Sunday, May 30

Billy Armstrong: Forget about pitch count, 12 innings, 190 pitches & 24 strikeouts
Terryville Black Sox 2, Tri-Town Trojans 1:  Billy Armstrong struck out 24 batters and allowed only one hit in 12 innings Sunday to lead the Terryville Black Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Tri-Town Trojans in a 16-inning Tri-State League game at Community Field. "I am still in shock," said Terryville manager Jim Mischke, who also caught all 16 innings. "I have been a catcher since I was 7 years old, and I never seen anything like it. It’s the most unbelievable performance I have ever been part of, and I’ve been catching 28 years." Armstrong, who just finished his junior season as a pitcher for the Western Connecticut State University baseball team, threw 190 pitches in the game before giving way to Tyler Wenz, who struck out five himself in four scoreless innings of relief. Armstrong walked five batters. "He just kept throwing and saying, ‘No, I’m not ready to come out. I’m not ready to come out,’" Mischke said. "It was just an awesome performance. I think he only threw 6-7 curveballs all day because he had a really good fastball and his changeup was just fantastic. The combination worked perfectly, and he just kept them off balance the whole game."
Wenz (2 hits) not only pitched the final four innings for the win, but he also scored the winning run. He led off the 16th inning with his second single of the game, went to second when a batter was hit with a pitch, advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Larose and scored on a fielder’s choice by Mischke. Armstrong and Wenz combined on a four-hitter while Tri-Town’s Miles Scribner and Andy Dooley combined on a five-hitter. Scribner, Armstrong’s teammate and roommate at Western, also pitched 12 innings and struck out 10. Casey McDonald had the only hit against Armstrong, an RBI double. Terryville is now 2-2 while Tri-Town falls to 3-2.
Winsted Whalers 2, Waterbury Wild 0:  The Whalers scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning which stood up against the Wild (1-3). Those two runs were enough for starter Adam Piechowski who pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine. Dave Lumpkin accounted for the scoring with a two-run single for Winsted (3-1).
Watertown Blaze 12, Tribury Pavers 2:  At Nonnewaug High School, the Blaze took control early with five runs in the first inning en route to improving to 5-0 on the season. Mike Mastrocola helped pace the Watertown offense with a two hits and four RBI. Chris Ayer and Jay Spear also chipped in with three hits apiece in the 16-hit attack. Tyler King picked up the win on the mound with eight strong innings and seven strikeouts. Alex Santopietro pitched two scorless innings to close things out. Jamie Kimberly led the TriBury offense with a double and a triple as the Pavers fell to 1-3.
Bethlehem Plowboys 2, Prospect Hearts 0:  Tony Geraci cracked a two-run home run in the first inning for the only runs in the game as the Plowboys evened their record to 2-2 on the season. Jason Krajeski pitched a shutout, allowing just five hits. Mike Valente scattered three hits for the Pavers (0-5) who were led offensively by Chris Valente’s two hits.
Thomaston Spoilers 6, Burlington Hunters 4:  The Spoliers pushed across four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. That made a winner of Jacob Barbour who pitched six innings. Anthony Gasperini (1 inning) and Joe Deming (2 innings) followed to close the game out. Luis Serrano (2 RBI) and Joe Deming each doubled for the Spoilers (3-1). Burlington (1-3) was led on offense by Jay McCluskey who went 2-for-4 and Shawn Shanley who was 2-for-2.
Brass City Brew 6, Naugatuck Dogs 2:  After spotting the Dogs two runs in the first inning, the Brew rallied with one run in the third, three in the fifth and a pair in the sixth to win going away. Sean Keegan earned the win with seven solid innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits. Mark DiDominzio pitched the final two innings, striking out three to earn the save, Brass City (3-1) was paced offensively by Gary Novakowski who had a two-run double and Mike Verroneau who was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, Justin McCulloch RBI single. Ricky De La Rosa led Naugatuck (0-4) by driving in the two runs in the first inning.
Torrington Rebels 6, Wolcott Scrappers 2:  The Rebels improved to 3-2 on the season by scoring early and often against the Scrappers. Tico Arcienega had a pair of doubles and an RBI for Torrington, while Dave Alexander was 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs. Curtis Anthony also had a big day with three hits (double) and two RBI. Dan Livingston pitched the first seven innings for the Rebels and allowed juts a pair of unearned runs. Chris Colon closed things out with a pair of scorless frames. Adam LaCapra went the distance for Wolcott (2-2), striking out nine.