MCLA Drops a Pair in Conference Opener

The MCLA Trailblazers left 25 men on base over two games and opened up the MASCAC season with a pair of losses 11-4 and 4-3 in extra innings.  The Trailblazers fall to 3-8 on the season and 0-2 in the MASCAC. The Rams even their record at 8-8 and 2-0 in conference.

In game one Danny Chaison (Watertown, MA) hit two home runs and drove in five runs as Framingham broke open in a close game in the top of the fifth.  MCLA had a chance to break it open in the first, but squandered the opportunity, a foreshadowing of what was to come on the afternoon. John Ripepi (Amsterdam, NY) and Rick Massey (Cheshire, MA) walked and Eddie George (Falls Church, VA) was hit by a pitch loading the bases with nobody out. Framingham starter Charlie Spear (Exeter, NH) was able to get Paul Procopio (Pittsfield, MA) to foul out to first and induced a double play off the bat of Osiris Mendez (Queens, NY). The Trailblazers would have men all afternoon, but couldn't get the big hit when needed.

Trailblazer starter James Greeley (Auburndale, MA) pitched very well before running into trouble and Chaisson in the fifth. The junior hit his first of two home runs with Will Crofton (Hopkinton, MA) and Corey Ketterer (Plymouth, MA) aboard.

Spear picked up the win for the Rams despite having runners on all afternoon. Spear pitched 6 innings allowing four hits and walked seven, but allowed only one earned run. Daniel Tomasz (Newburyport, MA) had three hits for the Rams as did Crofton.

Greeley took the loss giving up six earned in six innings. Procopio had a couple of hits including a double. Tim Burns (Pittsfield, MA) reached base safely three times and Ken Recore (Averill Park, NY) was on twice.

Game two was similar offensively for MCLA, the Trailblazers had three hits in the first inning, but could only push across one run on a Procopio rbi single scoring George.

MCLA starter Sean Hermance (Elizaville, NY) was in trouble early, but after giving up two runs early and a homer to Joe Sheehan (Burlington, MA) he settled down nicely and kept the Trailblazers in the game.

The Trailblazers were down 3-1 in the fifth when back to back singles by George and Procopio gave them runners on the corners with one out. A fielder’s choice by Mendez scored one and two batters later Mendez scored on bases loaded wild pitch tieing the game at 3. Vince Bordin walked reloading the bases with two down, but Burns was tagged out by the pitcher on a grounder near the chalk that was ruled fair by the home plate umpire.

The score would stay that way till the bottom of the seventh, the Trailblazers would again load the bases, but a Ripepi grounder would end the threat.

In the eighth Sean Callahan (Elizaville, NY) would hit the Rams fourth homer of the day, putting the Rams up 4-3 and that was the difference in the game.

Mike Cain (Gloucester, MA) picked up the win in relief. Tomasz had three more hits in game two and Sheehan had two including the homer.

Hermance took the loss pitching into the eighth allowing four runs. Procopio had two more hits on the afternoon. Massey, George and Mike Meaney (North Adams, MA) also had two hits; Meaney had a double and also walked.

Framingham hosts Umass-Boston on Tuesday, while the Trailblazers will travel to Springfield College on Monday.