Around The Bases With The Bay Sox [Week 6]

The New Bedford Bay Sox' rocky season continues. The Bay Sox (6-23) dropped further into last place in the NECBL Southern Division this week. They now trail the league leading Plymouth Pilgrims by 17 games. In some lighter news the Bay Sox hosted Dartmouth 350 day on Saturday, July 12th. Dartmouth's Brothers of the Brush hosted an "Old Fashioned" double header, playing games by 1864 rules then 1884 rules. Players from the Brooklyn Atlantics and the Providence Grays dawned wool uniforms and caps along with vintage equipment. Those games were followed by a double header by the Bay Sox that ended with an exciting walk-off win.

In other league news, two stand out Bay Sox' received accolades from the NECBL. Pitcher Jimmy Davitt was named the NECBL's Week 6 Pitcher of the Week. And infielder Dave MacKinnon was named to the 2014 NECBL Southern Division All Star team.

Now let's take a look at this past week in Bay Sox baseball...

July 10 Bay Sox 3 vs. Valley Blue Sox 7

In a battle of the Sox, New Bedford fell behind from the start. Valley started their scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning with the help of an RBI double and a Bay Sox error that resulted in a run. Two more errors and a hit-by-pitch in the 4th inning contributed to two more Valley runs giving them a 5-1 lead. New Bedford committed a total of four errors in this one. They went on to score lone runs in the 2nd, 4th, and 7th innings, but that wasn't enough to stifle the Blue Sox' hot bats. New Bedford's greatest offensive rally came in the 9^th inning, down 7-3. With two runners on and with two outs,Cory DeMedieros scorched a groundball up the middle, which would have scored at least one, maybe two, except the ball struck the field umpire. The field umpire called the play dead, loading the bases, for Joey Cecere who struck out to end it.

Henry Van Zant (1-0) got the win for Valley pitching six innings and allowing only four hits and two walks while giving up two runs. He also struck out four.

Brandon Cook (1-4) took the loss in this one going five innings and allowing eight hits. Cook was charged with three earned runs and tallied 3 K's.

July 12 Game 1: Bay Sox 2 vs. Danbury Westerners 7

According to NECBL rules, a regulation game in a double header is only seven innings. Errors plagued New Bedford again while they committed five. The Bay Sox' only runs came in the bottom of the 6th inning. David MacKinnon got on first with a single, then advanced to second after a balk. He later came around to score after a throwing error by the shortstop. The second run scored off of a single by Joshua Smith. The Westerners took a 3-2 lead into the seventh where they really dug in at the plate. They scored four runs in the 7th thanks to a combination of key hits and fielding errors.

Max Knutson (2-2) got the complete game win for Danbury throwing seven strong innings. Knutson got touched for eight hits while allowing only two runs and striking out four.

James Gutowski (0-3) took the loss in this one tossing six tough innings while giving up six hits. He surrendered three runs but only one was earned. Gutowski also struck out three while walking one batter.

Game 2: Bay Sox 2 vs. Danbury Westerners 1

In game two of the afternoon double header, the Bay Sox gave fans a game to remember. Pitcher of the Week Jimmy Davitt (0-1) got the start for New Bedford but didn't factor into the decision. He pitched a solid eight innings racking up to strikeouts and surrendering one run off of two hits and one walk. Danbury took their 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 7th inning where the Sox were down to their final out. Cory DeMedeiros singled to keep the game alive while the following two batters drew a walk to load the bases. A third walk to Joey Cecere brought in the tying run and extended the game into extra frames.

The deciding run came in the 9th inning when Mike Gilbert hit a line drive single up the middle to score Walker Moses from third base.

Jeremy Perron (1-0) received the win after taking the mound in the 9th. He struck out two and walked one while giving up one hit.

Sam Burum (0-2) took the loss for Danbury after pitching only 1/3 an inning giving up three hits, one walk, and the game winning run.

July 13 Bay Sox 1 vs. Laconia Muskrats 3

Pitching was key in this close one in Laconia, NH. New Bedford scored their lone run in the seventh inning thanks to a solo shot by Cory DeMedeiros. Laconia scored all three of their runs in the 3rd inning off starter Tim Superko (0-5). Laconia's Karl Ellison and Vinny Zarillo scored off of a Matt Byrne single. Byrne later crossed the plate off a Colton Bottomly single.

Shea Spitzbarth (2-2) earned the win for the Muskrats with 7 1/3 innings on the mound allowing five hits, one run, and a walk while striking out eight. Jon Young picked up his second save of the season for Laconia after one inning of work. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters.

Superko got hit with the loss for New Bedford while only lasting 2 2/3 innings while giving up three runs on three hits.

July 16 Bay Sox 5 vs. Vermont Mountaineers 9

New Bedford was behind from the start in this one. Vermont scored three runs to start off the bottom of the 1st inning. The Bay Sox scored in the 2nd after a Lorenzo Papa triple brought home Mike Gilbert. They also scored in the 4th when a Papa single brought home David MacKinnon. The Mountaineers answered in the bottom of the 4th with two more runs. New Bedford came back to score another pair in the 6th cutting the deficit to one run. Vermont then stole the game in the 8th scoring four while taking a 9-4 lead. The Bay Sox scored their final run in the 9th when Connor Biggio scored from third on a fielder's choice.

Vermont's Elliot Ashbeck (4-0) picked up the win after pitching six strong innings. He allowed only seven hits, four runs (two earned), walked two, and struck out five.

New Bedford's Brad Labozzetta (1-1) took the loss allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk. Labozzetta went six innings striking out four and walking two.