Laconia, n.h.
Upper Valley committed five errors during an overcast first three innings with Iona College’s Bill Maier on the mound. Maier (1-2) gave up eight hits, one walk and only one earned run in his fourth start of the summer.
“I thought we came out lazy,” said Cenatiempo, with Friday’s anticipated thunderstorm beginning to take effect at Robbie Mills Field. “I thought we were lethargic. I didn’t think we were ready to play.”
The Nighthawks are now 9-10 with a matchup with the Valley Blue Sox at 6:30 tonight at the Maxfield Sports Complex.
The Muskrats (10-9) took advantage of the Nighthawks’ costly mistakes early, scoring two runs in the first inning off a two-run double from Keivan Berges. In the second inning, Winnipesaukee added to it off a two-out rally that brought four runs home, building a 6-0 lead.
“I just think we were out of rhythm,” Nighthawks shortstop Matt Maul (St. Joseph’s) said. “We didn’t really come into the game and have that focus or that edge that we usually have.”
The Muskrats scored again in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Anthony Maselli that brought home Ryan Shinn.
But Cenatiempo’s biggest issue was with his team’s offensive performance. The Nighthawks’ last trip to Laconia, on June 16, resulted in 10 hits and three home runs against Winnipesaukee pitching. That wasn’t the case Friday night.
“The part that I’m really disappointed in is how we played offensively. Extremely disappointed,” Cenatiempo said. “I just didn’t think we were aggressive enough. I thought we were very tentative. I thought we let the pitcher dictate the game instead of us dictating our at-bats.”
Winnipesaukee starting pitcher Denis Lyman recorded nine strikeouts in the victory.
Joey Denison (Troy) led the way with two hits for the Nighthawks. A.J. Walden (Alabama-Huntsville) and Zack Canada (UNCW), who committed three of Upper Valley’s six errors from third base, each had one hit to round out the Nighthawks offense.
“We just didn’t have the effort tonight,” Cenatiempo said.
Relief pitcher Dylan Verdonk (Seton Hall) turned out to be Upper Valley’s lone bright spot after he entered in the fourth inning. Verdonk, who had suffered two disappointing starts coming into Friday’s game, pitched five innings, recorded five strikeouts and allowed four hits to help Upper Valley stop the bleeding.
The Nighthawks had an off day on Thursday and were forced to turn Wednesday’s trip to the Mystic Schooners into a doubleheader after Tuesday’s home game was postponed. But Maul said the off-day did more to help some of Upper Valley’s ailing players than make the Nighthawks groggy for Friday’s game.
“I just think we were flat,” he said. “With the off day, everyone kind of needed the off day with a long stretch of games, a couple of doubleheaders and a 13-inning game. For the most part, I’d say we were out of rhythm and we never found it.”
The Nighthawks begin a tough stretch against Northern Division opponents, playing eight games in nine days starting tonight against the Blue Sox. Upper Valley has lost twice to Valley this season, but has not played at home since last Sunday’s doubleheader against the Danbury Westerners. Cenatiempo hopes his team can forget about Friday’s game quickly.
“I think when you step on the baseball field and you’re playing summer baseball in a competitive league, if you don’t come ready to play, you’re going to get beat,” Cenatiempo said. “If you’re not competitive, you’re going to get beat bad. That’s what happened tonight.”
Notes: Grayson Padgett (University of Houston) was out of the lineup Friday night still dealing with a back issue that has kept him out of Upper Valley’s last six games. Trent Leimkuehler (St. Louis) was also missing from the lineup, recovering from a sore hamstring that has kept him in and out of the lineup this week. … With the absence of Sean Breen, who has left the Upper Valley with a vision issue, the Nighthawks now have no depth at infield. Upper Valley’s two reserve players, Padgett and Leimkuehler, are both outfielders. … Houston Mabray (Troy) will start against Valley tonight.