Three-Homer Sixth Inning Leads to Sanford’s 4-1 Win at Vermont

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

MONTPELIER, Vermont - The Sanford Mainers entered the sixth inning of Saturday night's game at the Vermont Mountaineers knowing they were dealing with a very tough customer on the mound – one of the toughest in the NECBL. 'Neers righty Evan Hoeckele came into that frame having pitched 15 scoreless innings on the season, but that all changed.

Sanford shortstop Albert De La Rosa led off the sixth and blasted his first homer of the summer, a 371-foot solo shot over the left field fence, and the Mainers struck first. Just a few hitters later, Brian Connolly stood in with Steven Kraus on first and one out. Connolly took Hoeckele deep to left just as De La Rosa did minutes earlier, and it was 3-0 Moose. It's Connolly's second Mainers home run, both coming in the past week.

It was already an improbable inning, but the Moose weren't done. Outfielder Jack Tate hit a third long-ball, this one also to left field to make it 4-0. That tied a season-high in homers, with all coming in one inning.

"That's a heck of an arm," manager Nic Lops said about Hoeckele. "I'll say that's one of the better arms we're gonna see all summer in the NECBL…through five innings he was just shutting us down, but our guys stayed tough."

Defensively, Mainer starting pitching showed up again and showed why they own the league's best ERA. UConn's Drew Smith went 5.2 innings and held up his end of the bargain in the pitcher's duel against Hoeckele. The righty allowed just three hits, one earned run and struck out a season-high 10 hitters.

"He just attacks the zone when he works downhill," said Lops. "When he goes on attack mode and just tries to throw the ball through the catcher's mitt, man, he's tough."

Sanford reliever Gabe Gifford took over when Smith exited and threw a hitless 1.1 innings, allowing two walks. Northeastern transfer Matt Mahoney closed it out, allowing one hit and no runs over the final two frames to secure a 4-1 Moose win.

The Mainers are 3-0 against the Mountaineers this season. The squads face off again at Goodall Park on Monday, where they will play two games – the first a continuation of a suspended contest that began in Vermont.

However, before that, Sanford sets its sights on a season-sweep against Mystic tomorrow at home. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.