Husson Steals NAC Championship in Bottom of the Ninth
Glens Falls, NY - Husson University scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, walking off with the North Atlantic Conference Title, 7-6 over defending champion, Castleton State College Sunday afternoon at East Field.
The Eagles trailed 6-4 entering the ninth after Castleton starter, Ken Cook pitched eight innings on just one day of rest, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Kyle Vanidestine led off the ninth with a bunt single off reliever Tyler Erickson, but Erickson was able to retire the next two batters, bring NAC Player of the Year Nick Arthers to the plate. Arthers and Erickson locked up in an epic battle, which ended in a walk. Erickson then hit Jeff Miller with a pitch to load the bases. Aaron Zrenda was then called upon to get the final out of the game, making his first appearance of the season. Designated hitter, Dennis Graham greeted Zrenda with a two-run double to the right-centerfield gap to tie the game at six. Jake Arthers watched the first pitch sail into the dirt and get passed the Catcher and Miller raced home to score the winning run.
Nick Arthers staked the Eagles to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homerun to left field. Castleton answered with three runs in the fourth on a two-run single from Zrenda and an rbi-single from Mills. The Spartans grabbed a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and one more unearned run in the ninth setting up the dramatic finish.
Zrenda was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, and Dan Conley added two hits and one run batted in as Castleton falls to 26-15. Cook was named to the all-tournament team for his gritty performance. The junior right-hander pitched 16 innings and allowed five earned, while striking out seven. Jack Lancelin also earned a spot on the all-tournament squad, batting .444 with three runs scored and a team-high eight hits.
Husson improves to 31-12 with the win and will await the pairings for the upcoming NCAA Division III National Tournament. Miller and Tom Crews each had two hits to lead the Eagles. Ryan Arsenault came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning to earn his second win of the tournament, and a spot on the All-Tournament squad.
Crews was outstanding, earning Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. The sophomore centerfielder went 6-for-14 with two doubles, a homerun and five runs batted in to lead the Eagles. Crews was also phenomenal in the field, making several highlight reel catches and gunning down two runners at home plate.
2009 NAC Baseball
All-Tournament Team
MVP - Tom Crews, Husson
Ryan Arsenault, Husson
Nick Arthers, Husson
Ken Cook, Castleton
Jack Lancelin, Castleton
Will LaRose, Castleton
Josh Garneau, Me.-Farmington
Dan Hemdal, Me.-Farmington
Chris Farrar, Thomas
Dana Leland, Thoma
NAC Baseball Championship
Friday, May 1 hosted by
Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New York
GAME 1: (1) Castleton 14, (4) Maine-Farmington 2
GAME 2: (2) Husson 2, (3) Thomas 1
Saturday, May 2 hosted
by Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New York
GAME 3: Maine-Farmington 10, Thomas 6
GAME 4: Husson 10, Castleton 6
GAME 5: Castleton 7, Maine-Farmington 1
Sunday, May 3 hosted by Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New
York
GAME 6: Castleton 7, Husson 3
GAME 7: Husson 7, Castleton 6
May 3, 2009
Four-run Eighth Lifts Castleton over Husson 7-3; Forces Game 7
Glens Falls, NY - Freshman, Brandon Fay, turned in a complete-game six hitter, and Castleton scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Spartans forced a decisive game seven with a 7-3 win over Husson University at East Field Sunday morning.
After allowing a two-run homerun to NAC Player of the Year Nick Arthers in the bottom of the first inning, Fay settled in and allowed just one run on three hits over the next eight innings. Fay struck out three and did not walk a batter in earning the win.
Castleton picked up a run in the second inning as Billy Manley singled and scored on a Jack Lancelin single. The Spartans took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on an rbi-ground out from Garrett Bissonnette and a run-scoring single from Ted Mills. Matt Eisenhuth (hit by pitch) and Aaron Zrenda (double) both scored in the inning.
Husson tied the game the following inning on a Tom Crews homerun to left field. Husson continued to threaten as Kyle Vanidestine singled with two outs, but Fay retired the next 13 Eagle batters in a row to slam the door.
The four-run eighth inning was aided by a pair of Eagle errors, but Manley provided the all the firepower necessary, rocketing his eighth homerun of the season to deep left-centerfield, driving in three runs.
Manley and Zrenda both went 2-for-4 to pace the Spartan offense, while Arthers collected two hits for the Eagles.
May 2, 2009
Castleton advances to NAC Championship with 7-1 win over Maine-Farmington
Glens Falls, NY - The Castleton State College baseball team advanced to the North Atlantic Conference Final with a 7-1 win over University of Maine-Farmington Saturday evening at East Field.
The Spartans, playing through the losers’ bracket advance to their second-straight NAC Final and will take on Husson University, which advanced by way of a 10-6 win over Castleton earlier in the afternoon.
Will LaRose tossed eight innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and one walk while striking out three in the must-win for Castleton. A double by Connor McNeil and a one-out rbi-double from Brian Jenkins in the fifth inning produced the only blemish on LaRose’s evening.
Castleton broke through for a run in the second inning as Garrett Bissonnette singled with two outs, and scored on a double to left field by Ted Mills. Castleton scored again in the fifth inning as Mills singled and scored later in the inning on a David Raczka single to right field. Kevin McPeek ignited a three-run rally in the seventh with a lead-off double, followed by a single from Jack Lancelin and an rbi-single by Raczka.
Raczka led the Spartans with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring one. Dan Conley, Billy Manley, Aaron Zrenda, Mills and Lancelin each had a pair of hits for the Spartan offense.
Maine-Farmington’s season ends at 5-24 overall. McNeill led the Beaver offense with two hits and one run scored.
Castleton improves to 25-14 and will square off with Husson for the NAC Championship tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. Should a second game be necessary, the two teams will battle it out 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
Husson advances to NAC Championship with 10-6 win over Castleton
Glens Falls, NY - A Castleton error in the seventh inning opened the door to five unearned runs as Husson University advanced to the North Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship with a 10-6 win over top-seed Castleton.
After two quick outs in the seventh, Dennis Graham singled to left field to start the Eagle rally. Jake Arthers reached on an error and Tom Crews doubled in Graham to plate the first run. After a walk to Cody Haverly-Johndro loaded the bases, Kyle Vanidestine cleared them with a triple to deep centerfield. Ethan Guerette singled to drive in Vanidestine before Castleton was able to get out of the inning.
Husson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on an rbi-single from Maguire plated Vanidestine who led off the inning with a walk. Castleton answered with three runs in the second inning as Garrett Bissonnette, Ted Mills and Jack Lancelin all had run scoring hits to give Castleton a 3-1 lead.
Husson grabbed single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings and held a 5-4 lead entering the top of the seventh. Castleton played two in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead, before Husson’s break through inning.
Bissonnette, Mills and Lancelin each had two hits to lead the Spartan offense. Castleton will face University of Maine-Farmington in an elimination game tonight at 6:00 pm. The Spartans faced the same scenario in last year’s tournament, earning the 2008 NAC title through the losers’ bracket.
Nathan Adams went the distance to earn the win for Husson, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and one walk, while striking out eight. Crews went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored to pace the Eagle offense. Vanidestine, Guerette, Maguire and Graham each had two hits. The Eagles will face the winner of the Castleton/Farmington game tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM.
Maine-Farmington Stays Alive With 10-6 Win Over Thomas
Glens Falls, NY - The University of Maine-Farmington stayed alive in the North Atlantic Conference Baseball Tournament with a 10-6 win over Thomas College at East Field Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Beavers improve to 5-23 overall and advance to this evening's semifinal game, while the Terriers' season ends at 8-27 overall. Maine-Farmington will take on the loser of the Castleton versus Husson game, slated for a 2:00 pm start, this evening at 6:00 pm.
Maine-Farmington plated five runs in the top of the second, a single run in the third and two runs in each of the sixth and ninth innings to earn the win. Dan Hemdal went the distance in the win, six runs (one earned) on nine hits and four walks while striking out eight. Josh Garneau provided much of Hemdal's support, smacking five hits, including a pair of doubles and driving in three runs. Phineas Pike added three hits, two runs scored and one run batted in, while Pat Howell and Brian Morrison each had two hits. Howell scored twice and Morrison drove in a pair to contribute to the Beaver scoring.
Dana Leland led the Terriers, going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and one run scored. Kyle Gallant had two hits, drove in one and scored one from the top of the Thomas lineup.
May 1, 2009
Husson walks off with Game two win
Glens Falls, NY - Tom Crews provided a walk-off sacrifice fly to lead Husson University to a 2-1 win over Thomas College in game two of the North Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship Friday afternoon at East Field.
Jake Arthers struck a double to the right-centerfield gap with one out in the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch moved Arthurs to third base with Crews, the eighth batter in the order at the plate. After a failed squeeze attempt, Crews drove a 1-2 offering to shallow centerfield that was caught by Danny Burke. Burke’s throw was just up the line as Arthers crossed the plate with the game-winner.
Jeff Miller singled and scored in the fourth inning to give the
Eagles a 1-0 lead. Miller stole second and third, then took home on
an errant throw to third for the first run of the game.
Thomas tied the game in the seventh on a Tom Desjardins double.
Tim Costa led off with a single to left and came around to score on
Desjardins’ gapper to left-centerfield. Desjardins was left
at third base as Husson starter, Ryan Arsenault was able to
extinguish the rally. Arsenault was able to work himself out of
several jams, as Thomas left 14 on base throughout the game. The
sophomore left-hander went the distance to pick up the win,
allowing nine hits and four walks while striking out five.
Chris Farrar was the tough-luck loser, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.
NAC Player of the Year Nick Arthers led the Eagles with two hits. Desjardins and Costa each had two hits in the loss for Husson.
Thomas will take on Maine-Farmington tomorrow morning at 10:00 am in game three, with Castleton and Husson squaring off at 2:00 pm in game four. Game five will follow at 6:00 pm, pitting the winner of game three versus the loser of game four.
May 1, 2009
Castleton downs Maine-Farmington in NAC Tournament Opener
Glens Falls, NY – The Castleton State College baseball team began its NAC title defense with a 14-2 win over fourth-seeded University of Maine-Farmington Friday afternoon at East Field.
After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, Castleton starting pitcher, Ken Cook breezed through the next seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four and walking none.
The Spartan offense provided Cook with more than enough support, plating three runs in the first, four in the third, two in the fifth and sixth and three more in the seventh. David Raczka singled and scored on a Billy Manley rbi-ground out and Aaron Zrenda doubled home both Kyle Brooks and Matt Eisenhuth to give the Spartans an early 3-1 lead.
A two-run triple by Ted Mills highlighted Castleton’s sixth inning and Manley provided a two-run homerun to leftfield to cap the scoring in the seventh.
Raczka went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and one run batted in
from the top of the Castleton lineup to lead the offense. Conley
added two hits and two runs scored, while Manley drove in three on
two hits. Eisenhuth was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one run
batted in, while Mills collected two hits as Castleton improves to
24-13 on the season.
Brian Morrison paced the 4-23 Beavers with two hits from the
bottom of the order and Phineas Peake added an RBI and one hit.
Castleton will play the winner of the second game, featuring second-seeded Husson and third-seeded Thomas tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM.
Maine-Farmington will take on the loser of the Husson-Thomas match-up tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.
April 26, 2009
Castleton Enters NAC Baseball Tournament as Top Seed
With a 15-1 conference mark, Castleton enters the upcoming North Atlantic Conference baseball tournament as the top seed and will host the three day, double-elimination tournament at East Field in Glens Falls, New York beginning Friday, May 1.
Castleton (15-1 NAC, 23-12 overall) will take on fourth seed Maine-Farmington (3-13 NAC, 4-20 overall) in game 1. Second seed Husson (13-3 NAC, 27-11 overall) and third seed Thomas (7-9 NAC, 8-24 overall) will meet in game 2.
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. The winner of the NAC
championship will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA
Championship.
NAC Baseball Championship
Friday, May 1 hosted by
Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New York
GAME 1: (4) Maine-Farmington vs. (1) Castleton 12:00 PM
GAME 2: (3) Thomas vs. (2) Husson 4:00 PM
Saturday, May 2 hosted
by Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New York
GAME 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 10:00 AM
GAME 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 2:00 PM
GAME 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 6:00 PM
Sunday, May 3 hosted by Castleton at East Field in Glens Fall, New
York
GAME 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 9:30 AM
GAME 7 (If necessary): Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 1:30
PM
