Dukes Win Third Straight
PITTSFIELD — Mike Woytek (Wright State) went eight innings for Pittsfield as the Dukes came back from a 2-0 deficit against the North Adams SteepleCats for an 8-2 victory at Wahconah Park on Saturday.Dukes starter Mike Woytek struggled in the first inning as North Adams would take the early 2-0 lead. The SteepleCats would stage four straight hits including RBI singles from both Jonathan Smith (Niagara University) and Ryan Delgado (Chaffey College).
Pittsfield would answer back with a run off SteepleCat starter, and former Duke, Mitch Clegg (UMass). An RBI single from Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne) closed the gap to just one run in the bottom half.
In the second inning, Woytek allowed another two hits but was able to keep North Adams scoreless in the inning and the rest of the way.
Pittsfield tied the game in the third inning and took the lead in the fifth with an RBI single from Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) on one of his three hits on the night.
In the meantime, Woytek settled down and held North Adams to just two hits over the final six innings. Pittsfield would give Woytek the lead for good in the sixth inning.
In the inning, the first six hitters would reach base for the Dukes, five against Clegg before he was taken out of the game. Four straight singles including an RBI single from Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) and birthday boy Jason Martin (San Jose State) gave Pittsfield the 5-2 lead. Craig Hertler (San Jose State) then reached on an error by Greg Van Horn (Brookdale CC) as another run would come around to score.
Sean Parker (Central CT State) then entered the game and Langfels met the right-hander with a two-run single to give Pittsfield the 8-2 lead. The Dukes third baseman finished three for four in the game with three RBIs.
Woytek retired 19 of the final 20 batters that he faced in earning his second victory of the season. Jake Sabol (Central Michigan) pitched the final inning and set down the SteepleCats in order to even up the Battle of the Berkshires at two games apiece.
With the win, the Dukes improve to 22-12 on the season and stand two games above the Newport (R.I.) Gulls for first place in the Southern Division. Pittsfield will continue the homestand Sunday afternoon when the Dukes play host to the two-time NECBL reigning champion Vermont Mountaineers in a 5 o'clock contest. Adam Knight (Georgia State) will be on the mound for Pittsfield and it will be his first appearance since he and Jack Bender (Georgetown) one-hit the Manchester Silkworms last week.
North Adams drops to 16-21 on the season and they will play a doubleheader Sunday against the Danbury (Conn.) Westerners. Matt Sommo (U of New Haven) will start the first game while teammate Craig Crumbly (Florida Gulf Coast) will start Game 2.
The Pittsfield Dukes, Sim's Barber Shop, and the Lester Project will sponsor a "Strike Out Cancer night" at Wahconah Park on Sunday.
The gates at Wahconah Park open at 4 and the game will begin at 5 as two of the top teams in the NECBL meet on the final weekend home game for Pittsfield.
There will be a silent auction with items being awarded to the top bidders, as well as Lester Project bracelets, and Sim’s barbershop haircuts as well.
GAME NOTES: First baseman/catcher Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) went 0 for 4 as his 16 game hitting streak was snapped. Adams was hitting .543 during the stretch with 10 doubles and four home runs ... .Third baseman Jayson Langfels is now 5 for 8 with 4 runs batted in since taking over the second slot in the lineup for J.T. Musso (BYU). Langfels was 1 for his last 18 before being moved up in the lineup to the number two hitter ... Outfielder Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) is now four for his last seven including two runs and two RBIs. DiRicco was 0 for his last 14 before the past two games ... .Dukes outfielder Jason Martin turned 20 years old Saturday and celebrated his birthday by going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.
