low temperatures left the Emerson Lions with only one playable
game day against Massachusetts
Maritime Academy (MMA) this weekend.The Lions were slated to play against Albertus Magnus College
on Saturday, and MMA in a double-header on Sunday, but all three games were called due to unpredictable New England weather.,Baseball fields blanketed with snow and frozen over by unexpected low temperatures left the Emerson Lions with only one playable game day against Massachusetts
Maritime Academy (MMA) this weekend.
The Lions were slated to play against Albertus Magnus College on Saturday, and MMA in a double-header on Sunday, but all three games were called due to unpredictable New England weather.
The game against Albertus Magnus, which is a GNAC conference game, was postponed until Friday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. The Lions will be playing a trio of double-headers that weekend, including a pair of games versus Daniel Webster College on Saturday
and another set versus Suffolk University on Sunday.
Inclement weather the day after Saint Patrick’s Day forced a postponement
for the Lions and the Buccaneers, who faced off Friday in a re-match in Buzzards Bay. MMA conquered Emerson 9-4, boosting its record to 4-0.
The Lions got off on the wrong defensive foot and trailed 8-1 after only three innings, but solid relief pitching from junior Shane Flanagan and senior Co-Captain Drew Sumner kept the Bucs batters at bay.
“We made some mistakes and we were playing a good team,” Sumner said. “When you make mistakes against a good team, it gives them enough to win.”
Chris Bilton took the mound for the opening 3 2/3 innings, fanning six, but errors in the infield cost the Lions four unearned runs during his time on the diamond.
“We got a good start, but we didn’t play defense and we didn’t hit,” junior Zach Wintrow said. “One of these days, we’ve got to put all of [our qualities] together at once.”
Coach David Hanley is optimistic
about the performance of his team after they begin outdoor practice this week.
“We’re still not hitting,” said Hanley. “One of these days, we’ll get the net up in the gym so the guys can really get some practice.”
First baseman and left-handed pitcher Bryan Fennessey believes his team’s spirit will be a driving force during the season.
“I think that we fought,” Fennessey
said. “I mean, there were a few games earlier this year where we got down early and the atmosphere just sort of faded a little bit. For this game, even though it was a loss, we continued to fight throughout and that’s just a good quality to have.”
Offensively, freshman leadoff hitter Peter Karl tallied two hits and a walk in the game. Fennessey, a junior, walked three times and made a sacrifice fly helping to bring the runs home.
The Lions are set to take on the Raiders at Rivier College Saturday, in a GNAC conference game. Emerson defeated Rivier, who was 3-3 at press time, in a pre-season contest.