NORTH ADAMS -- The North Adams SteepleCats showed off their immense talent in a 4-1 win over the Lowell All-Americans on Thursday night. They also showed that they still have plenty of things left to improve on this season.
North Adams (9-6) won its third game in a row due in large part to 13 strikeouts from its pitching staff and seven stolen bases from its lineup. But SteepleCats head coach Jeff Verplancke was more concerned with what his team didn't do at Joe Wolfe Field on Thursday.
"I think five or six of the innings tonight we had runners on third base with less than two outs and didn't get it done," Verplancke said. "We have to execute better. This shouldn't have even been a four-run lead heading into the ninth. It should have been an eight- or nine-run lead heading into the ninth.
"I feel like we have the team to beat, at least in our division anyway, but we're not consistent right now. We haven't put it all together, and our pitching, obviously, has carried us most of the season. We've had two big games against Vermont and Keene where we put up runs, but other than that it's been games like this. We've had to wear some guys thin in the pen, and it's too early to do that."
While his offense left runners on base, Verplancke had to be pleased with the pitching performance put up by North Adams starter Brach Davis. The junior from the University of Memphis pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters in all and only walking three.
He cruised through the first three innings before giving up a leadoff double to David Gustafson to start the fourth. He got out of the inning unscathed by retiring the next three batters and repeated the scenario over the next three innings, each time allowing the leadoff batter to reach before leaving him stranded at the end of the frame.
He was particularly lethal in the sixth and seventh innings, striking out the side after allowing runners on second base.
"Mental toughness has been one of the things I work on the most," Davis said. "When I get in holes like that, I used to cave in. But I'm learning to deal with it, take a deep breath and just step back and make my pitches. It seemed to work tonight."
Davis was using more fastballs earlier in the game but switched to the breaking ball for his out pitch in the later innings. That recipe helped him strike out six out of eight batters he faced in the sixth and seventh frames.
"It's funny because at the beginning of the game, when I feel good and strong, it's like it doesn't bite as well," Davis said. "But when I start to get tired, that's when I seem to start striking people out more."
Davis seemed to be biding his time until the offense broke loose. The SteepleCats, who put a runner on base in every inning but one, never could break free for a big inning.
The hosts took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by designated hitter Cameron McMullen in the bottom of the second inning but blew two big chances in the next two frames. North Adams put two runners on with no outs against Lowell starter Leif Sorenson in the third but lost momentum when Paul Hoilman grounded into a double play.
Sorenson then walked two straight batters to start the fourth, but McMullen failed to sacrifice them over, getting called out when his bunt attempt with two strikes went foul. Matt Goulas then grounded into a fielder's choice and later ended the inning when he was caught in a rundown between first and second base. It was the only time in eight attempts that the ‘Cats were called out trying to steal.
Things finally came together for North Adams in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leadoff hitter Brandon Macias started things off with a walk before Tony Brunetti put runners at first and second base with a single to centerfield.
Both runners advanced on a double steal and came home when John Schultz hit a double to the left-center field gap over a drawn-in Lowell outfield. The double gave the SteepleCats a 3-0 lead, and Schultz would later add to it by scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh.
Overall, Schultz went 4 for 4 with a double, three singles and two RBI out of the No. 3 slot.
"He was huge," Verplancke said. "He came through with the double in that one inning, and if he doesn't show up tonight, I think we're in a world of hurt offensively."
SteepleCats pitcher Tim Boyce worked a scoreless eighth inning in relief of Davis before the bullpen made things interesting in the ninth. Tommy Mackoul gave up one run and walked two more batters before Ryan Fraser got the call. He walked the bases loaded with two outs before getting Gustafson to pop out to second base to end the game.
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