Holyokeπs ≥Boys of Summer≤ Kick Off Home Season

Shawn R. Babcock

Holyoke, MA---The Holyoke Giants kicked off their second season of NECBL play yesterday when they faced the Concord Quarry Dogs at sunny MacKenzie Stadium.

The familiar sights and sounds of summer were once again in full-effect. Children of all sizes could be seen scurrying around the ball park chasing errant foul balls with glee, the English ≥double tier≤ Herrellπs Ice Cream bus was parked off to the side of the cleanly manicured diamond, and John Fogertyπs ≥Center Field≤ was pumping through the stadiumπs loud speakers. Summer had returned to Holyoke!

As the Giants took the field for the first time this season, they were supported with a resounding chorus of cheers from their enthusiastic fan base. A solid crowd of 489 lively baseball fans had shown up at MacKenzie to support some of New Englandπs best colligate baseball players.

Easthamptonπs own Jeremy Demers took the hill for the Giants and he was opposed by right-handed pitcher Andy McNulty for the Quarry Dogs. Demers, who was often ahead in the count during the first frame, was able to strike out the side. Although, Demers didnπt get out of the first unscathed, as he was hurt by a sharply hit double into the right-field gap by the Quarry Dogπs second-hitter, Tucker Frawley. After a wild pitch from Demers, Frawley came in to score on a tough-hop single which bounced over the head of Giantsπ shortstop Scott Patterson.

Demers continued to strike out Quarry Dogs, totaling five strike-outs through two innings. Demers gave up another run in the second as Concordπs Josh Farkes started out the inning with a sharply hit single to right, stole second, and come in to score on another line-drive to right field. Demers was saved from any further damage when Giantsπ right-fielder, Jake Doyle, made a sparkling shoe-string catch on yet another potential single to right field to end the inning.

The Quarry Dogs continued their early trend of scoring a run each inning in the third. Demers was able to retire Frawley, but then gave up a towering fly ball to center-right field off the bat of Will Bashelor which resulted in a triple. John Welch was able to get Bashelor home from third on an infield single to shortstop, just barely beating the throw from Scott Patterson. Jon Rappaport relieved Demers and was able to set down the Quarry Dogs in the top of the fourth inning, only giving up a bunt single to Concordπs Zack Mehrback.

The Giants found their bats and quickly supported their new pitcher Rappaport in the bottom of the fourth. The Giants were able to score their first run of the game in the fourth, and were also able to give the home crowd a couple of reasons to rise out of their seats. Joe Rizzo started the inning off with a walk. Bryan Sabatella then came to bat and crushed a McNulty offering deep down the right field line and just foul. After Sabatella struck out, Jake Doyle doubled in Rizzo from second on a line drive into the gap in left-center field. Wilberto Ortiz chopped out to third. Bryan Adamski then brought the Holyoke crowd to its feet for the second time in the inning with a deep drive down the right-field line that flirted with extra bases, but was corralled by Farkes who made a nice over-the-shoulder catch. The Giants were forced to settle for one run, but they were far from done swinging the bat on this night.

Rappaport quickly set down the Quarry Dogs in the top of the fifth, and the Giants went right back to work with their bats in the bottom of the inning. Jeff Mayo was hit by a McNulty offering to start the frame. Mayo moved to second on a Patterson ground out. Williams then displayed solid hustle by beating out a grounder which skipped into the first and second base hole, beating pitcher McNulty to the first base bag by a step. Mayo was able to move to third base on the play. Seth Gordon sent a solidly struck fly ball to right which was able to score Mayo from third. Joe Rizzo brought the crowd to its feet when he was able to tie the game with a clutch line-drive double down the right-field line, which scored Williams.

Josh Moore relieved Rappaport and was touched up for seven runs over the next two innings. The Giants committed three errors, and quickly let the game slip away from them. The Giants made a solid and respectable effort in the 9th inning, loading the bases and scoring a run, but in the end it was not meant to be. At least not on this night.

Second year Head Coach of the Giants, Joel Southern, knows itπs all a learning process, and itπs early in the season.

≥There were some positive aspects for us to build on...We battled back (tonight),≤ Southern said after the game. Southern indicated that heπd like to get the bulk of his pitching staff into the game early. ≥Weπre going to try to keep everyoneπs pitch count down.≤

The Giants will take another swing at victory this Friday and Saturday night at family friendly MacKenzie Stadium. Coach Southern sees it as only a matter of time before his talented group of young Giants blossom into a winning team.

≥Weπll get better,≤ Southern said. ≥Weπve just got to take it day-by-day.≤