Navigators turn it around in victory

LYNN – Just one night after being handcuffed against the top club in the Southern Division (Pittsfield), the North Shore Navigators were the ones that did the handcuffing against Newport (the second-place squad in the South). North Shore outlasted the Gulls, 7-1, at Fraser Field, putting together a pair of three-run innings to get the victory.Unlike Monday, when the team had difficulty putting runners on base, North Shore (18-10) had no problem against Newport. The Navs loaded the bases in the second, only to leave them that way without doing any scoring.That changed, however, in the third, as the team pushed across three runs.Centerfielder Jesse Bruinsma singled to left off starter Greg Holle, and Holle then walked outfielder Mike Provencher. After a flyout, Bruinsma and Provencher worked a double steal, taking third and second, respectively. A fly to center plated Bruinsma with the game’s first run, then teammate Tyler Kuehl singled in Provencher. Kuehl, who finished three-for-three (scoring three times and driving in a trio), stole second, and came around to score on another single by designated hitter Joshua Garton.”We had to be aggressive in that inning,” said Navigators skipper Jason Falcon of his team’s play in the third. “Newport is a very good team, and they’re very liable to come back against you. We knew that if we were able to get the lead guys on, then the middle of the lineup could do its job and drive them in. We also caused Holle to throw a lot of pitches, driving him out of the game (after just two and 2/3 innings).”The Gulls closed the gap to 3-1 in the fifth off North Shore lefty Matt Costello. The southpaw entered the frame with a no-hitter, but walked left fielder Kyle Conley to begin the inning. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and raced to third on an infield single. Conley broke the shuout, coming home on a fielder’s choice to cut the lead to 3-1.The Navs got that run back in the sixth. Kuehl, who will be the starting second baseman for the North in this weekend’s all-star game, singled off reliever Tom Costigan. He stole second, then went to third when the throw by catcher Mike Melillo sailed into centerfield. Third baseman Kyle Geason then dropped a fly just inside the left field line to bring in Kuehl for a 4-1 North Shore edge.North Shore closed the scoring in the seventh. Provencher singled to left, and teammate Sean McNaughton walked. Both runners moved up a base on teammate Chad Zurcher’s sacrifice bunt. Kuehl then drilled a double into the left field corner, bringing in both baserunners, and Kuehl soon crossed the plate as well on catcher Frank Pesonello’s double.Costello turned in a very solid performance, working the first seven innings, allowig four hits, walking three and fanning four.”This was the second straight strong performance that Matt has given us,” said Falcon of the lefty. “It seemed like he was inventing pitches up ghere, which is what lefties like to do.”