Extra-inning agony

The SteepleCats visited for just the second time this year, but the two teams played just last Saturday in 

North Adams, an extra-inning affair won by North Adams, 8-7.

Teammates at Maryland: Anthony Papio and Alex Robinson

North Adams outfielder Anthony Papio is a teammate at Maryland with Swamp Bats pitcher Alex Robinson. Jarred Mederos visited with a high school teammate. Dominic Severino played for North Adams a year ago while the SteepleCats’ Zach Lucas played with the Swamp Bats 2013 NECBL champions.

So, things were pretty cheerful before the game.

Michael Dunnigan was pitching well, giving up two runs in 5 2/3 innings and striking out 8. Ryan Summers hit a solo home run in the fourth and Jarred Mederos did the same in the 5^th inning. Bret Dennis scored on a Connor Fitzsimons single that ricocheted off third base. Ryan Summers was right behind Dennis and poised to score until he fell/was tripped purposely by 3^rd baseman Todd Juliano, depending on your point of view.

This was when the North Adams bench jockeys got active and stayed vocal until the final out. Not satisfied with just serving (pardon the phrase) catcalls, they stomped their feet and hit their bats on the dugout ceiling/press box floor.

SteepleCats catcher Ramon Valdez had a three run homer in the 10th.

With the score 3-2 Keene, Papio slammed an 0-2 pitch to left for a game tying solo shot. In the tenth inning, SteepleCats catcher Ramon Valdez hit a three-run homer that eventually gave North Adams a 6-3 win.

The SteepleCats visit Keene Monday.