MANCHESTER — Kyle Young broke open a one-run game with an RBI pinch-hit triple in the sixth inning, and the Upper Valley Anglers tacked on four more runs in the seventh for a 6-0 win over New Hampshire Prospects White in New Hampshire COVID Baseball League play at the Derryfield School on Wednesday evening.
The Anglers (2-0) grabbed their second shutout in as many starts. Sam Sacerdote and Nolan Gantrish combined on a five-hitter two nights after Trey Parker and Brandon Walker tossed a joint no-hitter in the Anglers’ home debut. Sacerdote and Gantrish compiled six strikeouts without a walk and allowed only one NHPW player to get past first base.
Leadoff hitter Ben Williams got Upper Valley going quickly with a game-opening single, stealing second base and scoring on a Gantrish single for an early 1-0 lead. That’s where the score stayed until late, even as the Anglers left two runners in scoring position in the third frame and another in the fifth.
A similar situation seemed set when Young batted for Walker in the visitors’ sixth. With two outs and pinch hitter Casey Graham (walk) on base, Young lined a 1-2 pitch for the run-scoring three-bagger that doubled the Anglers’ lead.
Parker, Jack Loftus, Trey Chickering and Graham all reached base and scored in the seventh, as Upper Valley took advantage of three hits and several NHPW wild pitches. The Anglers slapped 13 hits on the evening, with Williams, Chickering and Andrew Hadlock providing two each.
Upper Valley has a return engagement with Exeter — its no-hit victim from Monday — on Friday night at Exeter High School.