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Mainers Down Navs in Independence Eve Walk-Off

07/03/2023 8:21 PM

SANFORD, Maine -- The Sanford Mainers made the most of three total hits and erased a late deficit with runs in their final two at-bats in a 6-5, walk-off win in 10 innings over the visiting North Shore Navigators in Monday night’s New England Collegiate Baseball League game at historic Goodall Park.

North Shore slipped to 9-13 following its third straight loss, while Sanford moved back above the .500 mark at 11-10 and swept the two-game, head-to-head season series.

Shortstop Henry Kaczmar (Ohio State) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored to lead the North Shore offense. Third baseman Jake Berger (Harvard) also drove in two runs, while left fielder Evan Griffis (Stetson) and first baseman Brandon Drapeau (Saint Joseph’s) logged two hits apiece.

Sanford won the game on pinch-hitting outfielder Kevin Skagerlind’s (UMass) sacrifice fly. His drive to center field scored pinch runner Simmi Whitehill (Maryland), who slid in safely just past the tag of North Shore catcher Matt Chatelle (Merrimack). Catcher Logan Poteet (Vanderbilt) drew a bases-loaded walk that tied the game in the previous inning, but reliever Nick Davis (Northeastern) forced the extra frame with a strikeout.

The Mainers strung together three straight baserunners to begin the game and drove home a run against Navs starter Brett Dunham (Northeastern) in the first inning. Second baseman Nicholas Roselli (Binghamton) hit a leadoff single to center before a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, and Poteet lined a sacrifice fly to right to drive in the opening run.

After stranding four on base over the first three innings, North Shore converted at the bat for the first time in the fourth and turned the lead over to the bullpen.

Second baseman Luca Trigiani (William & Mary) drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball to kickstart the Navs’ offense. The free base allowed Trigiani to score when Kaczmar stroked a game-tying single to right in the next at-bat. Three batters later, Berger lined an RBI base hit up the middle to make it a 2-1 lead.

Dunham worked around two baserunners in the second and fourth innings while dealing a 1-2-3 frame in between. Trigiani ended the fourth with a highlight play at second base, ranging deep into the hole and flipping to the covering Kaczmar at the bag for a fielder’s choice. 

The North Andover native starter exited the game after issuing back-to-back walks to start the fifth, and Sanford tied the game two batters later as third baseman Devan Bade (Binghamton) lined a bases-clearing, three-run double into the left-field corner. Colin Brodeur (Florida Southwestern State) settled down after allowing the big hit, striking out two of the next three to end the inning.

In the sixth, Chatelle ripped a one-out double down the line in left and crossed the plate on Berger’s sac fly to left. Right fielder Jake McElroy (Holy Cross) had followed Chatelle with a base hit of his own.

Seven batters stepped to the plate as North Shore scored twice to take the lead in the seventh. Griffis hit a leadoff single and moved into scoring position as pinch hitter Brendan Jones (Holy Cross) beat out an infield hit. Trigiani tied the game on a hard-hit grounder to first base, and Kaczmar knocked in the go-ahead run with a single through the right side.

After Sanford took a 4-2 lead, the combination of Brodeur, Kaden Humphrey (Stetson) and Tristan Ciampa (Northern Essex CC) retired 11 consecutive batters. Ciampa allowed a two-out walk in the eighth before getting out of his second inning without any damage done.

Dunham did not factor into the decision after allowing three runs on two hits, five walks and striking out three across four innings. Peabody native Ryan Bradley (Bryant) took the loss.

The Navs tagged Sanford starter Justin Honeycutt (UNC Asheville) with his first earned run allowed all season as he finished five innings of two-run ball. Bryce Afthim (Southern Maine) worked the final 1-2-3 inning to claim victory.

After taking an off day on Independence Day, the Navs will resume their three-game road trip when they visit another North Division club in the Keene SwampBats on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from Alumni Field.