Sanford Mainers win Game 1 of NECBL title series
Sanford’s Drew Smith delivers a pitch during Game 1 of the NECBL championship series against Danbury on Sunday in Sanford. The Mainers won, 3-1. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
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SANFORD — Brian Connolly of Brunswick hit a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Sanford Mainers to a 3-1 win over the Danbury Westerners in Game 1 of the New England Collegiate Baseball League champion on Sunday at Goodall Park.
Sanford has a chance to win the title in Game 2 on Monday in Danbury, Connecticut. Game 3, if necessary, would be Tuesday.
Connolly, a sophomore infielder at the University of Rhode Island, was 2 of 4. Sanford leadoff hitter Jacob Harring added two hits and scored twice.
The game was tied 1-1 when Antonio Morales and Harring walked. Connolly took a 2-2 pitch up from Danbury’s Alex Payne up the middle to give Sanford the lead.
Gabriel Gifford earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief. He struck out five and walked two. Samuel Young worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to earn the save.
Auburn native and University of Connecticut righty Drew Smith started for Sanford and allowed a run on one hit, while striking out five batters and walking five in five innings.
Ryan Preisano, Ronan Donahue, Jack Lutte each had a hit for Danbury. Westerners pitcher Hayden Tarsia struck out five batters in 5 2/3 innings of work.
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Tagged: Sanford Mainers
Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports. More by Dave Dyer
