April 30, 2008
QUINCY, Mass. - Wentworth sophomore Doug Papuga's (Branford, Conn.) single to center in the fourth inning snapped a 1-all tie and classmate Anthony Carbone (Goshen, Conn.) laced a two-run double to right an inning later to give Wentworth a 4-1 lead. Despite leading 5-1 entering the ninth inning, Wentworth got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam, holding on to take a 5-1 victory from the Gulls in an opening Round game of The Commonwealth Coast Conference Baseball Tournament played at Adams Field in Quincy, Mass.
The fourth-seeded Leopards got on the board first, tallying a run in the home half of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Carbone. Junior Mike Roberts (Chelmsford, Mass.) delivered a one-out single and went to third on a double by classmate Nick Cunningham (Pembroke, Mass.). Anthony Carbone lifted a fly ball toward first base that Endicott senior Adam Labbe (Litchfield, Maine) had to turn his back to the play to make the catch, enabling Roberts to score and Cunningham to move to third, where he would be stranded.
Endicott, seeded fifth, tied the game in the top of the fourth inning after loading the bases. Freshman Luis Uribe (Boston, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a single through the left side from senior Dan Gomez (East Longmeadow, Mass.). Freshman Mike Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) loaded the bases with a single to center before senior Tom Warner (Contoock, N.H.) grounded into a fielder's choice, which plated Uribe and moved Gomez to third. Warner stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Leopard sophomore starter Chris Sandini (Upton, Mass.) got a strikeout to end the threat and the inning.
Cunningham led off the home half of the fourth with his second double of the game, which was followed by Anthony Carbone being hit by a pitch. Freshman Ben Danker (Branford, Conn.) laid down a bunt to attempt to move the runners over, but Cunningham was thrown out on the force play at third. Papuga then delivered the go-ahead run that scored Anthony Carbone and on the throw to the plate, Danker went to third and Papuga to second. After junior Phil Costello (Medford, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Endicott starter Erik Fields (Swampscott, Mass.) induced an inning-ending double play.
Wentworth's two, fifth inning insurance runs came with two outs. After Roberts doubled to left, Cunningham was intentionally walked. Carbone would then drive in his second and third runs of the day by clearing the bases. He was left in scoring position when a groundout ended the inning.
The Leopards increased their lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning when sophomore Pete Oggeri (Sandy Hook, Conn.) led off with a double to left center. Roberts would foul out deep in foul territory, allowing Oggeri to tag up and take third. Cunningham brought Oggeri home with an RBI single, however, a double play ended the inning.
Endicott mounted a threat in the ninth inning as Warner drew a leadoff walk and went to second when junior Andy Skelton (Sudbury, Mass.) drew a pinch-hit walk. That ended the day for Sandini who was lifted after eight-plus innings. Sophomore Chris Carbone (Goshen, Conn.) entered the game with the potential tying run on deck and proceeded to hit freshman Christopher Carillo (Bethel, Conn.) to load the bases, still with no outs. However, Chris Carbone got sophomore Aaron Santos (Cambridge, Mass.) to ground into a 1-2-3 double play and would get a ground out a batter later to end the game.
In eight-plus innings Sandini allowed one run on five hits. He walked seven batters and struck out four to pick up his fifth victory (5-0) of the season. Chris Carbone picks up his first career save, pitching one inning and hitting a batter. Cunningham and Papuga each had three hits for the Leopards, with Roberts adding a pair and Anthony Carbone driving in three runs.
Fields falls to 3-4 with the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out two in 6.1 innings. Sophomore Nick Kelley (Malden, Mass.) pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing a pair of hits and striking out one batter. At the plate, Gomez has two of Endicott's five hits, as the Gulls were outhit, 10-5.
With the win Wentworth improves to 28-11 and travels to top-seeded Roger Williams (30-10), a 3-2 winner over Gordon, tomorrow at 3:00 for a winner's bracket game. Endicott (19-19) will be looking to stave off elimination tomorrow at 3:00 as the Gulls host Gordon (11-21).
