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If winning the first game of a baseball season is a good sign of things to come, winning the first game in a team’s first year of existence certainly seems even sweeter.
The Rockland Boulders, the new pro team based at Provident Bank Park in Pomona, scored six runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Newark Bears, 11-5, in Opening Day action in Can-Am League play in Newark, NJ.
“We had a total team effort and our bullpen gave us a chance to win,” said Boulders Manager Dave LaPoint. “Everybody played a big part today.”
Leading the way offensively for the Boulders (1-0) was right fielder Tommy Giles. The Vero Beach, FL, product had four hits in the game and also started the 10th inning rally with a leadoff single.
“That 1th inning really showed what our team was made of,” Giles said. “We battled all game, and then exploded for those six runs. Our team is extremely talented and when we put it all together like we did late, we can be very dangerous.”
Timely hitting and clutch at-bats for the Boulders forced Newark to dig into their bullpen as Rockland sent 10 men up in the extra inning, getting six runs on three hits.
The Newark Bears (0-1) struck early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning off Boulders’ starter Bobby Blevins. Kyle LaMotta started the game off with a walk, and then stole second base. He later scored the first run on an RBI single from Brandon Watson. Brian Nichols drove home Watson on an RBI double of his own, and than Danny Santiesteban capped of the bottom frame with a run scoring single.
Rockland cut into the lead in the top of the second, after Giles drove in Norm Hutchins from second, but the Bears put one right back up to regain the 4-1 edge after two.
Blevins would then settle down, as he did not give up a run through his next three innings of work. The right-hander picked up the no decision, striking out three over five innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits.
In the top of the fifth, the Boulders’ bats came to life when Vic Buttler got a three-run homerun to tie the game, 4-4, which was then followed by a Hutchins solo blast to put Rockland up, 5-4.
The Bears knocked one in off Rockland’s relief pitcher Kyle Wilson to time the game, 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, but that would be all for Newark as Michael Gardner and Adrian Martin shut the door down in the final three innings.
Gardner gets the win for Rockland, going two strong innings and striking out a pair. Anthony Pluta is charged with the loss for Newark, after giving up six runs on four hits in two innings of relief.
Left Roger Lincoln gets the start for the Boulders today, while opposing him for Newark is right-hander Jacob Wild at 11 a.m. from Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark.
The Boulders are on the road until June 16, when they are scheduled to play their first home game at Provident Bank Park.
The games can be followed live on RocklandBoulders.com, with the pregame show at 10:45 am. Rockland Boulders tickets are on sale through the Boulders’ website at RocklandBoulders.com or by calling 845-364-0009.
Enraged taxpayer
10:21 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
First of all, the Bolders baseball team is not a Pro team because they are not in a Pro League. They are not even a Miner League team. They are in the Can-Am League, which is an unkown factor at this point to all the taxpayers of the Town of Ramapo, whose majority voted down using taxpayer money to build the stadium which they will call their home. Secondly, I am outraged by the name of the stadium, which is not only out of place but ridiculous at best. I would have much prefered the stadium be called, The Chris St Lawrence Stadium, as that at least would have focused on the real joke of it.
Mike Hirsch
1:12 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thank you enraged. First of all, I'd like to say that I'm pleased that some of us can still get enraged by the unamerican ways of our career politicians. I have been to couple of these Can-Am league games with my son's cub scouts. People go for a nice, affordable evening out (which it is), not to see baseball. As a longtime Provident Bank customer, I was very disappointed that the bank (which I think is terrific) put their name on this soon-to-be-ruled-unlawful endeavor. Support Preserve Ramapo. They've been working very long and hard on all the injustices being done in that town. Get more involved and channel that rage.
ira sonin
10:21 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
i may have been the only rocklander at the game other than the vips who attended. i think the word has to get out about this local team who we will be the best entertainment option rockland will have to offer on some of those beautiful summer evenings. the game was very entertaining...extra inning win did help a lot. our team seemed to have a lot of enthusiasm and will serve rocklanders well. i hope those of you who understandibly are not in favor of the new stadium for political reasons, will not punish yourselves by refusing to attend home games beginning in mid june. it will be a wonderful opportunity to see baseball without having to buck the nyc traffic to yankee stadium or citifield. will be a cozy atmosphere, reasonably priced food and the excitement of root root root for the home team.
Mary Smith
6:16 am on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Mike, I totally agree with you regarding the questionable dealings of having this stadium built.
But, I am very thankful that this has provided much needed jobs to our community.
Additionally, the courts have struck down every appeal thus far. St. Lawrence and crew must have done something right!
Ryan Buncher
6:11 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Please keep it civil, people. This is not an appropriate forum for personal attacks.