It was the second no-hitter of the season and only the fourth in NECBL history.
Roger Crowley photo.
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| Mike Thompson (Ballarmine) threw a 9-inning no-hitter for Holyoke against the Sanford Mainers on Monday, July 30th clinching at least a first-place tie in the Northern Division. It was the second no-hitter of the season and only the fourth in NECBL history. |
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| The scoreboard says it all as Thompson celebrates with his battery-mate Jack Cawley (Pace). Photos are © and courtesy of Patrick Brough, just4funphoto.com | ||||||||||||
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Also on July 30th Lowell visited North Adams for an afternoon game. At left Greg Wilborn (Louisiana-Lafayette) fires one home. Below Michael Moras (New Haven) tags out Kevin Nolan (Winthrop) and Sean Conley (Pittsburgh) congratulates Max Pinto (Williams) after hitting for the cycle, the first in SteepleCats history. | |||||||||||
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| Concord's Dan Lombardozzi, Coastal Carolina/Herndon,VA prepares a first inning pitch against the Westerners on July 30th. At right, Dan with Q-dogs host parent Bob Tewksbury. Dave Letizi photos | ||||||||||||
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| On the 31st skydivers from JumptownUSA carry the flag onto Joe Wolfe Field for Fan Appreciation Night. Sean Conley makes solid contact in the game against Torrington. | ||||||||||||
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The 31st also saw the final regular season game in Montpelier, Vermont as the Concord Quarry Dogs visited. Mountaineer AJ Pollock (Notre Dame) slides safely into second in the first inning as Concord shortstop Dan Lopez (Pittsburgh) leaps to attempt to catch a high throw. William Long (Louisiana) backs up the play.
Roger Crowley photo. |
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| August 2nd saw the beginning of the Playoffs as the Manchester Silkworms visited the first place Torrington Twisters. A young fan waits for an autograph while Little Leaguers wait to be introduced on the field with the Twisters players. Fans at Fuessenich Park don't miss a play as the game is broadcast on a TV over the concession stand. | ||||||||||||
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| All-Star starters and Californians, catcher Ryan Lavarnway (Yale.Woodland Hills, CA) and second baseman Garret Green (San Diego State/Anaheim, CA) battled it out in the first round. | ||||||||||||
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| Twister Chris Klepps (Siena) and coach Marty Deliveron (Hofstra) give the safe call as Silkworm third baseman Stephen Crawford (LeMoyne) looks for the out call. Klepps was called out trying to stretch a double into a triple but he drove in the final 2 in a 6-run second inning leading to a 6-5 victory. Torrington went on to beat Manchester 3-1 the following night to advance to the South Division Finals. | ||||||||||||
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| Championship Game The two teams that finished second in their divisions, the Newport Gulls and Vermont Mountaineers were the hot teams in the playoffs. Vermont took Game 1 of the Championship Series in Newport 14-8 and they met again in Montpelier on August 11th. The packed grandstand held part of the 3,432 people in attendance on a beautiful Vermont day. | ||||||||||||
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| A vocal part of the crowd were two busloads of Gulls fans, here being checked out by Vermont mascot Skip. During the introductions Skip gets bowled over after a chest bump by Chad Durakis (Maryland). | ||||||||||||
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| Under as much pressure as either pitcher may have ever faced both starters turned in superb performances with Mike Gaggioli (Georgetown) besting Austin Hubbard (Auburn) with a complete game one-hit 3-0 victory. Gaggioli photo by Roger Crowley | ||||||||||||
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| Curt Smith (Maine), DH and lead-off hitter does his famous bat flip from his foot to his hand in the first. | ||||||||||||
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| A totem, a shrine, a lucky bat, whatever it is it brought luck to the Mountaineers. Part of the huge crowd looks on from the right field area. | ||||||||||||
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