Playoff Rematch Goes Keene’s Way as Swamp Bats Survive Mainers in 6-5 Battle

SANFORD, Maine - It was an opportunity for revenge, as the Sanford Mainers battled the Keene Swamp Bats, a squad that ousted the Moose in the North Division semifinals a year ago. However, Keene got it done at Goodall Park once again, taking it 6-5.

The Swamp Bats got to Mainers starter Kevin Brown early on. Third baseman Nico Senese, who had the go-ahead hit in Keene's first two games this season, got the scoring started with a single to center, sending Micah Kendrick home.

Then, the Mainers responded in a big way with a crooked number in the third. With a runner on first and one out, Sanford designated hitter Brennan Staubley popped out to short, but was awarded first base due to catcher interference. That gave way for third baseman Troy Carpenter, who lifted a deep fly ball to the fence, a standup triple that scored the two runners on base. When Steven Kraus drove in Carpenter via a sacrifice fly, it was 3-1 Mainers.

Keene punched back in the second. Cincinnati's Jackson Smith, making his season debut, singled to drive in catcher Nolan Belcher. Then, Micah Kendrick's sacrifice fly brought in Chris Polemeni to tie the game at 3-3.

In the fourth, the Swamp Bats brought further damage. Micah Kendrick blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence to make it 5-3. This came off Sanford reliever Michael Bradshaw, who took over for Brown the inning prior.

Kendrick wasn't done. He drove home Polemeni with an RBI single in the sixth. Kendrick's huge day ended with four runs driven in. 

Down 6-3, Sanford tried to rally. Catcher Ryan Kolben scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to cut the deficit to two runs. Later in the inning, center fielder Nick Zampieron drove in Brian Connolly on a sacrifice groundout to make it 6-5 Keene.

After that, no other runs were scored. Matt Mahoney threw the three final innings, all scoreless, giving the offense a chance at a comeback, but it wasn't to be.

The Moose don't have much time to dwell on the loss. They're back at it tomorrow morning at North Shore, with first pitch slated for 11:05 a.m.