Boulders drop 3 of 4 to Trois-Rivieres

Fresh off a win snapping a five-game losing streak last Sunday, the Rockland Boulders enjoyed more good news on their off day on Monday with the announcement of five players named to the 2019 All-Star Game.  The players named were pitchers Nick Kennedy and Robbie Gordon, catcher Adam Ehrlich, third baseman/shortstop John Brontsema and second baseman Ryne Birk.

Manager Kevin Baez on the five players selected to the All-Star Game, “Well-deserved for all of them, going into the season these guys all proved themselves and they hope they go out and represent the Rockland Boulders in the All-Star Game, an honor, and should be proud of themselves as we’re proud of them”

Continuing an eight game home stand at Palisades Credit Union Park, the Boulders welcomed in the second-place Trois-Riveries Aigles in for a four-game series starting with a doubleheader on Tuesday. After dropping the first game of the twin bill, Rockland responded with 9-1 drubbing in the nightcap while banging out 12 hits. John Brontsema and Richie Fecteau each drove in two runs apiece while Fecteau blasted his fifth home run of the season. Nick Kennedy registered his third win of the season hurling one and one third innings of shutout ball, yielding just one hit, walking none and fanning one.

However, the remainder of the series did not fare well for the Boulders as the Aigles won the total number of runs battle 32-21 including a 17-4 shellacking on Wednesday. Baez was forced to use catcher Blake Grant-Parks as a pitcher in relief. Trois-Rivieres displayed no mercy pounding Grant-parks with six runs on six hits in two innings.

There were a few bright spots in the series however, with Ryne Birk going 7 for 12 with 2 RBI”s, Matt Oberste 5 for 14, Richie Fecteau ending up with two home runs, Chase Harris 4 for 13 with three runs scored, one home run and four RBI’s. Newcomer Macos Almonte continued to contribute going 3 for 9 with four runs scored.

“A couple of bright spots but at the end of the day three losses in four games against a good team, they made some adjustments and pick-ups and got a good lineup, Baez said. We made mistakes pitching wise, you lay fastballs in there and they are going to hit. We’re searching for that consistency and been a struggle. We are what our record is, the team is not happy and we have to make adjustments”

“We go out every day, guys got a good attitude and come out with a work ethic, preparing but at the end of the day got to win ball games. The bottom line is you have to get W’s and not doing it. I tell the guys when there are bad calls against you, when making excuses and excuses it just escalates and you can’t make excuses and make results. You can’t point the finger anywhere and no one is going to feel sorry for us”

With the series loss to Trois-Rivieres, the Boulders dropped to 19-24 on the year and are currently in fifth place in the Can-Am League standings and 10 games out of first place. This weekend Rockland faces off against the third place New Jersey Jackals(24-20) in a three-game set with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday night. So far this season the teams have split the six games played.

“We’re not going to hit the panic button yet, the old cliché take one game at a time and try to do here, said Baez. You can’t look took far ahead in this game, go out there today, prepare and try to do your best to perform and win today’s game. It adds truth and attitude you have to have and way we will go about it”