Mainers Beat Westerners 14-9 Despite Troublesome Seventh Inning

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

DANBURY, Connecticut - A wild contest took place on Thursday night, as the Sanford Mainers outlasted the Danbury Westerners 14-9 in Connecticut. The Mainers took care of business despite nearly surrendering a massive lead – Sanford was up 11-1 heading into the seventh inning, when Danbury scored seven runs, nearly pulling off the comeback of the season in the NECBL.

Sanford got up early as Jackson Sirois and Nater Wachter hit back-to-back doubles to make it 1-0.

The Mainers doubled that lead in the second with their first home run of the day, courtesy of St. John's product Jack Tate. The Westerners got that run right back in their half of the frame, as catcher Collin Mowry sent one a blistering 436 feet over the left field fence to make it 2-1 Moose.

After Sanford shortstop Will Cowan made it 3-1 on an RBI groundout in the third, the Mainers continued to attack in the fourth. Brooks Perez scored on a wild pitch, and Brian Connolly crossed home when Nick Zampieron laced a single to left. Zampieron's 23 hits on the season moves him into the NECBL lead. The outfielder would cross home himself when the Danbury infield committed an error on a ground ball. Sanford controlled it 6-1 through four innings.

The Mainers loaded the bases in the fifth, setting up for the biggest knock of the night. Sirois, who had been on base three times before, belted a grand slam to left. His first homer as a Mainer made it 10-1. The Moose tacked on one more in the sixth on Dom Tozzi's RBI single.

Sanford starting pitcher Drew Smith threw a gem on the mound. The UConn righty went five innings, giving up just two hits, one of them being the solo homer against Mowry. Smith struck out nine hitters, and the Mainers as a team punched out 18 batters on the day. It was the most K's in a game for the organization since July 25, 2022 in an 11-inning win over the Winnipesaukee Muskrats.

When asked what worked so well for Smith, Sanford manager Nic Lops said, "Throwing downhill, throwing with conviction, not trying to guide the ball but just trusting the stuff and trying to throw it through Tozzi's glove"

But then, the unthinkable happened. With Sanford up 11-1 in the bottom of the seventh, lefty hurler Drew Sliwkowski took the mound. At this point, Danbury manager Conor Farrell had rolled out an entirely new batting lineup (with the exception of two players) than the one he started the game with. This attempt to spark the offense paid off.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Westerners got an RBI groundout to make it 11-2. An RBI single then plated two more. Then catcher Jack Edmunds doubled off the fence to make it 11-5. Edmunds advanced to third and eventually scored when Sliwkowski was called for a balk, the second straight night that a balk call went against the Mainers. At this point, Sliwkowski was chased and replaced by Josh Kopetski who gave up a two-run double to Tyler Castrataro to make it 11-8. It looked as though a memorable comeback was in the works.

"If you don't get ahead and throw enough strikes…that stuff's bound to happen," said Lops, reacting to the difficult seventh inning.

However, Sanford said not so fast. With the pressure shifted toward the Moose, Dom Tozzi delivered. The catcher hit a three-run homer to regain firm control for the Mainers, and it was 14-8. 

Danbury's Matthew Manjooran added a solo shot in the ninth, but that was all, and the Mainers won 14-9.

Sanford wins both games of its Connecticut road trip, following a victory at Mystic on Wednesday. The Mainers move to 7-1 on the road and 12-5 overall. Sanford has an off-day on Friday before hitting the road for a 6:30 contest against Vermont on Saturday. That game can be streamed on ESPN+.