Crazy day finishes Tri-State regular season

Brass City Brew 5 Valley Thunder 4
The day started out with the Brass City Brew fighting for their playoff lives against the expansion Valley Thunder – and the Thunder were determined not to lay down. Brass City squeeked out a 5-4 win in 9 innings to clinch the #12 seed in the playoffs. Had the Brew lost another expansion team, Southington 66ers, would have qualified for the playoffs in their initial season, an accomplishment that very few teams have ever achieved. Nothing but compliments for the Southington team is all I heard all season long. Kudo’s to Valley Thunder for their fighting heart as well.
Winsted Whalers 6 Torrington Rebels 2
One of the hottest teams over the past couple weeks, the Winsted Whalers were led by Robert Weiss who pitched five strong innings allowing just one earned run. Conner Guiheen had a double and triple with two RBIs. Johnny Lippincott had a triple and two RBIs as the Whalers knocked off the season-resurgent Torrington Rebels 6-2. The win put pressure on the Litchfield Cowboys who needed a victory later that morning when they play the Plowboys to stay ahead of Winsted. Nick Yousefzadeh had two singles and a run scored for Torrington.
Terryville Black Sox 4 Tri-Town Trojans 2
The Black Sox entered the day fighting for a Top 4 finish in the standings with nothing guaranteed. Billy Armstrong threw a complete game with 10 K’s to take the victory. Pat Norton had a 2-RBI double for the Black Sox while Miles Scribner threw a complete game for Tri-Town. The Black Sox just needed some help from here to clinch a first round bye.
Bristol Greeners 3 Tribury Twisters 1
The Bristol Greeners came into the weekend in danger of missing the playoffs and instead turned it on winning games against Litchfield and Tribury to secure the #10 seed in the standings. Bristol s another one of those teams getting hot at the right time with the playoffs starting Thursday. The Bristol Greeners defeated the Tribury Twisters in their final regular season game Sunday afternoon at Holy Cross High School 3-1. Jerry Lapenta pitched a complete game for the Greeners, allowing just three hits and one earned run, while striking out six. Bristol struck first in the top of the third after Shawn Mirmina (1-3, 2 R, SB) bunted for a base hit, allowing Lapenta to score on an overthrow. Brian Dostaler (2-3, 2 RBI) then singled in Mirmina to give Bristol a 2-0 lead heading in to the top of the fourth. Bristol tacked on another run in the top of the sixth after Anthony Dostaler single scored Mirmina.
Tribury scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 3-1 game. They threatened in the bottom of the seventh after a double from Tom Bryant and a walk to Chris Warren which loaded the bases for the Twisters with two outs, but Lapenta escaped any further trouble getting a ground out to second base to end the game, which secured the Greeners a spot in the Tri-State League playoffs.
Litchfield Cowboys 11 Bethlehem Plowboys 1
Cowboys beat the Bethlehem Plowboys 11-1 behind Kevin Murray who threw all nine innings prompting the Commish to comment “Kevin Murray is one solid pitcher”. The Cowboys had a balanced effort offensively as all as all the starters added a hit while Ed Pequignot, Brian Hungerford and Drew Gauvain each had two hits and kept them ahead of Winsted in the playoffs as Litchfield locks up the 8 seed while Winsted falls to the 9 seed.
Naugatuck Dogs 8 Watertown Blaze 3 14 innings
The game of the day that had all eyes on it was the 15-2 Naugatuck Dogs heading to Deland Field in Watertown to play the undefeated 17-0 Watertown Blaze. The Commish got a text at 4:30pm that said “Naugy-Watertown 3-3 13th inning” Yup, this is how the day had been going. Lance Stevens picked up the win pitching six innings in relief allowing 3 hits and striking out 5 to lead Naugy to the 8-3 victory over Watertown in 14 innings. Watertown scored three runs in the second inning behind a Nick DeLotto single, Dom Severino double, and Connor McEvoy single. Naugy tied the game in the top of the fourth after a Ryan Plourde RBI double and RBI singles from Macky Cianciolo and Trent Levi. Ryan Plourde and Devin Murphy each singled to start off the top of the 14th and scored on a Lance Stevens RBI fielders choice. The Dogs added three more runs on a Christian Cuevas sac fly and a Sean Miller-Jones 2 RBI single. Jeff Sturm had three hits for Naugy and pitched 8 innings. With the win Naugy clinches the 2 seed.
Tri-Town Trojans 6 Tribury Twisters 3
Following a morning loss for both teams, they both needed a win to stop the slide down the seedings pole and Tri-Town came away with a hard-fought 6-3 victory and locking up the 6 seed in the standings. Connor Murray picked up the win as the Trojans defeated the Twisters in extra innings. The Trojans would score two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game of sacrifice fly’s by Connor Murray and Shane Bierfeldt (2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs). In the top of the ninth, Tim Deacon (2-4) led off with a triple and would later score on a fielders choice. Steve Price would then single home Connor Murray. Landon Gardella also added two hits. For Tribury, Tom Rinaldi hit a homerun in the first inning. The Commish received the humorous text from Tribury after the game “Are we still in the playoffs?” who will be the 11 seed.
Thomaston Threshers 9 Amenia Monarchs 5
Following a big win on Saturday over Torrington, the Monarchs traveled to Thomaston as both teams looked to end the season on a winning note and it was the Threshers with carrying momentum into next season winning 9-5.
Canton Crushers 9 East Mountain Cougars 7
Most improved team this season would either go to the Torrington Rebels or the Canton Crushers as the Crushers played competitive baseball all season long (remember they lost 1-0 to Watertown) and finished out on a high note defeating East Mountain Cougars 9-7. The Cougars were another team that was noticeably improved this year as many 1-2-3 year teams are looking to rise next season in the Tri-State League.
Wolcott Scrappers 16 Burlington Hunters 1
Needing a victory to secure the 3 seed (following a loss by Bethlehem and win by Naugy) the Scrappers held true to form and knocked off Burlington 16-1 sending the Black Sox into the 4 seed as well. Love the comment from Burlington Head Coach Alex Hansen “There will be changes in Burlington next season – oh trust me”.