Category: Empire Media

BACK TO WINNING WAYS FOR DIMITRI NUNEZ

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The story of the day was Dimitri Nuñez. The left-hander was brilliant, scattering six hits and walking three over eight and a third.
Things looked rocky early as Kevin Putkonen blasted the first ever home run at Chip Cummings Field, a solo shot to right. But Nuñez would settle down and hold the Surge in check the rest of the way. His delivery varied from batter to batter, sometimes pitch to pitch, keeping hitters off balance and inducing soft contact for his fielders.

The Redbirds would score three in a 1st inning highlighted by Raul Shah’s two-run single and never looked back. Christian Nazario-Cruz and Johnny Cole both scored two runs, Mitchell Lake drove in a pair, and Brian Brademan even got hit by a pitch to account for one of his two RBIs.

I have mixed feelings about Dimitri Nuñez, who I’ve only ever seen be lights out since I began tracking his career in 2015. Selfishly, I look forward to watching him aid the Redbirds in their championship hunt every fifth turn. But the other side of me roots for him to shed his Redbirds jersey get an opportunity to pitch in a higher league. He deserves it.

Tomorrow concludes the series with the Surge. Double header, two 7s, starting at 1pm. And it’s Clinton County Youth Day!!! How does it get any better than that?

Michael Chiaradio
Ahead of the Spread

COLE WALKS OFF AS REDBIRDS SWEEP DOUBLE HEADER

PLATTSBURGH, NY – After three days without baseball and a heroic effort from the Plattsburgh State Grounds Crew as well as Manager Joe Winkelsas, the Redbirds finally took the field again under a beautiful Sunday sky.
Dimitri Nuñez, who has one of the most intense “between-start routines” I have ever seen, was eager to take the ball in Game 1. He was brilliant thorough six innings – scattering 4 hits without surrendering a walk.
Islanders starter Fabian Feliciano matched Nuñez through three frames but the Redbirds finally broke through in the 4th on an error that scored Johnny Cole. The Redbirds extended their lead with a run in the 5th on a safety squeeze by Joseph Donaldson that scored Raul Shah but they could not capitalize on an opportunity to open up the game due to inefficient base running.
The mistakes would loom large as the game moved to the 7th and final inning. Nuñez–who had cruised through the first six–ran into trouble and gave up three consecutive hits to surrender the lead.
With the score now 2-2, Manager Joe Winkelsas went to his closer Harry Ferguson to stop the bleeding. Ferguson did just that with an impressive juggling act which rendered the Islanders offense harmless – keeping the score tied.
In the bottom of the 7th it looked like the combination of Feliciano and reliever Nick Kevlin would be able to wiggle around three walks to force extra innings. A two-out error changed that fortune and gave the dangerous Johnny Cole a chance to swing the bat with the bases loaded.
Cole made the Islanders pay. He roped a single up the middle which easily scored Kenny Collins and secured the Redbirds’ fifth consecutive victory.
In Game two, offense was the theme in this game. Redbirds’ starter Matti Doxter faced seven batters before recording an out in the game. We all know how difficult it is to win both games of a doubleheader and many sensed that this game could be the one to snap the Redbirds’ win streak.
Although his back was against the ropes early Doxter would fight back. He closed the first frame with back-to-back strikeouts followed by a fly ball to center which limited the damage to only three runs. This was a huge victory for Doxter because it wasn’t long before the Redbirds would answer by scoring six runs in a second inning, highlighted by a smoked line-drive single by Dalvin Ramon that scored Ronald Jackson and Damon DeJesus.
Doxter settled in after the rocky first and retired eleven batters in a row as he cruised into the 6th where he finally gave up back-to-back singles followed by a two-run infield throwing error which would knock him out of the game. Nathaniel Leon inherited a 7-5 lead with a baserunner on second and no one out. Although he would surrender a run, Leon was able to tip toe around trouble and escape the 6th with a 7-6 Redbirds lead.
In the home half of the 6th the Redbirds would score an insurance run. Ronald Jackson sparked the inning who walked to lead off the inning, stole second base, and scored on a single by Damon DeJesus.
We would see Harry Ferguson again in the 7th and he was equally impressive. He pitched around a ringing double into the right field gap to secure another clean frame and another Redbirds victory.
Ferguson notched both a win and a save on the day as he aided the Redbirds in capturing their fifth and sixth consecutive wins.
The Redbirds close the series with the Islanders tomorrow, July 3rd, at 12PM ET.
Article by Michael Chiaradio  – Ahead of the Spread

EXPLORERS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT, SWEEP DH

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – Sullivan Explorers take two from the Surge during double header.

Chris Ross took the hill for the Explorers versus Branden Henriquez of the Surge.

Henriquez finished the game going 7 innings while striking out 8 batters.

Chris Ross was able to get out of a few jams with defensive help as well as great pitching execution.

The Game would then go into extra innings tied at 3 when the Explorers designated hitter Luis Touron singled to drive in two runs and put it away for the Explorers.

I’m Game two, LHP Joe Macks of the Explorers would face Jeff Williams of the Surge. Not a good outing for either starter as neither lasted long enough to record a decision although 12 total runs came in.

The Game seemed to be out of hand as the Explorers broke out to a 7-3 lead until Surge center fielder Gevon Jackson belted a 3-Run HR to left center to put it within 1. The Surge would tie the game later in the inning.

Explorers would take a 9-7 lead in the 4th on a double by Luc Pomales and a sac fly by Brandon Fowler.

Explorers went on to win by the score of 11-7 and sweep a series win over the Surge.

The Teams are off tomorrow and Surge will travel to Plattsburgh to take on the RedBirds and Puerto Rico Islanders will travel to Sullivan to take on the Explorers.

Article by Empire Media

FELO SNAPS STREAK WITH WIN OVER SURGE

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – Sullivan Explorers limit Old Orchard Beach offense with stellar pitching.

Explorers starter Billy Felo was more then phenomenal as he cruised through Surge hitters allowing just 1 run through 7 innings pitched striking 8 Surge batters. Phill Rowland pitched 2 solid innings to close it out striking out 4 batters.

Explorers started things off with a base hit by Cole Easley who then stole second and advanced to third on a fly ball to center field. Brandon Young would then drive him in with a ground ball.

Former Surge player and now third baseman for the Explorers Luc Pomales would double later on in the game and scored on a passed ball.

Cole Easley once again singled in the 7th and stole second base. He then scored on a Infield single down the line in which Kevin Putkonen made a terrific diving play but couldn’t get the out.

Explorers would tack on a few run including a sack fly by Brandon Fowler, a 2-RBI single by Cole Easley and an RBI single in the eight to make it 8-1.

Dominic Severino started for the Surge and got the loss. The loss is his second of the season

Parker Franklin got the only Surge. Surge only had 3 hits including another double by Mike Davis and a single by Eric Frain.

The 10-1 victory was Interim Manager John Kazarian’s first win snapping a 5 game losing streak.

Next game is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00pm and 3:30pm at The Ballpark in OOB.

MOZEIKA EARNS FIRST WIN OF SEASON

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – The Sullivan Explorers took the field  a day after manager Jim Hayes was hospitalized and the Explorers played their hearts off although the team lost to the Surge after game was called due to rain

Eric Mozeika took the mound for the Surge against Sullivans Ricardo Espinoza. Mozeika got an early 3-0 lead to work with  as  Jordan Matos,  James Simpson and Edgar Lebron scored in the first 2 innings.

Espinoza would then settle down and and pitch 3 innings without allowing a base runner.  It was a rainy night in which it was tough to pitch in but Espinoza didn’t seem to be bothered by it as he only got stronger as the game went on.

In the top of the 5th inning, Robert McLam led off with a single and catcher Luis Touron belted a big fly off starter Eric Mozeika over the right center wall. The 2-Run home run was Touron’s first of the season and put the game 3-2.  With bases loaded and 2 outs and dangerous hitter Jesse Hughes up to bat, Brandon Fowler was caught trying to take home on a passed ball.  That would’ve tied the game with Jesse Hughes up to bat who singled to lead off the following inning.

In the top of the 6th the Explorers threatened with 2 outs as Mozeika exited and reliever Kevin Phelps came in to finish the inning in what would be the final of the game as the game was called due to weather.

The game, although only going 6 innings, was  considered a full game as the rules state that a game must go a minimum of 5 innings to be considered no longer postponed yet, final.

The Surge would take the victory and improve their record to  (4-2) while the Explorers fall to (1-5).

Tomorrows game is scheduled for 6:30pm

Article by Empire Media