Tough 2-1 loss for Concord to drop to 1-1 on the season.  A solid pitching performance on both sides but Concord's offense just could not push across enough runs to beat the Southern New Hampshire Reds.  Starting pitcher, Brandon Napolitano, gave up the only hit of the game to the first batter of the game.   With a sloppy defensive first inning Napolitnao got charged with two unearned runs and the loss.  Reds would take the win despite going hitless and scoreless over the next 8 innings. 

Concord was equally anemic at the plate with only 5 hits.  The only RBI came off the bat of the newcomer from Hudson Dan King with a double to right.  Jordan Edmonds led the offense with 2 hits .  Matt Cronin, Mike Thienel, and Dan King also contributed with a hit each. 

The pitchers were the stars of the day.  Brandon Napolitano pitched 3 innings giving up 1 hit, 2 walks while striking out 5 and giving up 2 unearned runs.  Keelan Smithers pitched the middle 3 innings giving up no hits, walking 2 while striking out 6.  Jordan Edmonds pitched the final 3 innings, also hitless and scoreless, while walking none and striking out 3. 

Next game is Sunday 10 AM in Salem, NH

The Concord  Varsity Fall Baseball season starts with a come from behind win over the Nashua Green.  Late in the game Concord scored 7 runs to take the lead 8-4.  For a team of strangers the C's started looking like their oppenents who have played together for years. 

In the first three innings it took starter Keelan Smithers and catcher TJ Hanley a couple innings to get on the same page.  Once they did Smithers showed signs of dominance.   After three innings the C's trailed 4-1.  The teams veteran, Brandon Napolitano, pitched three scoreless innings to keep the team in the game.  Napolitano struck out five, walked one, and pitched brilliantly with runners on base. 

In the 7th inning Concord's offense had enough of the three run deficit and started the 7 run explosion that would happen over the next three innings.  The offense was led by Mike Thienel who had 2 hits, 3 RBI's, and 2 runs scored.     Concord would take the lead in the 8th with a rally started by second baseman Cory Lerner.   Lerner, Matt Cronin, and Thienel would all score to take the lead 5-4. 

Matt Cronin, who started the game in center field, took the mound in the 7th to shut down Nashua by striking out 3 and not surrendering a single hit. 

In the game Jordan Edmonds had two hits, Matt Cronin had a hit and an RBI and also picked up the win.  Mark and Mike Rocha, who just joined the team, had a hit each and both contributed defensively.   

Concord Varsity play again on Sunday September 11th at home against the Southern New Hampshire Reds at 1:00.  Mark Rocha will get the start on the mound. 

I wrote in the last blog that there wasnt much to write about.  Quite the opposite today.  CC showed up to play today winning the first game 4-0 and the secon 9-3.

In the first game CC got a stellar performance for Senior Alex Gutwillig who threw a 4 hit shutout striking out four to pick up his first win of the season.  Offensively we were a bit light with only two hits off the bats of Junior Derrek Amodei and Senior Aaron Nickelsberg.  However our approach and patience paid off with eight walks. 

In the second game CC got another stellar performance from David "The Man" Lishansky who threw a complete game, giving up 3 runs, and striking out 5 to also pick up his first win of the season.   The bats exploded in this game with 18 hits in the second game.  The offense was led by Adam Koski who went 4 for 4 with a walk, and RBI, Aaron Nickelsberg who went 3-5,  Alex Gutwillig who was 3 for 5, and Alex Nardone who who was 2 for 2 with a HR, Triple, 2 walks and 3 RBI's.   

CC trailed 2-0 until the fourth inning Alex Nardone led off the inning with a blast to left field for his first Varsity home run to cut the defecit in half.  In the fifth the Patriots combined for 6 hits and 2 walks to score 6 and take the lead 7-2.  CC would score 2 more with an RBI triple, another blast, by Alex Nardone.  He would then score on a passball. 

Todays Notables

Andrew Dellavolpe had 2 hits and 2 RBI's
Brendan Canavan had 2 hits
Adam Koski had 4 hits 
Alex Gutwillig had 3 hits
Aaron Nickelsberg had 4 hits and 3 RBI's
Alex Nardone had a HR, Triple, 2 walks, and 2 RBI's
Nick Wnukowski had a pinch hit bases loaded singe, 2 walks, and an RBI
Derrek Amodei had a hit, 3 walks, and an RBI.  (only one hit despite the lazer show he put on, hitting line drives right at people)
Gibson Holland had a hit, 2 walks and an RBI

CC Continues tomorrow 3:00 against Arlington at Emerson
   

Not a lot to write about in this one. 

Gibson Holland had a hit and did a nice job in his first appearance at 3rd base
Brendan Canavan was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and two stolen bases
Adam Koski had a hit and 2 walks
Andrew Dellavolpe had a double
Aaron Nickelsberg had a hit and a nice leaping catch in the outfield
Alex Nardone had a double and a walk

CC to play next at Tyngsboro weather permitting on Thursday

CC and Newton South battled for 10 innings at Emerson on Thursday.  CC came from behind twice and tied the game in the 7th to force extra innings.  They had opprtunities to score in the 8th and 9th innings but were unable to push a run across.

There were many strong performances in the game but all were over shadowed by the 5 scoreless innings Brendan Harrington pitched in relief.  He only gave up 1 hit but with an effectively wild approach walked seven and struck out four.  

Offensively it was the middle of the order that really shined combining for all 6 RBI's.  Andrew Dellavolpe led the way with 3 hits and 2 RBI.  Adam Koski , Alex Gutwillig and Derreck Amodei each had two hits, Koski with and RBI and Amodei with three. 

Gibson Holland, Aaron Nickelsberg, and Brendan Canavan each had a hit,

It was an exciting game as it went back and forth.  Both teams battled for 10 innings.  If it were a boxing match and the innings were rounds CC would have won a majority of the innings. 

CC continues next week with 4 DCL Small games.  Arlington, Bedford and two games against Tyngsboro.