The North Shore Navigators managed to squeak by the Pittsfield Suns on Saturday night by a final score of 3-2. The Navigators got above .500 for the first time this season and took one more step towards clinching a playoff berth in the win. It was their sixth win in a row, and it is their longest winning streak this season.
Colby Maiola (UMass Lowell) provided almost all of the Navigators offense during the night. Maiola batted in the cleanup slot on Saturday night, and he did not disappoint the team with his impressive power display. He crushed two solo home runs that helped the Navigators to jump out to a lead early in the game. His first home run was a blast to left center field that gave them a 1-0 lead.
However, his second blast was even more impressive. With the team still leading 1-0, Maiola came up to the plate ready to make an impact again. This time, he absolutely crushed a pitch to centerfield that sailed far over the batters eye. It was his seventh home run of the season, which tied the franchise record held by former Salem State Viking and current Los Angeles Angels minor leaguer Richie Fecteau.
Maiola is also the second Navigator this season to have a multi-homer game. Alex Brickman (Siena College) completed the feat earlier in the season in a trip to Worcester.
The Navigators did notch one more home run during the game. In the top of the eighth, Nick DiBenedetto (Trinity College) took the first pitch deep to left center field. It was his second homer of the season and it made the score 3-0 at the time.
Bobby Tramondozzi (UMass Boston) got the start for the Navigators and was relatively effective. He pitched four innings on the night notching a couple of strikeouts and not allowing a run to the Suns. He worked out of a couple of jams, including a bases loaded situation at the end of the fourth inning.
Brian Burke (Curry College) came in to relieve Tramondozzi and he did a stellar job of keeping them in the game. He worked 4 and 1/3 innings allowing only four baserunners and striking out two batters. He did allow the only run of the game, but that came in after he exited in the ninth. Burke kept the Suns offense in check and gave the Navigators a chance to build on the 1-0 lead they had when he entered the game.
The Suns threatened late in the game, as they score twice in the ninth, but Quinn DiPasquale (Stevens Institute) got a key bases loaded strike that end the game.
The Navigators will return to action on Sunday, July 31 at Fraser Field when they will take on the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
