Sunday, July 13, 2008

Seven Run Eighth Sinks Silkworms in Moot Game

Worms Limp Into Playoffs Backward After 12-3 Defeat

By Silkworm Sports Information Dept Staff

MANCHESTER –  The 2008 Silkworms didn’t just back into the playoffs, they went like an NFL defensive backwith Randy Moss in their face.

The Silkworms can thank the North Shore Navigators, who eliminated Torrington with a 1-0, 10-inning win at neutral site in Holyoke. As a result, the Silkworms secured the fourth and final playoff spot in the NECBL South Division despite the 12-3 beating they took at the hands of up and coming Vermont Thursday night at Northwest Park.

The game, which was a make-up of a July 13th rain out in Vermont, was to be played in Vermont as of Thursday morning, but Recreation Field was unplayable due to standing water, so Vermont (23-18) made the 3 ½ hour trip to Manchester (16-25) and served as the host team. It was the second straight “away” game for the Silkworms at Northwest this season ( A testament to the field construction and ground crews). Danbury beat the Worms Tuesday night in the second game of a double header, 3-2. Manchester’s home record is 9-12, but they are 9-14 in Northwest Park games. Vermont has won five of its last six.

“We got help all summer,” Manchseter manager Al Leyva said. “It would have been nice for us to do it, but hey, the main thing is that we are in the playoffs and anything can go now.”

Vermont  scored seven runs in the eighth inning on six hits and two walks in the regular-season finale for the Silkworms.

 The Silkworms are the No. 4 seed in the South Division and will open on the road in the divisional semifinals Saturday against Newport, who beat Pittsfield 2-1 Thursday in extra innings at Cardines Field in Newport.  Righty Brian Pendergast (Unionville, CT/Manhattan) is expected to open the first game of the best-of-3 divisional semifinals. He is 2-6 with a 3.30 ERA. The Worms will host the second game of the best-of-three series Sunday at 7 p.m., looking for their first-ever home playoff victory.

Since it will not affect playoff seeding, Friday’s tentative do-or-die makeup game against Torrington at home has been cancelled. The Silkworms played nine of their final 11 regular-season games at home, winning four and concluding with a  9-13  record at Northwest Park  in the regular season.

Thursday, Vermont went ahead for good, 4-3, by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth against three Manchester pitchers on four walks, three stolen bases, and a sacrifice fly. Righty James Kukucka (Vernon, CT/Eastern Conn.) was locked in an early pitchers’ dual with Vermont lefty Nick Panzarella and carried a 3-2 lead into the inning. Kukucka (1-2) was lifted in favor of lefty Mike Anarumo  (Levittown, NY/Le Moyne) after walking the bases loaded with one out. Anaruma issued the fourth walk of the inning on a 3-2 pitch to force in the tying run, then was replaced after falling behind 2-0 on No. 8 hitter Greg Sherry. Sherry  put the two-time defending NECBL champions ahead for good, 4-3, with a sacrifice fly to center.

Sean O’Hara (Gloucester, MA/Harvard) was 3 for 4 with a run scored for the Silkworms. Mark Micowski (Haddam, CT/UVM) had the lone Silkworm RBI with a two-single in the fifth.

Vermont’s second baseman Jonathan Roof had five hits in as many at-bats to lead the Mountaineers offensively. He laced a triple to right field in his first at-bat, then followed that up with singles in his next four plate appearances.

Nick Harris also powered the Vermont offense, driving in four runs on three hits. The game was close, with Vermont leading 5-3 entering the eighth inning, but seven runs in the inning on six Mountaineer hits put the game well out of reach for the Silkworms.

Nick Panzarella got the start for the Vermont Mountaineers pitching four solid innings. He allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out three. Bart Carter (2-1) earned the victory, pitching two innings of relief for the Mountaineers.  Logan Billbrough, AJ Balsinde, and Dusty Odenbach all combined for three scoreless innings of relief in the seventh, eighth, and ninth.

A starting outfielder this year for Vermont, Panzarella was making his first start on the mound with all of one inning under his belt. Despite his lack of work this year, Panzarella did not allow an earned run over the first four innings, and departed on the long end of a 2-1 lead. The light-hitting Silkworms managed only two hits off Panzarella,who fanned three and walked only one. With runners aboard, he ended the first inning with a strikeout, the third with an infield ground ball, and the fourth inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

Pregame Notes:- Matt O'Brien has a 2.50 ERA and a .230 average against in his last three starts--- Ryan McGrath who has a 2.81 ERA and a .88 WHIP in his last five outings--- Andrew Janiga has allowed just four hits and has struck out 16 in his last 8.2 innings--- Mike Anarumo has allowed no earned runs in his last four outings--- A.J. Rusbarsky has 9 hits in his last 9 games; Mike Gallic has 8 hits in his last 8--- Ryan Piacentini has boosted his average 38 points over the last 17 games; he is also tied for second in walks during that span.---Matt Grosso has 12 hits in his last 9 road games--- Mark Micowski, despite playing in just 11 contests, is tied for 5th on the team in multi-hit games…James Kuckcka has a .224 average against and a WHIP of 1.06 in his last four starts.

Silkworm Staff Writers Paul Ofria, Don Leypoldt, Bob Molta, General Manager Ed Slegeski, and Vermont broadcaster Kyle Dorau all contributed to this story.