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.
Keene State College has generously granted permission for CRVBL's Keene Black Dawgs to play some of their home games at the school's great baseball facility! Below is a list of games that are moved from Dummerston to Keene; start times will be 11:00 AM:
6/5Â Saxtons River at Keene
7/17 Chester at Keene
7/31 Putney at Keene
Click HERE for directions to the field. The League's master schedule has been updated accordingly.
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
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)
The Connecticut River Valley Baseball League kicked off the 2011 season on Sunday, April 10 with three games. CRVBL co-founder and local freelance writer, Jim Austin, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark the League's tenth season before the Putney/Keene game.
DUMMERSTON - The Keene Black Dawgs earned their first CRVBL win by scoring six unearned runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 4-3 deficit and defeat the Putney Fossils 9-4. Seth Deyo paced the Dawgs offense by going 3-for-4 with a double, run, and two RBIs. Michael Adams chipped in two hits, two runs, and a stolen base.
Richard Bissell took the tough loss for Putney. He scattered ten hits and two walks, but allowed only one earned run and fanned nine. Brian Benjamin was the offensive standout for the Fossils going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Richard Bissell delivers a pitch against Keene
Bryan Lantz connects against Putney
Chester 15, Claremont 3
CLAREMONT - The Chester Pirates erased a one-run deficit late in the game at Barnes Park, exploding for 13 runs in the final two frames to take home a 15-3 victory over the Claremont Cardinals. Jamie Spence had a great day at the plate pounding out four hits including a double, scored two runs and drove in two. Chuck Harriman had 3 hits including a double and RBI, while Eric Anderson (two hits, triple, 2 RBIs), Scott Renfro (2 hits), Gary Graham (2 hits, 2 runs), Ricky Bernard (2 hits, 2 runs), and Craig Mellish (4 RBIs) also put in impressive offensive showings.
Mike Wells was the Cardinals' standout. He held the Pirates to two earned runs and 5 hits over 5 innings, went 2-for-2 at the plate and blasted a 3-run double.
Brattleboro 6, Saxtons River 0
DUMMERSTON - Four Brattleboro River Rats pitchers combined for a 6-hit shutout of the Saxtons River Pirates. Rob Eccleston went 2-for-3 with a double, run, stolen base, and 3 RBIs for the Rats, while Marty Vallender hit a monster RBI double.
Matt Therrian had three hits for Saxtons River.
Rob Eccleston blasts a double vs. Saxtons River
Chris Lundberg of Saxtons River delivers vs. Brattleboro
This Sunday Chester visits Brattleboro at 10:00 AM and Putney hosts Claremont at 1:00 PM in Dummerston. Keene travels to Vermont Academy for a 10:00 AM game against Saxtons River. For more information, visit the CRVBL website at www.crvbl.org.
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