Nighthawks Slide Back Into Win Column Against Sanford

By Thaddeus Sawyer

Entering the ninth inning on Tuesday night, the Nighthawks found themselves in an eerily similar situation to the one they experienced during their first trip to Sanford, Maine, just over a month ago.

In that June 4 contest, the Nighthawks carried a four run into the eighth inning before watching that difference disappear and transform into a 5-4 Mainers victory in extra innings.

As the Mainers loaded the bases in the ninth on Tuesday, one couldn’t help but let their mind wander back to that Opening Day contest, despite a five-run Nighthawks lead.

While the Mainers would scratch one final run across on a Jacob Harring laser single back up the middle, that was the last score they could muster. Closer Charlie Jones came in and slammed the door shut, inducing a popout in foul territory for the final out to preserve a 6-2 Nighthawks (12-13-1) victory over the Mainers (16-9). 

After walking 15 batters against the Blues on Monday, the Nighthawks’ pitching staff limited free passes to just six against the Mainers Tuesday.

Starter Karl Ralamb led the way, displaying some of the best control he has shown all summer and earning his first win in the process. Across a season-high five innings, the right-handed surrendered just one run while walking three.

“I had really good feel for the sinker,” Ralamb said. “I was struggling with the slider, especially early on, and I had to make the adjustment. I was able to at times, but it was still a little inconsistent. Not exactly where I wanted it to be, but I battled with it.”

The only run the Mainers managed against Ralamb came in the top of the second when first baseman Brooks Perez lined an RBI double into left field that got past left fielder Kyle Langley for the first run of the game.

Langley made up for that fielding miscue at the plate with his biggest hit as a Nighthawk thus far, as his sixth inning two-RBI triple was part of a four-run frame to help the Nighthawks pull away.

“Early in that at-bat, I kind of got a second chance, so I was just up there looking for a pitch to drive,” Langley said. “I got down to two strikes and told myself I was getting the job done. No matter what, I was going to get that run in and ended up getting two out of it, so I felt pretty good.”

Nick Quagliato and Tim Dickinson also added run-scoring singles in the sixth, with Quagliato also providing an RBI base hit to tie the game in the fourth and later scoring on a wild pitch.

Quagliato, Dickinson and third baseman James Love all posted multi-hit performances. 

On the mound, Nick Tamburro tossed a perfect inning while Carver Pleasant went a season-high 2 2/3 innings. The UNC Wilmington left-hander struck out three while giving up the Mainers’ ninth inning run.

Jones’ save was his first of the season. The High Point righty has yet to allow an earned run in 9 2/3 innings across seven appearances.

The Nighthawks will look to start a win streak Wednesday when the battle for the 2026 Governors’ Cup continues with the team’s final road contest this season against the Vermont Mountaineers. The Mountaineers currently hold a 2-1 lead in the series after losing game one but rattling off two straight victories, including defeating the Nighthawks over the weekend on the Fourth of July. Vermont can clinch the cup with a victory on Wednesday.

First pitch at Montpelier Recreation Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The contest will stream live on NECBL+.