Danbury’s lineup erupted for eleven hits and coasted to a 7-2 win over North Adams.
The Westerners (8-8) improved to 4-0 against North Adams on the season, and the Steeplecats (4-12) dropped their eighth consecutive game against West Division opponents to start their 2022 campaign.
Eight hitters in the Danbury lineup had at least one hit in Saturday night’s contest. Westerners’ left fielder Korey Morton went 2-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs and two runs scored. The UConn product went 5-9 with a double, a home run, and 7 RBIs this week against Steeplecats’ pitching.
Westerners’ third baseman Sam Mongelli and center fielder Jermaine White recorded multi-hit games, and right fielder Billy Gerlott went 1-3 with a double and a run scored.
Steeplecats’ third baseman Ryan Galanie went 2-4 with a two-run blast in the third inning, and first baseman Cedric Rose had a 2-4 night as well. Scott Jones also had a two-hit night and walked in his second at-bat.
In the top of the third, North Adams grabbed a 2-0 lead on a two-run shot off the bat of Ryan Galanie. Steeplecats’ shortstop Tyler Epstein ripped a one-out double off the left-field wall, and Galanie crushed a rocket over the high wall in right-center field to put his team by two.
Danbury would quickly respond with a four-spot in the bottom of the third. Jermaine White sprayed a one-out single into left field to kick things off, and Billy Gerlott smoked a double into the right-center gap to put runners on second and third. Korey Morton followed Gerlott by hitting a check-swing grounder to the first-base side, but the first baseman made a wild throw to the pitcher hustling over to cover first base. The errant throw allowed White and Gerlott to score easily and tie the game at 2. Hank Thomas then clobbered a two-run blast over the center-field wall and onto Memorial Drive. Thomas’ long ball was his third of the season, and it gave Danbury a 4-2 advantage.
“I was just trying to move Morton over to second and drive in the runner from third,” Thomas said after the game when talking about his home run. “It’s been nice to come back here (Danbury) for a second season because the guys are awesome.”
Danbury’s bullpen dominated again by hurling five shutout innings and only allowing three hits to North Adams’ lineup. Westerners’ relief pitcher Curtis Clark (2-0) earned the win after throwing three shutout innings for his ballclub, and Billy Oldham fanned two batters in the final two innings of the ballgame.
“I’m proud of what this entire bullpen has done all summer,” Coach Ratchford said after the win. “It’s nice to have the luxury of many arms, and it’s great to be able to attack every hitter.”
Steeplecats’ starter Cole Zaffiro (0-1) suffered his first loss this season. Zaffiro cruised through the first two innings, but the Westerners’ offense knocked him out of the game before he could work through the fourth. His final line was 3.2 innings, six runs (five earned), six hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
Westerners’ starter Cody Carwile (1-0) went 4.0 innings, surrendered two runs on four hits, walked two, and struck out five batters. His only blemish was Galanie’s two-run shot in the third, and he battled his way out of a fourth-inning jam to keep Danbury in front.
Danbury will try to build off this victory when they travel to the Maxfield Sports Complex and battle the Upper Valley Night Hawks on Sunday night. Logan Tabeling (0-0, 3.85 ERA) will make his first start for the Westerners, and the first pitch is scheduled for 5:00