WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — It’s back on.
The White River Junction Junior Nighthawks threw themselves back into the Vermont Summer Baseball League leadership picture on Saturday. Wiping away the memories of a two-game losing streak started with a showdown loss at Lakes Region on Wednesday, the Junior Nighthawks swept the league-leading visitors from Fair Haven at the Maxfield Sports Complex, 9-2 and 8-3.
The Junior Nighthawks (9-3) never trailed in the opener, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning and putting the game away with a six-run sixth. WRJ slapped 11 hits in game one, riding two-hit, two-RBI performances from Kyle Hamilton (Hartford High) and Robert Slocum (Windsor).
Hamilton’s run-scoring triple and an RBI single from Jacob Dwinell (Hartford) gave WRJ its early lead. Cam Tucker (Hartford) answered a Lakes Region run in the top of the third with a run-scoring single in the home half. The Junior Nighthawks blew the game open in the sixth, with Ryland Richardson (Windsor) delivering a two-run double and Slocum adding a two-RBI single. John Kasten (Hartford) earned the win on the mound.
Ryan Pepe (Thetford) keyed the nightcap victory, reaching base four times (single, double, two walks) and scoring three runs out of the leadoff position in the lineup. A three-run third gave the Junior Nighthawks firm control, as Richardson provided another two-run double to build a 4-0 lead on Lakes Region (10-3) at the time.
Hamilton had two hits, two runs and two RBIs for WRJ. Alex Bushway (Hartford) and Drew Martin (Hartford) each singled and scored in the sixth, and Slocum tossed a complete game with nine hits, five strikeouts and two walks.
The victories strengthened Upper Valley’s hold on third place in the VSBL; the top three teams in the league earn byes in the first round of the end-of-season tournament. The Junior Nighthawks visit Bellows Falls on Tuesday night.
LEBANON — Ben Williams’ bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the sixth inning ignited a four-run rally, enabling Upper Valley to rally past Nashua in a New Hampshire COVID Baseball League 19U game at Lebanon High School.
Nashua errors put the Anglers’ Kyle Young (KUA) and Sam Sacerdote (Hanover) on base, with a fielders’ choice grounder from Brendan Walker (Woodsville) serving the load the bases. Up came Williams (Hanover), who drilled an 0-2 pitch deep enough to score all three and turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 Upper Valley lead. An RBI single from Trey Parker (KUA/Roanoke College) added to the Anglers’ cushion.
Nashua scored all of its runs in the top of the fourth, reversing a 3-0 deficit at the time.
Parker had two RBIs on a two-hit afternoon. Williams also had two hits for Upper Valley (7-6), which hosts Laconia on Monday night.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The Upper Valley Anglers 17Us dropped two games to Portsmouth in N.H. Independent Baseball League play on Saturday.
Portsmouth won the opener in five innings, 11-1. The hosts took control quickly, scoring 10 runs and sending 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. After being hit by a pitch to open the top of the third, Cole Fabry (Lebanon) scored the Anglers’ only run on an RBI single from Ian Hedgepeth (Hanover).
Despite giving up a run in the first frame to open an eventual 9-0 loss, pitcher Wes Stocken (Hanover) kept the Anglers in the contest until a late Portsmouth eruption. Stocken ultimately threw into the sixth inning, allowing just two runs and five hits with six strikeouts. Upper Valley was held hitless.
The Anglers host Salem on Tuesday.