of a slow start are already in the rearview mirror, as Vermont’s won four of their last five and sit just three games out of a playoff spot in the North.

They’ll take on Sanford again tonight, with first pitch coming at 6:30 p.m. on the road.

The 13: Happy Birthday, America.

Here's Week 2 of the 13. Happy Fourth.

13. New Bedford Bay Sox (7-13, minus-31 run differential)

Minus-31 run differential. Yikes. Getting blown out 15-1 on the road by Vermont doesn't help the cause, but the Bay Sox are looking like the worst team in the league for a variety of reasons. They're last in runs scored (65) and ERA (4.37) and are 12th in batting average (.221). New Bedford, simply put, gives up a lot of runs and doesn't score many.

12. Newport Gulls (9-12, minus-2)

The Gulls have lost eight of their last 10 and look lost. Since starting the year 7-4, they've fallen off quite a bit. Newport ranks 11th in both ERA and batting average, and they've struggled to get anything going. It's weird to see a perennial contender three games under .500 entering July, and to make things worse they're not showing signs of heating up.

Mikael Mogues has been one of the best
hitters in the league for Vermont.

11. Vermont Mountaineers (6-13, minus-6)

After a franchise-worst start to the summer, the Mountaineers have shown signs of life. They beat then-Northern Division leading Keene twice, and have won four straight at home. They rolled over the Bay Sox, 15-1, scoring the most runs by any NECBL team in a game this season. With reliable pitching and an offense that is heating up, Vermont is in position to turn around their season. Sitting seven games under .500, the Mountaineers have a ways to go -- but they're only 4 1/2 out of the fourth playoff spot.

10. Sanford Mainers (9-11, minus-21)

Over the last five games, the Mainers are hitting .241 and have averaged four runs a game. To put into perspective their offensive woes this summer, that's a hot stretch. Sanford enters July hitting a league-worst .217 and they've averaged just 3 1/2 runs per game. Even with strong pitching, it'd be hard to overcome that.

9. Upper Valley Nighthawks (9-11, minus-3)

The league's newest franchise has lost three straight for the second time this season, and it's dropped them two games below .500. The Nighthawks lead the league in average (.275), but they've been blown out during this three-game slide. Losing games to Valley, Winnipesaukee, and Mystic, the Nighthawks have been outscored 27-8. Opponents are hitting .254 against Upper Valley pitching, a mark that ranks 10th in the league.

8. Danbury Westerners (12-12, minus-18)
7. Plymouth Pilgrims (10-10, plus-17)

Danbury and Plymouth are a pair of .500 teams I'm not sure what to say about them. The Westerners have a minus-18 run differential, and the Pilgrims are plus-17. It's interesting how much of a swing that is. The Westerners have given up a league-high 123 runs, while Plymouth's played four less games and given up 53 less runs. Random.

6. Mystic Schooners (11-10, plus-3)

The defending Southern Division champions sit three games back of Ocean State, and have alternated wins and losses for much of the season. The Schooners lead the league in runs scored and on base percentage, but they've coughed up quite a few runs with one of the league's worst pitching staffs. Mystic ranks second to last in ERA (4.36), a far cry from the template that allowed them to advance to the finals last season. With a league average pitching staff, Bill James pythagorean expectation would put them with a record of 14-7, one of the best in the leagues. 

5. Winnipesaukee Muskrats (11-9, plus-5)

The new-look Muskrats have come on as of late, entering this week with a two-game winning streak having won seven of their past 10. A crowded top of the North Division doesn't have room for four top teams, but expect the Muskrats to be one of the last teams standing. They're gaining on the Swamp Bats and have split the season series so far with them at one game apiece. Winnipesaukee's paced by Anthony Godino, one of the best players in the league, who's hitting .357/.471/.586 with four doubles, four home runs, 20 runs, and 12 walks.

Vermonter Mike LaBeau has been excellent.

4. Keene Swamp Bats (12-8, minus-15)

How does a top four team have a minus-15 run differential? By winning a lot of close games and getting blown out in others. The Swamp Bats, losers of two straight, are a team that could very easily be 8-12 instead of 12-8. They've lost back-to-back games to last place Vermont, and are a mediocre 5-5 over their last 10 games. Since starting the year 7-1, they've gone just 4-7. It's easy to see that Keene could continue to fall, but they do have bright spots. Michael LaBeau has been one of the league's best relievers, piling up six saves, while fellow reliever Carmen Giampetruzzi has been equally dominant.

3. North Adams SteepleCats (11-9, plus-19)

The SteepleCats have gone 1-3 since my last edition of these rankings, losing three straight after winning three in a row. That back-and-forth play has been maddening for North Adams fans, but they have potential. They're second in the league in runs scored and are lurking just outside of first in the North. 

2. Valley Blue Sox (12-8, plus-34)

You can easily make an argument for the Blue Sox at the top, notably with both run differential (the best in a landslide) and how well-rounded they are. Winners of three straight, Valley is heating up once again and have a dangerous roster. They're second in team average (third in runs scored) and third in ERA, and they've also swiped a league-best 47 bases. The Blue Sox have pop and get on base -- their .262/.358/.387 slash line is second in the league. 

1. Ocean State Waves (13-6, plus-18)

The Waves are 3-4 (still on pace for 30 wins) since their 10-2 start, and that includes a pair of losses to Danbury and another to New Bedford. They've slowed down, and a huge part of that has been a lack of production of the offensive side of things. Ocean State has the league's best pitching, easily -- they rank first in both ERA (2.42) and opponent average (.210). However, the offense has cooled off, hitting just .184 over the last five games. Ocean State beat Mystic and Newport back-to-back to keep their top spot, but they've averaged just over two runs a game during this recent 2-3 stretch, and will have to heat up to stay atop the league.

Game 19 Recap: Mountaineers 3, Swamp Bats 1

Vermont's won four straight at home and sit at 6-13 on the year. 

In a dramatic, back-and-forth affair, it came down to one crucial play.

Keene catcher Evan McFarland’s throw sailed to the bullpen down the right field line after fielding Ryan Fireman’s bunt attempt in the bottom of the eighth, allowing Keegan Meyn to race all the way around from second to score. A batter later, Fireman beat out a throw from third on a sacrifice fly from Trevor Ezell, and Vermont came away with a 3-1 victory, their fourth straight at home.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Mountaineers manager Joe Brown said. “We’re swinging the bats well. We’re playing very good defense and the three pitchers we had tonight pitched great, they only gave up one run and got out of some tough situations.”

Vermont jumped ahead as fast as they could, taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first. Trevor Ezell, who’s provided a jolt since arriving in Montpelier six games ago, drew a leadoff walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch from Swamp Bats starter Andrew O’Brien, then took third on a passed ball. Vermont’s Mikael Mogues drove him in a batter later, launching a deep sacrifice fly to center field that brought Ezell in without a throw.

Backed by an excellent defense, O”Brien quickly settled down and turned in his best start of the summer. He went a season-high seven innings, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out two. O’Brien ran into trouble throughout the night, but his defense helped him out of it. Catcher Evan McFarland threw out two would-be basestealers and an inning-ending double play in the sixth left the go-ahead run stranded at third base.

The Swamp Bats avoided giving O’Brien a tough-luck loss, but they struggled to convert their chances against Vermont. Mountaineers starter Joe Rocchietti also had a strong defense behind him, allowing him to work out of several jams. He used a double play to escape a first-and-third threat in the second, but was chased in fifth. After giving up a pair of singles, he left with runners on the corners.

Reliever Joe Jacques, his college teammate at Manhattan entered, and gave up a game-tying infield single to Brandt Stallings. Another run would’ve scored, but Mountaineers shortstop Mike Osinski made an excellent diving stop to hold it to one run. A few pitches later, Osinski snagged a line drive up the middle to end the inning.

Jacques ran into trouble an inning later and was pulled with two runners in scoring position. Vermont turned to Chandler Sedat, who induced an inning-ending groundout to escape the jam. He rolled through three more shutout innings in an excellent relief outing, running his scoreless innings streak to 13 to open the summer. Sedat struck out five and didn’t allow a hit.

“He’s been awesome,” Brown said of the right-hander. “He’s well-rested, as are all of our pitchers. With our two off days, we should be ready for this stretch. We’ve been spending time on getting guys set up for this stretch.”

Keene reliever Taylor Goshen took the loss. He gave up a leadoff single to Keegan Meyn, who moved to second on his wild pitch. McFarland’s costly error and a sacrifice fly from Ezell resulted in two unearned runs being charged to the right-hander, who took his second loss in just his third appearance of the summer.

“Ryan’s thought process was about hitting to the right side and he executed a perfect bunt,” Brown said. “There was some miscommunication between the pitcher and the catcher and that’s why you put bunts down- things happen.”

“I think one of the best at bats was Trevor Ezell’s. He fought it off, fought it off, and then hit it to left field. That was huge.”

With two off days before their next home game, a Tuesday matchup against Sanford, the Mountaineers are in good position. Brown feels confident in his team moving forward, as Vermont has won four of their last six and are shaking off a slow start, sitting at 6-13 on the summer.

“Our schedule sets up well for us,” he said. “We just need to keep playing this kind of baseball, and I don’t think anybody is going to look forward to playing us if we hang in there.”