Navigators’ bats sparkle against Danbury

LYNN – Though the Fourth of July was just a few short days ago, the North Shore Navigators made certain that the fireworks would last several days more. Last night, each starter had a hit (and 16 overall), with eight different players either scoring runs or driving them in. The Navs belted Danbury, 9-1, at Fraser Field.”Those are ingredients for success on the field,” said Navigators skipper Jason Falcon about his team’s hitting on the evening. “We had strong defense as well, and that’s what I was most impressed with tonight. Danbury hit balls hard right at us, and we made the plays.”The Westerners (4-17) tied the score in the fourth. T.J. Thomas lashed a leadoff single off Navs righty John Folino. After Folino retired the next two batters, third baseman Melvin Castillo belted a triple off the wall in center to bring in Thomas. Not only would that prove to be the final hit of the evening for the Westerners, but Castillo would also be the final runner to reach base for the club with the hit.North Shore ((15-8) kicked the door in in the bottom of the evening. John Hill lined a single that Castillo ranged into foul territory to make a great stop on. However, once he planted his feet, he threw low of Thomas, and Hill took second. After a walk by righty Nick Jones to Chad Zurcher, Kent Graham laced a triple to left-center, scoring both runners. Two batters later, Tyler Kuehl (4-for-5) singled in Graham to open up a 4-1 edge.The Navigators put the game out of reach in the sixth, sending 11 batters to the plate. Kuehl singled to center with one down, then teammate Mike Provencher walked. Sean McNaughton (3 hits) doubled into the left-field corner, plating Kuehl. Designated hitter Matt Costello followed with a single to right, knocking in Provencher to make it 6-1 and driving Jones out of the game. Nick Belcher greeted reliever Theodore Hurvel with a run-scoring single, while additional runs were added on a bases-loaded walk and single.”I put Tyler (Kuehl) in at leadoff to give Justin Little the night off,” Falcon said of the second baseman and his performance. “All the guys swung the bat real well, and all night long, we were making adjustments. The player I was impressed with the most was (left fielder) Ryan McCrann. He hit the ball hard and right into play, but right at fielders. He got his hit on the shattered bat (in the sixth), driving in our final run.”Hill kept the game close in the early innings with strong play behind the plate. Shane Kingsley singled off Folino to begin the third, but was caught stealing trying to take second. Folino then issued a walk to Kevin Jackson, and after a strikeout, attempted to take second as well. Hill uncorked a strong throw to Zurcher, and the inning was complete.”That was big,” said Falcon of Hill’s throwing out the Danbury duo in the third. “In this league, and especially playing with wooden bats, one good hit can change the game in a hurry. John’s play was very big.”Folino worked the first seven innings for the Navs, allowing the six hits, and combining with relievers Ryan Krull (who pitched the eighth) and righty Chris Prescott (entering in the ninth) to retire the final 16 Westerner batters.