Welcome to the Brattleboro River Rats team page. Managed by Rob Eccleston, AKA "Ecc", the Rats are Back in Black for another great season of baseball in 2012. The Brattleboro River Rats' home games are played at the Dummerston Elementary School.
WALPOLE, NH - The Ludlow Athletics notched their first win of the season against host Walpole Wild Blue on Sunday. Both starting pitchers struggled to find the zone. Ludlows starter, Nick Sheehan, put a lot of runners on base, but didn't give up a hit in his 2-2/3 innings.
Ludlow opened the game with five runs in the first as each of the first five batters crossed the plate. They then added a run in the 2nd on three hits by the top of the order making the score 6-0. Â
Walpole plated a run in the bottom half of the 2nd, then another two in the third cutting Ludlow's lead to 6-3. But in the top of the 4th, Ludlow broke the game open by scoring 7 runs on 6 hits.  Jack Durgin (4-for-4, 3 runs) started the inning off with a single, and later Justin Lewis (2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Phil Chimbolo (3 RBIs) each doubled in 2 runs effectively breaking the back of the Wild Blue.
Walpole's Doug Palmer (99) slides past the tag of Ludlow catcher Mark Graves. Photo courtesy Wayne Mac
Ludlow reliever Jamie Gallagher got the victory going 4-1/3, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), four walks, and striking out four. Ludlow's offense hammered seven doubles. Howie Paul (2 doubles, run, 3 RBIs) had a great day, while Zach Smith (3 runs), Nich Sheehan (RBI), and Ray Romero (run) all doubled. For Walpole, Gary Dennis (double, 3 runs), Chris Ballou (3 walks, 2 runs), Adam Kobeski (double, 3 walks, run, 2 RBIs), and Brian Pickering (2 walks, RBI) each had two hits.
Keene 7, Putney 6
DUMMERSTON - A 9th inning rally by the Putney Fossils fell just short and the Keene Black Dawgs remained undefeated with a 7-6 victory on Sunday, April 29.
Putney went up 1-0 in the top of the third inning when Keith Hazard scored on a Josh Coursen (2-for-3, double, run, RBI, 2 SB) RBI double. But Keene answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning. The Black Dawgs loaded the bases with a hit-batsman, a walk, and an outfield error. Then first baseman John Luopa (2-for-4, double, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) hammered a grand-slam over the right field fence to put Keene on top 4-1.
Putney's Greg Narleski rips a double against Keene. Black Dawgs' catcher is Brandon Oldham. (Photo taken by Patricia Stanley)
The Fossils re-took the lead scoring four runs in the 6th sparked by an RBI double by Greg Narleski (2-for-4, double, run, RBI) and a 2-run single by Richard Bissell (2-for-4, double, SB, 3 RBIs). Things looked good for Putney until defensive troubles undid them in Keene's 3-run 8th. The Fossils scored one in the 9th and had two on with one out, but the game ended on a bizarre infield fly rule, tag-out double play.
Tim Santaw got the complete game victory for the Black Dawgs. In addition to Luopa, Santaw got good offensive support from Seth McClean who went 3-for-4 with a double. Right fielder Andrew Bedard made three great catches, including a diving grab of a line drive that looked like a sure basehit. Bissell took the tough loss for Putney, going the distance on the mound allowing only 3 earned runs on 9 hits and 1 walk while striking out eight. Fossils catcher Steve Stanley went 3-for-3, scoring twice and swiping two bases.
Chester 5, Brattleboro 1
CHESTER - Three Chester Pirates pitchers combined to no-hit the Brattleboro River Rats and take home a 5-1 victory on Sunday. Jamie Spence got the win going five innings and fanning 12. He was followed by Nick Wirkkala (3 IP, 6 K) and Doug Roberts who pitched the 9th. Spence helped his own cause at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Wirkkala, playing in the outfield, saved the no-no with an outstanding diving catch in the 9th inning.
Brattleboro starter Greg Elbaum took the loss, but pitched very well against the potent Chester line-up.
Newport 17, Saxtons River 0
SAXTONS RIVER - The Newport Polar Bears' bats exploded and carried them to their first-ever CRVBL victory, a 17-0 mauling of the Saxtons River Pirates. Newport southpaw Scott McNamara dominated on the mound allowing only two hits and four walks while fanning 15 in a complete game effort.
McNamara also led the offensive attack going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and 3 RBIs. Mike Batista (3-for-4, 2 runs), Matt Maxham (2 hits, 2 runs, RBI), Sean Lantas (2 hits, 2 runs, RBI, 4 SB), and Anthony DiPaola (2 hits, run) also had big days at the plate.
This week's schedule features six games. On Friday, Walpole hosts Landmark College at 6:30 PM. On Saturday, Brattleboro visits Landmark College at 11:00 AM in Dummerston. Sunday's games in Dummerston are Ludlow at Brattleboro, 10:00 AM, and Saxtons River at Putney at 1:00 PM, while Walpole takes on Chester at 11:00 at GMUHS and Newport battles Claremont at Barnes Park in Claremont at 11:00.
CHESTER - The battle for first place in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League was won by the Claremont Cardinals on Sunday as they hammered the Chester Pirates 11-2 at Green Mountain Union High School. Bob Myers took home the complete game victory, scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run while fanning six.
Claremont's Gerry Thompson (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) blasted an RBI double off the top of the center field fence, while Josh Duford (double, two runs, RBI) and Scott Christian (RBI) had two hits apiece. Chester slugger Jesse Lane went 4-for-4 and scored a run.
Brattleboro 7, Saxtons River 6
DUMMERSTON - The Brattleboro River Rats rallied from a 5-0, second inning deficit and pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the 9th for a walk-off victory over the Saxtons River Pirates. Caleb Record paced the victors' offense with four hits and two RBIs. Marty Vallender (2 doubles, run, RBI), Abe Klein (2 runs), and Greg Elbaum (run, RBI) each ripped three base knocks. Elbaum got the win in relief of Vallender.
Saxtons River's Derrick Smidutz had two hits and an RBI.
Keene 12, Putney 8
KEENE - The Putney Fossils watched their comfortable 6-2 lead dissolve into a 12-6 deficit as the Keene Black Dawgs scored 10 runs in the eighth inning at Keene State College. Putney scored two in the top of the ninth, but ended up on the short end of the 12-8 final score. Black Dawgs center fielder Bryan Lantz went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Andrew Bedard had two hits, a run, and two RBIs and shortstop Mike Adams ripped a double. Tim Santaw earned the complete game victory and was helped by some stellar defense by Adams, Lantz, and first baseman D. Bruce.
Keene's Tim Santaw prepares to deliver a pitch against Putney
Putney's Greg Narleski (2-for-3, 2 runs) smashed a triple that nearly left the park in the cavernous (385 feet) left-center field. Joe LebLanc and Rocky Smith each had two hits and an RBI. Starter Travis "Magic" Watson turned in an outstanding seven inning performance on the mound, allowing only one earned run.
Putney's Travis Magic Watson looks for the sign
This Sunday marks the end of the 2011 CRVBL regular season. Chester takes on Saxtons River at 10 AM at Vermont academy, then travels to Dummerston for a 1:30 PM game against Brattleboro. Putney hosts Brattleboro in Dummerston at 10:00 AM, and Saxtons River visits Keene, game time and field to be determined. The playoff tournament will be held Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 14.Â
WALPOLE - The Claremont Cardinals and the Saxtons River Pirates engaged in an old fashioned pitcher’s duel at the beautiful new baseball complex in Walpole, NH on Sunday, July 24. Cardinals ace, Mike Wells (6 hits, 1 unearned run, 5 K), and Pirates starter, Chris Lundberg (8 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 4 K), matched zeroes for six innings before Claremont struck first with a manufactured run in the 7th.
The fabulous new baseball facility in Walpole
Josh Duford (2-for-3, run) singled to start the inning. He stole second base as he outraced the pickoff throw from first. He went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gerry Thompson, and then scored on a groundout by Dana Rider. Saxtons River got the run back in the top of the eighth when Andrew Robbins scored on a Matt Therrian (3-for-4, double, RBI) single; on the same play Brian Bashaw was gunned at the plate to end the inning.
Claremont took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth when Nate Duford crossed the plate on a John Centonze sacrifice fly. Bob Myers worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to save the 2-1 Cardinals' victory.Â
See more details in Gerry Thompson's story below.
Chester 17, Putney 4
CHESTER - The Chester Pirates bounced back from a stunning loss to Keene with a 17-4 battering of the Putney Fossils. The Pirates took advantage of a tired Putney pitching staff and pounded out 17 hits. Doug Roberts went the distance for the win.
Doug Roberts delivers a pitch against Putney
Every Chester starter had at least one hit; the Pirates were led by Steve Brown (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Roberts who blasted a 2-run homer to break the game wide open in the fifth inning. Scott Renfro, Jamie Spence (double), Jessie Lane, and Ricky Bernard (double) had two hits apiece.
Putney's rookie third baseman, Steve Kapral, had two hits including a double, while Steve Stanley and Quinton Carr both ripped two-baggers.
Brattleboro 8, Keene 2
DUMMERSTON - The Brattleboro River Rats took home their third straight victory with an 8-2 win over the Keene Black Dawgs. Greg Elbaum went the distance for the win and was supported throughout the game with solid defense by John Waitekus and Abe Klein.
Keene's Don "Donny Baseball" Sachetti led the Black Dawgs attack with three hits, while Brandon Oldham (double) and Andrew Bedard had two hits each.
This Sunday Saxtons River travels to Dummerston for a 10:00 AM game against Brattleboro, and Claremont visits Chester for a 10:00 AM affair at Green Mountain Union High School. Putney takes on Keene at Keene State College at 11:00 AM.Â
The three teams at the bottom of the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League standings came up with huge victories over the top three teams on Sunday, July 17.
Brattleboro 3, Claremont 1 (game 1)
Brattleboro River Rats' hurler Marty Vallender brought his best stuff of the season to Barnes Park to earn a 3-1 victory over the first-place Claremont Cardinals in game one of a double-header. The hard-throwing righty allowed only three hits and one earned run while fanning six in a complete game effort. Kelvin Delarossa led Brattleboro's offensive attack going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Claremont's Scott Christian took the loss, but pitched well allowing five hits and three earned runs.
Brattleboro 7, Claremont 5 (game 2)
The Rats jumped out to a 7-3 lead, weathered a 13-hit Claremont attack and a late comeback bid to take home a double-header sweep with a 7-5 win. Greg Elbaum got the victory on the mound and Vallender got the save. Mario Checchi (run, 2 RBIs) and and Eric Webber (run, 2 RBIs) both had RBI doubles for Brattleboro. The Cardinals' offense was led by veteran Gerry Thompson who went 3-for-3 with a double, run, and RBI. Paul Felix (3-for-5, triple, 2 runs), Dana Rider (3-for-4, run, RBI), and Mike Wells (2-for-4, double) also had great days at the plate.
Putney 8, Saxtons River 6
The Putney Fossils took advantage of Saxtons River Pirates' miscues to take home an 8-6 win in their game played at Vermont Academy. Dave Guadalupe earned his third victory of the season. Putney's Steve "Stanley Steamer" Stanley was the MVP of the game both at the plate and defensively. The burly catcher gunned down four would-be base stealers, and went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Danny Lichtenfeld also had two hits including a double, and scored twice. Bruce O'Brien once again played outstanding defense at first base.
The Pirates' Chris Lundberg took the tough loss despite a complete game effort in which he allowed only one earned run and struck out nine. Derrick Smidutz had a single, a double, and two RBIs.
Keene 5, Chester 3
The Keene Black Dawgs stunned the Chester Pirates with a 5-3 upset victory at Keene State College. Tim Santaw got the complete game win, pitching himself out of two bases-loaded jams. Mike Adams went 4-for-4 offensively, and Andrew Bedard played great defense in left field.
This week Saxtons River plays a 7:00 PM Thursday game against Putney at the new baseball complex in Walpole, NH. On Sunday, Keene visits Brattleboro at 10:00 AM in Dummerston, Putney visits Chester for a 10:00 AM game at GMUHS, and Claremont hosts Saxtons River at Barnes Park at 11:00 AM. For more information, visit www.crvbl.org.
SAXTONS RIVER - The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League All-Star team roster has been announced. CRVBL will host the All-Stars from the Pioneer Valley Over Thirty Baseball League in a 4th of July game at 11:45 AM at Vermont Academy. PVOTBL is an amateur baseball league, very similar to CRVBL, based in Nortfield and Deerfield, Massachussetts. Many players participate in both leagues.
The CRVBL All-Stars:
Rob Eccleston (Brattleboro) Eric Weber (Brattleboro)* Marty Vallender (Brattleboro)
Scott Renfro (Chester)
Jamie Spence (Chester)
Jesse Lane (Chester)
Chuck Harriman (Chester) Gerry Thompson (Claremont)*
Paul Felix (Claremont)*
Mike Wells (Claremont)*
John Grainger (Claremont)* Tim Santaw (Keene) Mike Adams (Keene)* Steve Stanley (Putney)
Richard Bissell (Putney)
Quinton Carr (Putney)
Justin Beebe (Saxtons River)
Andrew Robbins (Saxtons River)
Frank Brown (Saxtons River)
