Glens Falls, NY-Senior second baseman, Brad Polcare went 10-for-13 with two homeruns, a triple and two doubles, drove in eight runs and scored eight more to lead Castleton State College to a pair of North Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship wins over Husson College at East Field in Glens Falls, New York.

The Spartans, who had lost to Husson 5-3 in the opening round of the double elimination tournament, needed to beat the Eagles twice and they did just that, winning the first game 10-6 and taking the second 22-2. With the win Castleton improves to 22-18 overall and earns the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III New England Regionals; date, time and opponent to be announced.

Game One: (Box Score) Polcare reached base safely in all six plate appearances to lead the Spartans to the 10-6 win. Polcare was 5-for-6 with a double, three runs and three RBI as Castleton scored 10 runs on 16 hits to force the decisive game seven.

The Spartans took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning but Husson put together a five-run inning to pull even and chase Castleton starter, Ken Cook. Cook hit Chris MaGuire with a pitch to start the inning, then walked Logan York. After a Balk put runners on second and third, Cook forced Corey Cushing and Brian McGinley into rbi-ground outs to make it 6-3 and empty the bases. Another hit-batsman and walk would chase Cook, but Husson was not finished. Jeremy Gilcris relieved and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, then gave up a bases-clearing double to left-centerfield to tie the game. Cook ended the day with a no-decision, pitching five-and-two-thirds innings allowing five earned on four hits and six walks while striking out five.

Castleton plated two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win and advance to the deciding game. Lauck Blake got the rally started in the eight with a one-out walk, chasing Husson starter, Ryan Arsenault. Polcare followed with a single, putting runners on second and third. Kyle Brooks flied out to right field, with Blake advancing to third on the play. Dan Conley and Chris Ragis each followed with rbi-singles to give the Spartans all they would need for the win.

Rob Turner picked up the win for Castleton, tossing two-and-two-thirds innings of no-hit relief. Brooks joined Polcare with a multi-hit afternoon, going 3-for-6 with three RBI. NAC Rookie of the Year, Dan Conley broke out of an 0-for-11 slump with a pair of hits and the game-winning RBI.

Arsenault was saddled with the loss for Husson, going seven-and-one-third and allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits and three walks, while striking out six. Arthers was 2-for-4 to lead the Eagle offense, while Tom Crews added one hit and one RBI.

Game Two: (Box Score) The Castleton offense exploded for 27 hits in the final game of the championship, and plated 11 runs in the decisive sixth inning.

Polcare laced the first pitch he saw into the stands in right field to lead the game off for Castleton, and stake the Spartans to a 1-0 lead. The Spartans tacked on five runs in the bottom of the second, as Garrett Bissonnette, Anthony DiPietrantonio, Polcare, Kyle Brooks and Chris Ragis each doubled. Castleton tacked on one more run on doubles by Ragis and Bissonnette, before grabbing four more runs in the fifth. Polcare struck for his second homerun, this one a two-run shot to centerfield.

During the 11-run sixth inning, Castleton sent 15 men to the plate and collected 11 hits, including an rbi-triple for Polcare which gave him ‘the cycle’ on the game with two homeruns, a triple, double and single. Leftfield, Lauck Blake also smacked a two-run triple as the Spartans pulled away.

The Eagles got two back from Castleton in the top of the eighth inning on solo homeruns from Dennis Graham and Chris MaGuire to avoid the shut-out.

Rob Turner started and pitched four innings of scoreless baseball, scattering five hits while striking out two. Freshman, Mitch Thresher came on and pitched the final five innings, earning the win and allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three. Everyone in the Spartan lineup had at least one hit, with all but two batters collecting multiple hits. After Polcare’s five-hit, five-RBI, five-run performance it was Bissonnetted with five hits including two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored. Dan Conley and Chris Ragis each collected four hits, while Lauck Blake reached base five times on two hits and three walks to go along with two RBI and four runs scored. Blake finished the tournament with a hefty .611 (11-for-18) batting average and an on base percentage of .708 for the five games.

Ethan Guerette, Graham and Jeff Miller each had two hits for the Eagles. Husson ends its season at 16-23 overall.

2008 NAC BaseballAll-Tournament Team

Most Valuable Player: Brad Polcare, Castleton
Rob Turner, Castleton
Chris Ragis, Caslteton
Ethan Guerette, Husson
Ryan Arsenault, Husson
Dennis Graham, Husson
Joe Ferry, Elms
Nick Mackowiak, Elms
Jared Fieldsend, Thomas
Andrew Martin, Thomas

NAC Baseball Championship
Friday, May 2 - Szot Park, Chicopee, Mass.
GAME 1: (4) Husson 5, (1) Castleton 3
GAME 2: (3) Thomas 9, (2) Elms 3

Saturday, May 3 - Szot Park, Chicopee, Mass.
GAME 3: Castleton 8, Elms 6
GAME 4: Husson 2, Thomas 1 (11 innings)
GAME 5: Castleton 10, Thomas 9

Saturday, May 10 - East Field, Glens Falls, NY
GAME 6: Castleton 10, Husson 6
GAME 7: Castleton 22, Husson 2

May 6, 2008

Castleton Baseball to Host NAC Championship Round

Castleton, VT-The Castleton State College baseball team will host the final round of the North Atlantic Conference Championship on Saturday, May 10 at East Field in Glens Falls, New York.

The final round between Castleton and Husson was postponed due to unplayable field conditions at the double-elimination tournament’s original site.

Castleton and Husson will square off at 12:00 noon in game one. If necessary, game two will start 30 minutes following the completion of game one.

May 4, 2008

Husson, Castleton Matcup for NAC Baseball Title Postponed

Husson defeated Thomas in 11 innings in the first game in the winners bracket Saturday and will meet Castleton for the NAC title.   Castleton eliminated Elms earlier Saturday 8-6 and ousted Thomas 10-9.  This game had been scheduled for Sunday, May 4 but due to poor weather and field conditions, this game will be rescheduled.  Time and location will be determined.

Castleton Pulls Past Thomas 10-9; Will meet Husson for NAC Baseball Championship

CHICOPEE, MA, May 3, 2008 – Castleton senior left fielder Lauck Blake (Hartland, VT) delivered a clutch RBI double in the ninth and the top-seeded Spartans staved off elimination for the second straight game with a hard-fought 10-9 win over third-seeded Thomas College in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Tournament on Saturday night at Szot Park.

After dropping its first game of the tournament on Friday afternoon, Castleton (20-18) battled back with an 8-6 come-from-behind victory to oust No. 2 Elms College in the losers bracket on Saturday afternoon.

In its win over Thomas, Castleton plated four runs in the second and three more in the fifth to build what seemed to be a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Terriers, however, would not go away, as they plated one run in the bottom of the fifth, then plated three more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to pull to within 9-7.

In the ninth, Castleton senior shortstop Anthony DiPietrantonio (Yorktown Heights, NY) smacked what proved to be a crucial, two-out single to left field, then motored all the way around from first to score the Spartans’ 10th run on Blake’s ensuing RBI double to right center field.

Although junior shortstop Jared Fieldsend (Somersworth, NH) delivered a two-out, RBI double down the right field line and junior center fielder Mike Chamard (Livermore Falls, ME) followed with a RBI single to center field, Castleton junior pitcher Rob Turner (Rutland, VT) induced a flyout to end the game.

No. 4 Husson Outlasts No. 3 thomas in 11 innings; Advances to NAC Baseball Championship Game

CHICOPEE, MA, May 3, 2008 – Husson freshman pitcher Ryan Arsenault (Portland, ME) threw a sensational 11-inning, complete-game, six-hitter to help carry the No. 4 Eagles to a thrilling 2-1 extra-innings win over No. 3 Thomas College in the winners bracket of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Tournament on Saturday evening.

With the win, Husson (16-21) advances to Sunday’s 12:00 p.m. championship game.
Thomas (12-18) will face top-seeded Castleton in an elimination game scheduled for Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.

Arsenault was brilliant for the Eagles, as allowed just the one run in the first inning, then threw 10 shutout innings that included seven strikeouts.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 11th, Husson junior left fielder Jeff Miller (Veazie, ME) delivered a one-out single through the left side, stole second then came around to score on an infield error to plate the game-winning run for the Eagles.

Thomas sophomore pitcher Payton Austin (Lisbon, ME) was also outstanding on the hill, as he yielded just one earned run on nine hits with four strikeouts in 8.0 innings of work.
Junior shortstop Jared Fieldsend (Somersworth, NH) and junior center fielder Mike Chamard (Livermore Falls, ME) each had two hits for the Terriers in the loss.

Freshman shortstop Ethan Guerette (Sabattus, ME) went 3 for 5 in the leadoff spot for Hussson in the win.

Castleton Elminates Elms from NAC Tourney

CHICOPEE, MA, May 3, 2008 – Castleton senior second baseman Brian Polcare (Saratoga, NY) and senior shortstop Anthony Dipietrantonio (Yorktown Heights, NY) delivered clutch two-run hits in the seventh and eighth innings to help the top-seeded Spartans rally for an 8-6 win over second-seeded Elms College in an elimination game of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Szot Park.

With the win, the Spartans (19-18) advance to Saturday night’s 9:00 p.m. elimination game to face the loser of the No. 3 Thomas/No. 4 Husson game.

Elms College, which was making its first appearance in the NAC Tournament, finished 12-20.
Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, the Spartans chipped away with two runs in the sixth on junior catcher Kyle Brooks’ (Charlotte, VT) two-run single down the left field line.

Castleton then completed its comeback with three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, including Polcare’s two-run single through the left side in the seventh, and Dipietrantonio’s two-run double to left center field in the eighth.

Junior pitcher Rob Turner (Rutland, VT) allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 solid innings en route to a no-decision for the Spartans.

Sophomore pitcher Mike Bieber (Wading River, NY) was also solid in his 6.0 innings of work for the Blazers, as he yielded just four earned runs on seven hits of a no-decision.

Junior right fielder Nick Mackowiak (Dudley, MA) delivered a first-inning RBI infield single, senior center fielder Joe Ferry (Palmer, MA) followed with a RBI triple in the second and freshman shortstop Brendan Cordeiro (Berkley, MA) added a RBI infield single to help the Blazers jump out to a quick 3-0 lead.

Ferry finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored, while freshman left fielder Bob Reyome (Westfield, MA) went 2 for 4 with two runs scored in the loss.

Polcare, Brooks and sophomore first baseman Ted Mills (Stockbridge, VT) had a pair of hits each for the Spartans.

Third Seed Thomas Rolls Past Second Seed Elms

CHICOPEE, MA, May 2, 2008 – Thomas freshman pitcher Andrew Martin (Rochester, MA) struck out 15 batters in 8.0 innings of work and the No. 3 Terriers used a four-run, sixth inning to pull away to a 9-3 win over No. 2 Elms College in the first round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Tournament on Friday evening at Szot Park.

Martin was sensational for the Terriers, as he threw five shutout innings before yielding RBI doubles to freshman second baseman Hector Roche (San Cristobal, Dominican Republic) and junior right fielder Nick Mackowiak (Dudley, MA) in the sixth inning.

The Terriers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead following RBI doubles in the first and second innings by sophomore third baseman Tom Desjardins (Fort Kent, ME) and freshman left fielder Scott Geel (Calais, ME).

Thomas then broke the game open in the sixth with sophomore second baseman Ryan Cotnoir’s (Augusta, ME) RBI single, a two-run double to left center field by junior shortstop Jared Fieldsend (Somersworth, NH) and junior center fielder Mike Chamard’s (Livermore Falls, ME) RBI single to right field.

The Terriers would eventually tack on three more runs in the eighth to punch their ticket to Saturday’s winners bracket game.

Roche went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored as the only Elms College player to have more than one hit.

Husson Upsets Top Seed Castleton in Opening Game of NAC Baseball Tournament

CHICOPEE, MA, May 2, 2008 – Husson senior pitcher Keith Nason (Glenburn, ME) allowed two earned runs in 7.1 innings and the No. 4 Eagles plated five runs over the first six innings then held on for a 5-3 win over top-seeded Castleton in an opening round game of the North Atlantic Conference Baseball Tournament at Szot Park on Friday afternoon.

Following a scoreless first two innings, the Eagles plated three runs in the third behind junior designated hitter Nick Arthers’ (Belfast, ME) RBI single, a RBI double down the right field line by sophomore first baseman Dennis Graham (Miramichi, Canada) and a RBI sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Jeff Miller (Veazie, ME).

The Eagles extended their lead to 4-0 in the fifth when freshman third baseman Chris Maguire (Orland, ME) drew a bases-loaded walk.

The Spartans got one back in the home half of the fifth when senior second baseman Brad Polcare (Saratoga, NY) drew a one-out walk, stole second then scored on a RBI double to right center field by junior designated hitter Kyle Brooks (Charlotte, VT).

Husson ran its lead to 5-1 in the sixth when freshman shortstop Ethan Guerrette (Sabattus, ME) delivered a RBI single.

Although Castleton added single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, Husson senior pitcher Samuel Adolphsen (Union, ME) allowed just one earned run over the final 1.2 innings to earn the save.

Guerette finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored, freshman center field Tom Crews (Bangor, ME) went 2 for 5 and Nason struck out five and issued four walks for the Eagles in the victory.

Senior left fielder Lauck Blake (Hartland, VT) and sophomore first baseman Ted Mills (Stockbridge, VT) each went 2 for 4 for the Spartans in the losing effort.

April 27, 2008

Castleton Top Seed in NAC Baseball Tourney to be Played at Szot Park in Chicopee, MA

With a 9-1 conference mark, Castleton enters the upcoming North Atlantic Conference baseball tournament as the top seed. The championship will be held at Szot Park in Chicopee, Massachusetts and hosted by Elms College.

The Championship is a three day, double-elimination tournament beginning Friday, May 2. Castleton (9-1 NAC, 17-17 overall) will take on fourth seed Husson (5-5 NAC, 14-21 overall) in game 1 at 2:00 p.m. Second seed Elms (6-4 NAC, 12-18 overall) and third seed Thomas (6-4 NAC, 11-16 overall) will meet in game 2 at 6:00 p.m.

The top four teams qualify for the NAC Championship with predetermined tie-breaking procedures used to seed the tournament field. Game times are subject to change.