A Storm Breaks

LYNN, MA- The North Shore Spirit continued the roll tonight, picking up their 4th consecutive victory, their 5th out of 6 home games, and their 7th overall out of 9 to open up at a stellar 7-2 to start the season as they defeated the New Haven County Cutters 1-0 in a rain-shortened 7 1/2 inning game at the New Fraser Field. The loss drops the Cutters to 2-11. The game was played in front of about 1800 but approximately 2200 tickets were sold on "Dick Radatz Tribute Night;" however, the threat of wet weather kept people away. Prior to the game there was a very nice tribute to Dick Radatz which culminated in his number 17 being retired.

Ryan Bicondoa was the story tonight for the North Shore Spirit as he continues his comeback from his playoff meltdown last season. Bicondoa (2-0) started for North Shore and tossed a complete game, 3 hit shutout to earn the victory. He was dominant at times, and at other times worked out of jams to pick up the victory. Tim Keinath (0-2) got the loss for hapless New Haven County.

The Spirit got the first and only run of the game in the first inning. After groundouts by Agramonte and Storey to start the game, Vic Davilla hit a high fly ball that appeared at first sight to be just a pop up to right field. Then the ball just carried and carried until suddenly the right fielder O'Keefe was twisted around and could only watch it go, as the majestic "bloop" home run caught Davilla, the crowd, and the Cutters by complete surprise as the Spirit took the 1-0 lead.

The Cutters picked up their first base hit in the top of the 3rd as Stegbauer got a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt by Anderson followed by a Ciraco walk set up the first jam of the game, but as would become a theme, the Spirit escaped. Ryan Bicondoa got O'Keefe to ground into an inning ending double play and the score remained 1-0.

As the next few innings flew by, the threat of rain continued to increase. It got increasingly windy and loud and thunder and lightning could be heard and seen on the horizon. Fans began to pour either for the exits or for a space beneath the cantalievered roof. It looked for a while like the game would not reach the 1/2 way mark and become official. This wound up not being the case, however, as the next few innings were very rapid.

In the 4th and 5th, neither team got a hit. In the top of the 6th, the first of two innings that FELT like the ninth inning, Anderson laced a leadoff double, the 3rd New Haven hit and their hardest of the night off of Bicondoa. Ciraco got his 2nd sac-bunt to move the runner to 3rd base. With a runner on 3rd and just one out, Ryan Bicondoa cowboyed up and got the next two men to strike out swinging and escape the jam and the lead was preserved. In the top of the 7th, the last inning of play, Peavy led off with a walk but was erased by a Brooks double play. Bic struck out the next man, who would be the last batter of the game. The fans sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and then were made aware of the rain delay [despite the protestations of the New Haven coaching staff]. Stoppage of play came at 8:54 PM, 1hr 34m after the start of the game. There was an approximately 50 minute rain delay but continuing downpours and thunder and lightning forced the cancellation of the last 2 1/2 innings and giving NS the win.

SPIRITFANS.BLOGSPOT.COM PLAYER OF THE GAME >> Ryan Bicondoa (1) EVENTUALLY there will be a repeat in this :-p

AROUND THE LEAGUE DE CAN-AM

The Capitales trounced the Jackals this afternoon and completed their 2nd consecutive sweep over the Jackals by winning 14-2. The Caps are now 12-2 while the Jackals fall to a disappointing 5-9 mark, as they quickly fall off of Worcester's suddenly-torrd pace. The only bright side for Ben Wittkowski's Jackals was that they had a crowd of over 4300 today.

The Elmira Pioneers finally overcame those pesky Grays with a 14-9 win today in front of less than 1,000 at Dunn Field, upping the Pios to 4-9 and putting them 2 games above New Haven in the Race for Last. The Grays fall to 7-6 but are still in decent position in the North, sitting just 4.5 games back of Quebec for 1st and 0.5 ahead of Brockton for 3rd.

Finally, the Brockton Rox continued their tailspin as they lost yet again to the Worcester Tornadoes. For the third straight night, Worcester thrilled the huge home crowd at Hanover Insurance Park with a victory- this time, with one of the extra-innings variety. The Twisters downed Brockton in 10 innings, 6-5. Worcester is 6-4 and 3 games up on N.J. for 1st in the South; Brockton tumbles to 7-7 and fall 5 games behind Quebec. They will certainly need the Oil Can to be a stopper on Friday night when the Rox resume play after an off night tomorrow.

STANDINGS..
Quebec 12-2
N Shore 7-2
Grays 7-6
Brock. 7-7

Worc. 6-4
N.J. 5-9
Elm. 4-9
NHC 2-11