News 07/28

Giants still battling for playoff berth
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
By RICK LAJOIE

HOLYOKE - The Holyoke Giants were off Sunday, save for Isidro Fortuna and Wilson Matos who were playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game.

The break enabled the squad to catch its breath for a final stand this week, a playoff spot still very much in their reach.

The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs and Holyoke was in fifth place behind Torrington, who beat the Giants on Saturday night 2-1, by a half game.

The loss was indeed a heartbreaker, and Holyoke's Josh Appell deserved a better fate as he allowed just four hits in seven innings and stuck out five but was credited for both runs, including a Twister home run in the first inning. Appell walked a batter to lead off the 8th inning and retired but relief pitcher Kevin Salmon was unable to end the threat, the winning run credited to Appell.

The loss was only the second for Holyoke in their last seven games, the surge coming at the end of a seven game losing streak that all but cost them any chance for a post season bid. Still, a couple of wins against Berkshire that sandwiched an excellent win over league leading Keene Swamp Bats, along with wins against Danbury and Mill City have not as yet been enough to offset the two losses, their both coming against Torrington who they are still trying to catch.

The good news for Holyoke is that they begin a three day homestand tonight against the Berkshire Dukes who are in last place and who the Giants have beaten three of the four times they played this year.

The bad news is that the Giants also have games left against North Adams, Manchester and Newport, and three are among the league leaders. North Adams was in second place in the Northern Division at the all-star break, the Street Cats posting a 19-15 record. Newport and Manchester lead the Southern Division, the Gulls boasting the NEBCL best record of 20-15, the Silkworms just a game back at 19-16.

Manchester has played fairly even with Holyoke, the Silkworms beating the Giants in Holyoke 3-0 early in the year before the Giants won in Manchester 2-1.

The two teams were to meet again last night, and the Silkworms should be even tougher as they are still in the hunt for the division title. The Gulls have dominated Holyoke this year and could be more than dangerous if the Giant's season comes down to the last game, especially as it will be played in Newport. The Gulls have won two of the three meetings this year, but one was a 17-3 win in their nest.

There is some hope as the Giants' 3-0 win against the Gulls was also in Newport, but the Gulls are also looking to fight off the challenge from Manchester. Two Holyoke wins this week against the Silkworms could end that challenge however and might take some of the pressure off the season finale.

Working against the Giants is an under productive offense that ranks tied with Manchester in 10th place in the NECBL.

Holyoke posted a team batting average of .239 with an anemic power game, their five home runs, (including the solo shot by Wilson Matos in Saturday's loss to Torrington) the lowest in the league. Only Manchester at nine has posted single digits in that category. Newport leads the NECBL in batting at .278 but North Adams is 5th at .254.

The homestand this week could find later starts as the Tri-County Playoffs may combine for with a double header if Holyoke's People's Savings Bank is in the finals as expected.

The Bankers had reportedly worked out an agreement with the Giants and the City of Holyoke to play their playoff game at 5 with the Giants to follow around 7:45, but the T-C finalists were yet to be determined. Should the Giants earn a post season bid, they would begin their playoff on Monday against the Southern Division's top seed in the best of three format.