Navs win 5th straight

LYNN – The Navs won their fifth straight game, defeating the Martha’s Vinyard Sharks 8-6 on Thursday night. Joe Gruntkosky (Peabody/St. Joseph’s (Maine) was excellent on the mound, going seven innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned, and nine hits.The Sharks struck first in the third. Cole Hanson (Yale University) reached on an error to open the inning, advancing to second base on the throw. With two outs in the third Apolinar De La Cruz (Wheaton College) drove in Hanson for the 1-0 lead.The Navs came back in a big way in the fourth, scoring six runs and sending 10 batters to the plate. Rob Krentzman (Bucknell University) got the scoring started drawing a bases loaded walk to tie the score at 1-1. Aaron Silbar (Columbia University) gave the Navs a 2-1 lead with a bases loaded single. Patrick Raley (UNC Charlotte) was next with an RBI single that scored two runs after a Sharks throwing error. A Brad Elwood (UNC Charlotte) single then made it 5-1. Eridani Dume (Fisher College) closed out the scoring in the sixth with Sacrifice fly.However, the Sharks made a comeback in the sixth when Rosario drove in a run on a ground out, cutting the score to 6-2. After a sac-fly by Patrick Quinn (URI) to make it 6-3 Gruntkosky buckled down to get out of the inning.The Navs padded the lead, adding a run in the sixth and seventh innings. Dume added a sac-fly in the sixth and Tony Serino (Saugus/UMass) had an RBI double in the seventh. The Sharks made it close with three runs in the ninth but Josh Michalec (Baylor University) was able to close out the win.The Navigators return to action at Fraser Field tonight against the Pittsfield Suns. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.The Navigators have announced that lefty pitcher Kyle Shepard has been signed by the Chicago Cubs organization.Shepard, a Boxford native, graduated from Stonehill this spring and had started the season on the Navs’ roster.Shepard appeared in one game, pitching two innings. He allowed one hit and no earned runs while striking out one and ultimately earning the win against the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide.During Shepard’s senior season at Stonehill, he pitched in nine games with a record of 4-2 and a 4.17 ERA. He pitched 49.2 innings on the year, striking out 53 batters, only walking 24. Shepard was especially impressive in a game against Assumption College on April 4, where he pitched a complete game one-hitter, striking out 11 batters in a 2-0 win.At Masconomet in Topsfield, Shepard went 7-1 as a senior, was a Cape Ann League All-Star, an Agganis Game member, as well as voted his team MVP.”We’re ecstatic for Kyle and his opportunity,” said Navigators general manager Bill Terlecky. “We wish him nothing but the best, and hope one day we’ll see him pitching in Wrigley Field.””Couldn’t have happened to a better kid, I’m really happy for him, and I’ll be pulling for him throughout his career,” said Navigators’ manager Rich Hebner.