Font ResizeDUMMERSTON -- A five-run first inning, including a three-run homer by Chuck Harriman, helped power the first place Chester CRUSH to a 7-2 victory over the Brattleboro River Rats on Sunday.
Nick Wirkkala started on the mound for Chester and picked up his fourth win, going seven innings. Wirkkala also helped his cause at the plate with two singles and a run scored.
Scott Renfro moved from behind the plate to close out the final two innings in relief for Chester. Hard luck Brattleboro starter Greg Elbaum gave up only two earned runs for the River Rats and was charged with the loss. Marty Vallender struck out eight in a six inning relief stint for Brattleboro.
In addition to Harriman and Wirkkala, the offensive stars for Chester included Steve Brown who singled, doubled and scored two runs. Brattleboro manager Rob Eccleston drove in a pair of runs for the Rats; Greg Elbaum driving in the other Brattleboro run. The Rats’ Dan Trudeau went 2-for-4 after coming back from an injury induced layoff.
Chester improved its Connecticut River Valley League best record to 7-2, while Brattleboro drops to 4-5 on the season.
Newport 10, Saxtons River 7
NEWPORT, N.H. -- The Newport Polar Bears scored all ten of their runs in the first three innings against the Saxtons River Pirates, then held on for the win. Chris Lundberg pitched shutout ball for the rest of the game.
The Polar Bears got two doubles from Joe Shackett,
Saxtons River 13, Claremont 5
NEWPORT, N.H. -- After their game against Newport, the Pirates used Bates Memorial Field to host the Claremont Cardinals. Saxtons River jumped out to an 11-0 lead after five innings, taking advantage of some uncharacteristic control problems by Cardinals starter Mike Wells.
Joey Parrott got the win, but tired in the sixth inning.
Chris Lundberg came on and pitched another two-plus innings of scoreless relief. Parrott helped himself big time at the plate, stroking three doubles and driving in four.
Alex Drost and Andrew Robbins each had two hits, and the shortstop, second baseman combo of Drost and Kevin Langan made several big plays on defense. Gerry Thompson had two hits for the Cardinals, including a three-run double.
Putney 14, Keene 3
DUMMERSTON -- The Putney Fossils found the win column for the first time in several weeks, pouncing on the Keene Black Dawgs.
Richard Bissell went the distance for the victory allowing three earned runs on 10 hits. Putney’s defense re-appeared after a tough game the previous week against Walpole, commiting only one harmless error against the Dawgs.
Putney got big offensive days from Bissell (2-for-3, three RBIs), Steve "Sticks" Kapral (two hits, RBI), Keith Hazard (two hits), Bruce O’Brien (two hits, RBI), and Joe LeBlanc (two hits, RBI). Rocky Smith went 1-for-2 and drove in four. Black Dawgs Matt Mucha and Nate Wood each had two hits.
This week, Brattleboro visits Ludlow at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and Putney travels to Vermont Academy for a double-header against Saxtons River starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. Other 11 a.m. games include Chester at Walpole, and Claremont at Newport.
CORRECTION: A June 23, 2012 Reformer article, "18th annual softball tourney to support women in crisis" incorrectly stated that Brattleboro Area Women’s Softball League " ... is half-sponsored by Atamanuk Funeral Home." It should have read: "Team Extreme is half-sponsored by Atamanuk Funeral Home, while the league is sponsored by area businesses." We regret the error.
