Baseball Goes 6-4 in Florida
The MCLA Baseball team returned from Winter Haven, FL sporting a 6-4 record after the week long trip. MCLA traveled to the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians for the ten game trip.
Spring Break Trip Recap
The MCLA Baseball team returned from Winter Haven, FL sporting a
6-4 record after the week long trip. MCLA traveled to the former
spring training home of the Cleveland Indians for the ten game
trip. The Trailblazers used a solid offensive attack in the
beginning of the trip, while the pitching staff grew stronger as
the week went on.
MCLA opened its 2009 season facing Little East foe UMass-Boston in
a doubleheader. The bats came out smoking as MCLA posted 26 runs
during the doubleheader sweep. Senior Derek
Gibbons (Rochester, MA) went 4-5 with 4 RBI’s and 4
runs scored in the opening 17-7 victory. Gibbons offensive effort
made a winner out of Junior starter James Greeley (Newton, MA). In
the nightcap, first-year Daniel Gaines (Holyoke,
MA) made his debut on the mound. Gaines responded with five solid
innings of work to pick up his first collegiate victory by a 9-5
score. Outfielder Rick Massey (Cheshire, MA) had a
solid day for the trailblazers posting five hits and swiping three
bases.
The Trailblazers battled McDaniel College (MD) in another
doubleheader the following day. MCLA would win the opener by a 12-9
count, while dropping the back end 11-8. In the opener, fist-year
reliever Brenden Wyand (Pittsfield, MA) threw four
innings of one hit relief to earn his first career victory. The
offensive firepower was provided by senior Anthony
Russo’s (Marcy, NY) grand slam. It was his first
home run of his career. Senior Cory Burtman
(Norwood, MA) also homered for MCLA. Senior pitcher Andrew
Gaines (Holyoke, MA) struck out the side to record the
save. In the nightcap, McDaniel used a six-run outburst to hold off
a stubborn MCLA comeback bid. Despite suffering its first loss of
the season, the MCLA nine were off to a 3-1 start.
Following back to back doubleheaders, MCLA would battle Clarkson
on Sunday. The Liberty League power would hold the lead for much of
the game, until MCLA rallied for a 7-5 win. Andrew Gaines was the
pitcher of record going 7 quality innings. Junior Andrew
Kelly (Dalton, MA) threw the final two frames to record
the save. MCLA trailed the entire game until the MCLA bench
provided a spark. Massey came off the bench to steal a key base and
score the tying run. With runners on second and third, junior
Tim Burns’ (Pittsfield, MA) pinch-hit two
run single gave MCLA a lead they would not relinquish. A key double
play in the ninth stalled any potential comeback bid from
Clarkson.
After a day off, MCLA returned to the diamond to face Sewanee
(TN). First-year Daniel Gaines was once again
solid throwing seven innings and allowing only one run. Sewanee
battled back against the MCLA bullpen, however could only close the
gap to two runs before eventually falling 9-6. First-year
Evan Frank (Schenectady, NY) provided a key RBI
single in the ninth to put the game away for the Trailblazers.
Standing at 5-1, the Trailblazers would battle perennial NCAA
participant Messiah in a tight well played ballgame. Both teams
played great defense and had great performances on the mound. MCLA
would prevail by a 3-2 score behind eight strong innings from
Greeley. The junior only allowed one and also pitched out of a
tight eighth inning jam. Kelly pitched the ninth to record his
second save of the trip. Senior Steve Sullivan
(Wareham, MA) provided the key hit for the MCLA attack providing a
two run single. The Trailblazers also received a great defensive
performance from senior second basemen Anthony Russo.
The team would go on to play Farleigh Dickinson- Florham (NJ) in a
doubleheader on Thursday. The bats went quiet due to a strong
pitching performance from FDU. MCLA put the tying runs on base in
the seventh, however a game ending double play turned back the
Trailblazers by a 3-1 score. FDU would complete the sweep of MCLA
rallying for a 9-4 victory in the nightcap. MCLA led going into the
top of the seventh 4-3 only to have some defensive miscues lead to
a six run outburst. Seniors Cory Burtman and Cyrus
Curtis (Bourne, MA) both pitched well in defeat for
MCLA.
MCLA would close out the week long stay with a game against NESCAC
power Amherst College. MCLA kept the lead for most of the day
before succumbing to Amherst 8-6. Senior right hander Andrew Gaines
was solid on the day posting eight strikeouts in seven innings of
work. Steve Sullivan provided the offensive punch with two hits and
two RBI. MCLA led going into the bottom of the seventh by a score
of 6-5. Once again some defensive miscues led to three unearned
runs and ultimately the final score.
MCLA finished the trip with a 6-4 record playing ten games in
eight days. Gibbons batted .500 on the trip while sophomores
Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) and Joe
Harrington (Pittsfield, MA) posted averages over .400.
Daniel Gaines earned MASCAC Pitcher of the Week honors by posting a
2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA. Andrew Kelly earned a victory and two
saves on the trip as well. MCLA returns to action on Tuesday when
it travels to Southern Vermont for a 3:00pm start. The Trailblazers
will open conference play this weekend when they travel to
Framingham State College.
