OLD ORCHARD BEACH—The Windjammers jumped on top early vs. the Nor’easters at the Ballpark on Sunday afternoon, July 15, and ultimately pulled out an 11-9 victory. The Nor’easters surged through the middle and late innings, but couldn’t overtake the Jammers’ for when it counted most.

“GNCBL” is short for “Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League,” a summer developmental league for college players from Maine, New Hampshire and beyond.

The Jammers began the afternoon looking sharp: The team posted one in the bottom of the first, two more in the bottom of the second and five in the bottom of the third. The Nor’easters didn’t grab their first points until the top of the third, when they added four and snatched a tiny, 4-3 advantage.

The Nor’easters notched three more in the top of the fourth, then played clean in the field for the bottom of the same stretch, holding the Jammers quiet. As the fifth dawned, the Jammers still stood on top – but only narrowly, 8-7.

In the fifth, the Jammers tallied their final three of the day, putting them ahead 11-7. Neither team managed to get a man around in the sixth, leading to a last-ditch top of the seventh for the Nor’easters. The team posted two in the stretch, but two wasn’t enough. The Jammers didn’t need their last ups, and walked away victorious, 11-9.

Jammers lead-off man Grant Hefler (RF; Wiscasset/Wheaton) went 2-3 on the day, scoring four times and collecting one RBI. Kolby Lambert (CF; Bonny Eagle/Franklin Pierce) finished 2-4 with three RBIs, Darren Wood (C; Wiscasset/University of Southern Maine) 1-3 with three RBIs, Bryce Smith (3B; Greenland, New Hampshire/Great Bay Community College) 1-4 with one RBI, Justin Coppeta (2B; Westbrook/Assumption) 2-4 with one run, Amos Herrin (SS; Wilton/Southern Maine Community College) 2-4 with one run and 2 RBIs, and Tucker Banger (LF; Orono/University of Maryland) 2-3 with three runs. Neither six-hitter Alex Libby (P; Freeport/Plymouth State) nor nine-hitter Cam Smith (1B; Gorham/Clark) logged any hits, but each scored once.

Hefler picked up a double and Lambert two triples, while Hefler stole two bases, and Herrin, Libby, Wood, Coppeta and Banger stole a base apiece.

Libby pitched all seven innings, giving up 15 hits and five earned runs. He walked three and struck out four.

Nor’easters lead-off man Josh Goulet (CF; Nashua, New Hampshire/Plymouth State) went 3-5 with two runs. Max Salevsky (1B; Bonny Eagle/Plymouth State) finished 3-4 with two runs, Ben Malgeri (3B; Stratham, New Hampshire/Holy Cross) 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs, Ben Conti (2B; South Portland/USM) 1-4 with one RBI, Cole Carter (C; Dover, New Hampshire/St. Joe’s) 2-3 with one run, Justin Rodrigue 1-4, Troy Bogdahn (RF; Bonny Eagle/St. Joe’s) 2-4 with one run, and Bryan Woolley (P; Dover, New Hampshire/Williams) 1-2 with one RBI. Ben Gravel (LF; Rochester, New Hampshire/St. Joe’s) didn’t pick up any hits in his four at-bats, but he did tally two RBIs; similarly, Tim Mainella (P; Dover, New Hampshire/Emerson), went 0-1, but did score a run.

Rodrigue’s hit was a double.

Woolley started on the mound for the Nor’easters, throwing just over two innings. He gave up six hits and six runs (four earned), walking one. Mainella relieved him, throwing three and two thirds. He also relinquished six hits, leading to five runs, all of them earned. He walked three and struck out two.

The GNCBL plays not just at the Ballpark, but also at Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland, at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, at St. Joseph’s College in Standish and at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. The seasons unfolds on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – a full schedule is available online at www.gncbl.net – and can be tracked down on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gncblBaseball/ and Twitter at @GNCBLBaseball.

Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME.

Jammers pitcher Alex Libby (Freeport/Plymouth State) unwinds into a throw.

Jammers centerfielder Kolby Lambert (Bonny Eagle/Franklin Pierce) gets beneath a flyball.

Troy Bogdahn (Bonny Eagle/St. Joe’s) mans rightfield for the Nor’easters.

Jammers second baseman Justin Coppeta (Westbrook/Assumption) readies himself for a play.

The Nor’easters’ Cole Carter (Dover, New Hampshire/St. Joe’s) collides with the Jammers’ Darren Wood (Wiscasset/USM) at home.

Kolby Lambert (Bonny Eagle/Franklin Pierce) beats the throw to third.

The Nor’easters’ Max Salevsky (Bonny Eagle/Plymouth State) is among the GNCBL’s leaders in several offensive categories.