GAME ROUNDUP

GAME #1 -- TORRINGTON 5, LITCHFIELD 1 ---  WE GOT OFF TO A GOOD START IN A WELL PLAYED GAME IN MUDDY CONDITIONS.  BOTH TEAMS ONLY MADE (1) ERROR EACH.  I THINK THE TORRINGTON TEAM EXPERIENCE,  WITH MOST PLAYERS COMING OFF A VARSITY SEASON IN THE TOUGH NVL, MADE THE DIFFERENCE.  A TIGHT DEFENSE  WITH AUSTIN POUCHER AT FIRST, JIMMY FUCHSMAN AT 2ND, MANNY BAEZ AT SS AND JOE MATEO AT THIRD WERE JUST SPECTACULAR, ALL HANDLING A LOT OF CHANCES AND WITH RIFLE ARMS THEY DID NOT GIVE THE OTHER TEAM MUCH OF CHANCE.  THE OUTFIELD DID NOT HAVE MUCH TO DO, BUT WHEN THEY DID, THEY WERE PERFECT.  WHILE ALEX MARCONI MAY NOT BE THE BIGGEST PLAYER AROUND, HIS PLAY BEHIND THE PLATE MAKES HIM A GIANT. FOR NOT HAVING A BATTING PRACTICE FOR 10 DAYS OR SO, WE BANGED OUT (8) HITS, AND WITH SOME AGGRESSIVE BASE RUNNING, SCORED SOME RUNS.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH AN RBI, MANNY BAEZ WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RBI,  ANDY PANNIER WAS  2 FOR 3 AND PAUL NEDOROSTEK WAS 1 FOR 1 WITH (1) RBI AND (2) STOLEN BASES.  WE DID HOWEVER STRIKEOUT (11) TIMES.  PITCHING STRUGGLED A BIT WITH (6) WALKS AND (5) STRIKOUTS, BUT NOBODY HAS PITCHED IN (3) WEEKS.  THIS WILL BE A WORRY ONLY IF WE HAVE NOT IMPROVED BY THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.  THIS WAS SOLID GAME, BUT MUCH TOUGHER COMPETITION AWAITS US AND THAT COULD BE THE NEXT GAME AGAINST THE 2008 CHAMPS, AMENIA.

GAME #2 -- TORRINGTON 5, AMENIA 2 --- LAST YEARS CONNIE MACK CHAMPS SHOWED UP WITH A VERY SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLTEAM AND A  REPUTATION AS A HARD HITTING TEAM.  UNFORTUATELY FOR THEM, THEY MET UP WITH AUSTIN POUCHER WHO PITCHED A SPECTACULAR GAME.  (4) HITS, (2) RUNS (ONE EARNED), 6 K'S AND (4)  WALKS AND HE DID THIS WITH A DEFENSE THAT CAME UP WITH (3) ERRORS, (2) IN THE FIRST INNING.  WE ONLY HAD (6) HITS, BUT WE BUNCHED THEM WITH (4) WALKS AND AGGRESSIVE BASE RUNNING AND CAME UP WITH (4) RUNS.  THE MUCH IMPROVED, PAUL NEDOROSTEK, CAME UP WITH ANOTHER GREAT GAME WITH A 1 FOR 2 NIGHT WITH A DOUBLE,  2 RUNS SCORED AND A STOLEN BASE.  MIKE TEDESCO, POSSIBLY INSPIRED FROM SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, HAD A 2 FOR 3 NIGHT WITH A DOUBLE AND AN RBI.  PAT AUSTIN WITH A WELL PLACED SINGLE CAME UP WITH (2) RBI WHICH NOW GIVES HIM (3) RBI IN (2) OFFICIAL AT BATS.  FINISHING UP THE NIGHT WAS A BOOMING HOME RUN FROM DANIEL (MANNY) BAEZ CIRCLING THE BASES TO THE CHANT OF "MANNY, MANNY" FROM HIS FAN BASE.  THE TEAM CHEERLEADER, NATE KATZ, KEPT THE EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM GOING THROUGHOUT THE GAME.  ALL IN ALL, THIS WAS A GOOD, SOLID WIN.  I AM STARTING TO THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.  THE LOSSES WILL COME AND WHEN THEY DO, I BELIEVE THIS TEAMS SPIRIT WILL GET THEM BACK ON THE HORSE TO CONTINUE THE VICTORY RIDE.  WE WILL SEE.

GAME #3 -- TORRINGTON 13, WASHINGTON 6 --- WELL, THIS GAME WAS WON WITH GOOD OLD FASHION HITTING.  WASHINGTON JUMPS OFF TO 5-0 LEAD IN THE FIRST 2 INNINGS AND WE CAN'T BUY A HIT.  IN THE TOP OF THE 3RD, WE START TO BOMB AWAY WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE A GAME WE GET (11) HITS, (6) OF THEM DOUBLES.  (5) RUNS IN THAT INNING, (1) IN THE 4TH AND (7) IN THE 6TH.  WASHINGTON OBVIOUSLY DID NOT THINK WE COULD HIT THE BALL AS THEIR OUTFIELD WAS PLAYING IN UNTILTHE VERY END.  I CAN ONLY SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.  WHO ON THE TEAM DID THE DAMAGE, WELL IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.  MANNY BAEZ, MIKE TEDESCO, ANDY PANNIER AND ALEX MARCONI ALL HAD DOUBLES AND (2) RBI. JIMMY FUCHSMAN WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RUNS SCORED,  WELLINTON SOSA WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE, (3) RUNS SCORED AND (2) STOLEN BASES.  ALEX MARCONI WAS 2 FOR 2 AND IN ADDITION TO HIS 2-RUN DOUBLE, HE ALSO SCORED TWICE.  NATE KATZ STARTED THE GAME, BUT ANDY PANNIER CAME IN THE 4TH AND SHUT DOWN WASHINGTON FOR THE WIN.  THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE START TO THE SEASON.  NOW IF ONLY THE WEATHER WOULD CO-OPERATE, IT WOULD BE PERFECT.

GAME #4 -- TORRINGTON 15, NEW MILFORD 3 -- WE START OUT LIKE A BANG IN THIS GAME, 12 RUNS IN THE FIRST 2 INNINGS AS A RESULT OF SOME NEW MILFORD ERRORS, OUR AGGRESSIVE BASE RUNNING AND SOME TIMELY HITTING.  THE BIG HIT IN THE 1ST INNING WAS MIKE TEDESCO'S FIRST BIG LEAGUE HOME RUN,  A 2-RUN LINE SHOT OVER THE LEFT FIELD FENCE.  MIKE SCORED (3) RUNS AS WELL.  BIG HITTER FOR THE GAME WAS PAUL NEDOROSTEK WHO WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AND AND A (3) RBI TRIPLE.  HE HAD (4) TOTAL RBI AND A RUN SCORED.  ALEX MARCONI WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A RUN SCORED.  MIKE McKEON GOT OUT OF HIS SLUMP WITH 2 FOR 3 NIGHT WITH 2 DOUBLES AND (3) RUNS SCORED.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN CONTINUES WITH A HOT BAT GOING 2 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE, (1) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  AUSTIN POUCHER GOT HIS 2ND WIN ON THE SEASON WITH AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ALLOWING (4) HITS AND (2) EARNED RUNS IN A 7-INNING WIN.  AUSTIN TIRED IN THE 6TH AND 7TH, BUT WITH A 15 RUN LEAD THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO LET ME TAKE HIM OUT. HE WAS THE MAN IN COMMAND.  WE FIND OURSELVES WITH A 4-0 RECORD AND WE HAVE A RUNNING START ON THE SEASON.  ONCE THIS TEAM GETS IT'S CONFIDENCE GOING, THERE MAY NO WAY OF STOPPING THIS FREIGHT TRAIN.

GAME #5 -- BRISTOL 5, TORRINGTON 4 -- REALITY FINALY HIT.  WE CAN LOSE.  WHEN YOU DO NOT PLAY WELL, WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES INCLUDING A HOST OF MENTAL MISTAKES, WHEN PITCHING STRUGGLES, IT HAPPENS.  THIS WAS A NON-LEAGUE GAME WITH ONE OF THE BRISTOL CITY TEAMS, WHO ARE NOT GENERALLY  KNOW TO BE THAT COMPETITIVE.  FOR TORRINGTON, IT IS USUALLY A PRACTICE GAME, BUT THIS BRISTOLTEAM, BETTER THAN MOST WE HAVE PLAYED , CAME TO PLAY.  THEY WERE GOOD DEFENSIVLY MAKING SOME GREAT CATCHES, THEIR PITCHING WAS ADEQUATE AND OUR DEFENSE, HOW SHOULD I SAY THIS, OK "STUNK".  BASE RUNNERS MISSED SIGNS AT CRITICAL TIMES AS WELL.  WHILE WE DID NOT START WITH OUR USUAL LINE-UP, THIS CANNOT BE AN EXCUSE.  WE DID COME BACK BACK, BUT IT WAS JUST NOT ENOUGH.  THERE WERE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS GAME.  MIKE TEDESCO CAME IN TO PITCH IN THE 4TH INNING AND DID A GREAT JOB.  0 RUNS, 1 HIT , 0 WALKS AND (6) STRIKEOUTS.  HE ALSO WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND (1) RBI AND A RUN SCORED.  NATE KATZ WAS 2 FOR 2 WITH AN RBI AND AND A RUN SCORED.  PAT AUSTIN WAS 1 FOR 1 WITH AN RBI
WE NOW HAVE TO GET BACK TO OUR WINNING WAYS WITH A TOUGH WINSTED TEAM COMING IN ON TUES.  AFTER A TASTE OF SUCCESS, THIS TEAM DOES NOT LIKE TO LOSE.  TIME TO GET BACK ON THE WINNING HORSE. 

GAME #6 -- TORRINGTON 4, WINSTED 1 -- STILL IN THE RAIN AND MUD, BUT WE PLAY ANOTHER OUTSTANDING GAME AGAINST A GOOD TEAM.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS INCREDIBLE IN GETTING HIS 3RD WIN.  A PERFECT GAME FOR (3) INNING,  EVENTUALLY GIVING UP A RUN ON (2 )HITS, (2) WALKS AND (13) K'S.  AS GOOD AS HE WAS, THIS IS A TEAM SPORT AND THERE ARE EIGHT OTHER GUYS WHO NEED TO BACK HIM UP AND THEY DID WITH AN OUTSTANDING DEFENSE THAT DID NOT GIVE UP AN ERROR IN DEMANDING CONDITIONS.  OUR INFIELD WITH OUR 3RD BASEMAN, JOE MATEO SHOWING US HIS GLOVE WORK AND ARM STRENGTH, SHORTSTOP MANNY BAEZ SMOOTHLY GUNNING DOWN GUYS AND MIKE TEDESCO ON THE RECEIVING END OF EVERYTHING.  THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME, HOWEVER, WAS 2ND BASEMAN, JIMMY FUCHSMAN WHO MADE A COUPLE OF MAJOR LEAGUE DEFENSIVE PLAYS BY GOING IN THE HOLE AND COMING UP THROWING THE RUNNER OUT AND AGAIN LATER, FIELDING A SLOW ROLLER BETWEEN THE PITCHER AND AND 1ST BASEMAN AND MAKING THE OFF BALANCE THROW THAT GOT THE RUNNER.  THE OFFENSE WASN'T TOO SHABBY EITHER.  WE HAD (10) HITS WITH (4) EXTRA BASE HITS.  MANY BAEZ WAS 3 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND A RUN SCORED, MIKE TEDESCO WAS 1 FOR 2 WITH A CLUTCH TRIPLE AND (2) RBI, ANDY PANNIER WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND (1) RBI AND WELLINTON SOSA WAS 2 FOR 3.  THESE GUYS ARE STARTING TO MAKE A BELIEVER OF BOTH SCOTT AND MYSELF, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF GAMES TO GO.  MAYBE WE CAN'T PLAY IN SUNNY DRY CONDITIONS. WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND FIND OUT.

GAME #7 -- TORRINGTON 5, BROOKFIELD 2 -- OUR GAME WITH BROOKFIELD WAS ON, THEN OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN WITH A 1 HR. NOTICE TO TRAVEL TO BROOKFIELD WHERE THE SUN IS SHINNING.  THIS WAS HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN TRAVELING TROUGH WATERBURY IN IN DOWN POUR SO BAD YOU COULD HARDLY SEE THE ROAD, BUT THE SUN WAS SHINNING IN BROOKFIELD WHEN WE GOT THERE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE GAME IN.  CHRIS COLON SHOWED UP WITH HIS GAME FACE ON AND PITCHED AN OUTSTANDING GAME.  HE DID GIVE UP 8 HITS ALOWED (2) RUNS, (1 EARNED) BUT STRUCK OUT (6) AND ONLY WALKED (1).  AFTER WE HAD (2) ERRORS IN THE FIRST INNING (NO WARMUPS), IT WAS'NT LOOKING TOO GOOD, BUT THE INFIELD BUTTONED EVERTHING FOR THE REST OF THE GAME WITH 2ND BASEMAN JIMMY FUCHSMAN LEADING THE WAY.  AFTER TAKING THE LEAD 2-1 IN THE THIRD, WE SCORED (3) RUNS IN THE 5TH TO PUT THE GAME AWAY LED BY SOME CLUTCH HITTING FROM MANNY BAEZ (3 FOR 4),  MIKE TEDESCO (DOUBLE) AND ALEX MARCONI.   ALSO CONTRIBUTING WAS COLON WITH  2 FOR 3 HITTING AND 1 RBI.  ON VERY SHORT NOTICE, (13) PLAYERS OUT OF (16) SHOWED UP TO TRAVEL TO BROOKFIELD AND THIS IS ANOTHER FACTOR IN MAKING THIS YEARS TEAM ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL TEAMS.  OUR LEAGUE RECORD IS NOW 6-0 AND OUR OVERALL IS 6-1.

GAME #8 -- TRIBURY 3, TORRINGTON 1 --  WE HAVE LOST OUR FIRST LEAGUE GAME, BUT IT WAS A WELL PLAYED AND WELL PITCHED BALL GAME.  PAT AUSTIN IN HIS FIRST REAL TEST, GAVE UP (3) RUNS 0N ONLY 4 HITS, 2 WALKS AND (6) K'S.  UNFORTUNATELY, (3) OF THE (4) HITS AND THE (2) WALKS WERE IN THE FIRST (2) INNING RESULTING IN (3) EARNED RUNS.  THE REST OF THE WAY, HE WAS NEVER IN TROUBLE.  THE TRIBURY PITCHER ONLY GAVE UP 3 HITS, ONE WAS A TRIPLE FROM JIMMY FUCHSMAN WHO EVENTUALLY SCORED ON MANNY BAEZ'S SACRIFICE FLY.  THE ONLY OTHER HITS WERE SINGLES FROM AUSTIN POUCHER AND MANNY BAEZ.  DEFENSIVELY, WE ONLY HAD (1) ERROR AND TRIBURY HAD (2) ERRORS.  WE GOT OUT OF THE GATE PRETTY FAST IN THIS LEAGUE BECAUSE OF THE NVL HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE OF THIS TEAM, BUT THE REST OF THE TEAMS, NOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME GAMES UNDER THEIR BELT,  ARE BEGINNING TO CATCH UP.  I THINK THE SECOND GO AROUND WITH THESE TEAMS WILL BE VERY TOUGH. 

GAME #9 -- TORRINGTON 14, LITCHFIELD 3 -- THIS WAS A GAME TO FATTEN UPTHE BATTING AVERAGES AS WE BANGED OUT (13) HITS.  IT WAS A DECENT GAME FOR 3 INNINGS. THEN THE HITS CAME AND THE RUNNING GAME MOVED INTO HIGH GEAR.  LOOK OUT CAUSE THIS TRAIN AIN'T  A STOPPING!!  EVERYBODY WAS HITTING THE BALL, BUT THE BIG GUNS WERE THE USUAL SUSPECTS.  MANNY BAEZ (REAL NAME DANIEL) WITH 3 FOR 4 WITH 2 RBI AND A RUN SCORED.  JIMMY FUSCHMAN FOLLOWED SUIT WITH A 3 FOR 4 NIGHT, (3) RUNS SCORED AND (2) RBI.  AUSTIN POUCHER HELPED HIS OWN CAUSE WITH A 2 FOR 3 NIGHT INCLUDING A DOUBLE AND A TRIPLE WITH 3 RBI.  PAUL NEDOROSTEK CAME OUT OF HIS SLUMP GOING 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE.  OTHER SINGLE RBI'S CAME FROM TAYSOL SILVA, NATE KATZ AND ANDY PANNIER.  MANNY IS NOW BATTING .533.  AUSTIN POUCHER PICKED UP HIS 4TH WIN AGAINST O LOSSES.  WHILE HE WAS NOT AS DOMINATE AS PREVIOUS GAMES AS HE GAVE UP (8) HITS IN 5 INNINGS, HE ONLY ALLOWED (3) RUNS, (2) EARNED. THE ONLY CONCERN WERE SOME MENTAL ERRORS ON DEFENSE SUCH AS THE HIGH FLY BALL TO SHORT CENTER.  (3) GUYS WENT AFTER IT THEN DECIDED TO HOLD A MEETING TO DISCUSS IT, BUT LIKE POLITICS, THEY COULD NOT MAKE A DECISION.  BY THEN I THINK THE RUNNER WAS HEADED TO THIRD.  ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR THE BOYS FROM TORRINGTON. 

GAME #10 -- TORRINGTON 9, BRISTOL 4 --   ANOTHER NON-LEAGUE GAME AT BRISTOL THAT NOBODY INCLUDING THE COACHES TAKE TOO SERIOUS.  HOWEVER IF YOU GO OUT ON THE FIELD OF PLAY, THE OBJECT IS TO WIN AND WE ALL SOMETIMES FORGET THAT.  THIS PARTICULAR TEAM WAS NOT NEARLY AS COMPETITIVE AS THE LAST ONE WE FACED (AND LOST).   NATE KATZ WAS THE WINNING PITCHER AND WHILE HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS STRUGGLING MOST OF THE TIME, THE STATS SAY SOMETHING ELSE.  IN 4 INNINGS OF WORK, NATE ALLOWED (1) UNEARNED RUN, GAVE UP (3) HITS, WALKING (2) AND STRIKING OUT (11)!!!  WHAT WAS MISLEADING WAS THE FACT THAT HE FELL BEHIND ON MOST BATTERS AND USUALLY  RAN THE BALL COUNT TO (3) AND WORKED AROUND THAT.  MUST BE THE CHALLENGE. THIS WAS A NICE WIN FOR HIM.  ON THE HITTING END, IT WAS AGAIN MANNY BAEZ WITH A 3 FOR 4 GAME INCLUDING (2) DOUBLES, (2) RUNS SCORED AND (2) RBI.  HE IS NOW BATTING .560.  THIS DOES NOT HELP WHEN I KEEP REMINDING HIM THAT, AT TIMES, HE IS TOO FLASHY FOR HIS OWN GOOD.  NEXT TIME I TELL HIM THAT, HE WILL REMIND ME OF HIS BATTING AVERAGE AND I WILL REMIND HIM THAT GOING DOWN IS LOT FASTER THAN GOING UP.  ALSO WITH A GOOD NIGHT AT THE PLATE WAS WELLINTON SOSA, 2 FOR 4 INCLUDING A DOUBLE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS REALLY A TRIPLE, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, SOSA LIKES TO TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THE BALL TRAVEL GRACEFULLY THROUGH AIR TO THE OUTFIELD.  HE ALSO HAD  2 RUNS SCORED, (1) RBI AND (2) STOLEN BASES. TAYSOL SILVA WAS 1 FOR 1 WITH (1) RUN SCORED AND (2) RBI.  AT THE PLATE, I GUESS WE CAN CALL IT A DOMINICAN NIGHT.

GAME #11 -- TORRINGTON 7, NEW MILFORD 6 -- WELL, WE WON ANOTHER GAME, BUT IT WAS THE WORST GAME PLAYED SO FAR THIS YEAR.  LUCKY FOR US, IT WAS AGAINST NEW MILFORD WHO IS STRUGGLING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE STANDINGS.  DEFENSIVELY WE STUNK, OFFENSIVELY WE STUNK.  WE HAD (5) HITS AND SCORED (7) RUNS, (4) EARNED.  THERE WERE A COUPLE OF HIGHLITES.  NATE KATZ PITCHED A SOLID 4 INNINGS GIVING UP (3) RUNS ON (4) HITS, WALKING ONLY 3 AND STRIKING OUT 6.  WELLINTON SOSA WENT 3 FOR 4 INCLUDING DOUBLE, (2) RBI, (1) RUN SCORED AND (2) STOLEN BASES, LEADING THE TEAM IN THAT CATEGORY.  THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR THIS GAME, BUT WE HAVE TO GET OUR MOJO BACK BECAUSE AMENIA IS NIPPING AT OUR HEELS, WINSTED IS HOT AS I KNEW THEY WOULD BE WHEN THE WEATHER CLEARED AND TRIBURY AND BROOKFIELD, THE TEAMS MOST BOTHERED BY THE WEATHER, ARE PLAYING SOLID BALL AND ARE DANGEROUS IF NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE CHALLENGE IS FRONT OF US AND WE WILL NEED TO STEP IT UP TO HOLD ON TO OUR SEEDING FOR THE PLAYOFFS.

GAME #12 -- TORRINGTON 6, WASHINGTON 1 -- WE MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE OFF OUR GAME, BUT THE STANDARD WE SET WITH THE FIRST FEW GAMES OF THE SEASON RESULTED IN HIGH EXPECTATIONS.  NEVER THE LESS, THIS WAS A SOLID GAME AND AUSTIN POUCHER HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS NOT ONLY OUR ACE, BUT THE ACE OF THIS LEAGUE.  NOW 5-0 WITH THIS GAME AND A MEASLY 1.27 ERA, THIS GAME WAS HIS ALLTHE WAY.  GIVING UP (1) RUN, (UNEARNED), (4) HITS, 9 K'S AND 1 WALK.  OFFENSIVELY HE HELPED HIS OWN CAUSE WITH A 2 FOR 3 NIGHT INCLUDING A DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI'S FOR A TOTAL OF (3) RBI'S.  MIKE McKEON HELPED OUT WITH A 2 FOR 3 GAME AND AN RBI.  MANNY BAEZ ALSO HAD A DOUBLE TO GIVE HIM A TEAM LEADING BATTING AVERAGE OF .488  WE ARE ON TO THE NEXT SERIES OF GAMES WITH GOOD TEAMS INCLUDING WINSTED WHO IS SNAPPING AT OUR HEALS.  IN BETWEEN IS THE FUN ALUMNI GAME IN WHICH THE GROUP I HAVE ROUNDED UP CONSISTING OF PLAYERS, FROM 1983 TO 2007, SHOULD GIVES A VERY COMPETITIVE GAME. BRING'EM ON.

GAME #13 -- TORRINGTON 14, ALUMNI 3-- I WORKED AT GETTING AN ALUMNI TEAM TOGETHER THAT I THOUGHT WOULD MAKE FOR A COMPETITIVE GAME.  WITH RECENT PLAYERS AND PLAYERS STILL IN THE GAME IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, BUT TEAMS HAVE TO PRACTICE TOGETHER FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY BECOME A "TEAM."  THE CURRENT MACK TEAM IS SUCH A TEAM.  WE BANGED OUT (11) HITS AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EVERY ERROR, MISCUE OR WEAKNESS WITH AGGRESSIVE  BASE RUNNING THAT HAS BEEN OUR STYLE ALL YEAR.   THEY DID NOT STAND A CHANCE.  NATE KATZ WENT 3 FOR 4 WITH (3) RUNS SCORED AND A DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED AND A DOUBLE FOR AN RBI.  MANY BAEZ WAS ONLY 1 FOR 5, BUT IT WAS A DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI.  MIKE McKEON WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED AND AN RBI AND JOE MATEO WAS 2 FOR 3.  PITCHING WAS BY COMMITEE AND ALLOWED ONLY 3 RUNS, 2 EARNED.  THERE WAS A TOTAL (6) HITS , (6) WALKS AND (10) K'S.  HIGH POINTS FOR THE ALUMNI, THE PITCHING OF BEN BARATKO, THE JUNK FROM MARK CRAVANZOLA AND THE (1) TOUGH INNING FROM ONE OF THE OLDEST PLAYERS ON THE ALUMNI,  MARK MAGYAR OF THE OVER 30 TEAM.  JERRY COLON WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AND CONNOR McKEON ALSO HAD (2) HITS.  OUR OWN SCOTT TUCCIARONE WALKED TWICE AS HE COULD NOT GET THE BAT OFF HIS SHOULDER.  IT WAS A GOOD PRACTICE GAME EXCEPT FOR JIMMIY FUCHSMAN DISLOCATED FINGER IN PREGAME, PUTTING HIM OUT FOR THE SEASON.

GAME #14 -- TORRINGTON 5, WINSTED 3 --  THIS WAS NOT A WELL PLAYED DEFENSIVE GAME BY EITHER TEAM.  (5 ) ERRORS BY TORRINGTON AND (4) ERRORS BY WINSTED.  THE BIG PLAYER WAS AGAIN AUSTIN POUCHER WHO GOT HIS 6TH WIN AGAINST 0 LOSSES, DOING IT HIS USUAL WAY.  HE GAVE UP (3) RUNS, (2) EARNED ON (3) HITS, (4) WALKS AND (11) K'S.  WE DID GET (9) HITS.  MIKE TEDESCO WAS 2 FOR 4, SOSA WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH A RUN SCORED AND A DOUBLE, PAUL NEDOROSTEK WAS 1 FOR 2 WITH AN RBI  AND RUN SCORED AND JOE MATEO  WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE FOR (1) RBI.  THIS WAS A GOOD WIN BECAUSE IT PUT SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN WINSTED AND US AND WE KEPT AHEAD OF AMENIA IN OUR BATTLE FOR THE (2) TOP SPOTS THAT EARNS US A BYE IN THE PLAYOFFS.   AMENIA IS NEXT INLINE AND WE HAVE TO PLAY BETTER THAN WE DID IN THIS GAME IF WE WANT TO HAVE ANY SUCCESS.
 
GAME #15 -- AMENIA 7, TORRINGTON 6 -- POSITION AND PLAYER WISE WE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT LINE UP FOR THIS GAME, BUT THE CREDIT HAS TO GO TO THOSE (10) THAT WE HAD BECAUSE THEY FOUGHT TO THE END IN THIS GAME.  WE ONLY HAS (2) ERRORS BUT PITCHING AND COACHING WAS WHERE THE PROBLEMS WERE .  FIRST, THE COACHING ERRORS.  ON THE HIT IN THE 7TH INNING, THE HITTER WHO DOUBLED WITH A MAN ON SECOND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTENTIONALLY WALKED BECAUSE HE WAS 3 FOR 3 ON THE NIGHT.  1ST BASE WAS OPEN, BUT BECAUSE OF COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS I DID NOT GET THE RIGHT INFO BEFORE A COUPLE OF PITCHES WERE THROWN.   WITH 2 STRIKES AND FAT PITCH WITH NOTHING ON IT COMMING DOWN PIPE, THE BATTER DRILLS IT TO THE GAP IN LEFT CENTER FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WINNING RUN.  4 FOR 4 IS A PRETY GOOD NIGHT.  THE SECOND ERROR IN COACHING JUDGEMENT CAME WITH A THE FASTEST MAN IN THE LEAGUE, SOSA, ON 3RD.  KNOWING HE HAS NO CLUE ON HOW TO RUN BASES, I GAMBLED AND SET UP A SAFETY SQUEEZ PLAY.  NATURALLY, HE GETS CAUGHT IN A RUNDOWN.  GAMBLE FAILS AND TEAM EVENTUALLY LOSSES THE GAME.  THE PITCHING FAILURE.  (12) HITS ALLOWED INCLUDING 2 HOME RUNS AND 2 DOUBLES WITH POOR CHOICES OF PITCHES, SOMETIMES THROWING PITCHES THAT THE CATCHER DOES'NT EVEN KNOW ARE COMING.  IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME, AMENIA SETS UP A SAFETY SQUEEZ PLAY.  WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S COMING. THE BALL IS BUNTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOUND, EASILY FIELDED AND HE LOOKS HOME FOR WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY OUT AND THEN DOES THE LITTLE LEAGUE THING AND THROWS TO FIRST TO GET THE OUT.  THE VEINS IN MY NECK ARE CLOSE TO BURSTING, I CAN'T TALK  AND BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE DUGOUT WALL LOOKS LIKE A GOOD THING TO DO.  MY GRAND DAUGHTER IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING TO THE CAR FOR THE STRAIGHT JACKET.  AFTER ALL THAT, THERE WERE A FEW HIGH POINTS.  MIKE McKEON HAD A SPECTACULAR NIGHT, 2 FOR 2 WITH A HOME RUN AND A DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI'S AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  IN ADDITION, HE WAS PEFECT ON DEFENSE HANDLING SEVERAL CHALLENGING PLAYS.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE, (2) RBI AND AND A RUN SCORED, ALEX MARCONI WITH A GREAT DEFENSIVE GAME BEHIND THE PLATE WAS 1 FOR 2 WITH AN RBI.  TAYSOL SILVA WHO GETS LITTLE PLAYING TIME, MADE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY WITH A 1 FOR 3 GAME, (1) RBI AND (1) RUN SCORED.  CONSIDERING THE CHANGES WE HAD TO MAKE, THIS WAS A PRETTY GOOD GAME PLAYED.  SCOTT AND I WERE PROUD ON HOW THIS GROUP ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE AND FOUGHT RIGHT TO THE END IN A GAME THAT WAS STRESSFUL FOR EVERYBODY.

GAME #16 -- WINSTED 8, TORRINGTON 6 -- IN THIS SEMI-FINAL PLAYOFF GAME, OUR PITCHING FORGOT TO SHOW UP.  12 WALKS AND 1 HIT BATTER COMBINED FOR (7) OF THE (8) RUNS.  IN ALL MY 26 YEARS AT THIS, I HAVE NOT SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN.  WE WOULD HAVE WON THIS GAME EASILY UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THE BALL OVER THE PLATE.  I HAVE NO ANSWER FOR THE PHENOMENA THAT TOOK PLACE.  OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.  WE OUT HIT WINSTED WITH WELLINTON SOSA WHO WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 1 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED AND A TRIPLE FOR (2) RBI.  ANDY PANNIER WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED AND RBI.  PAUL NEDOROSTEK TEAM CAPTAIN AND PLAYING HIS LAST GAME FOR US, HIT A DEEP TRIPLE TO LEFT CENTER. I AM GOING TO MISS PAUL AND HIS EASY GOING COMPETITIVE NATURE.  DEFENSIVLY WE ONLY HAD (1)  RECORDED ERROR AGAINST (5) FOR WINSTED,  HOWEVER THERE WERE SEVERAL MENTAL MISCUES ON OUR PART THAT DID NOT HELP MATTERS.
IT SPITE OF ALL OFTHIS, WE CAME TO TIE IT AT 5-5 IN THE 5TH ONLY TO WATCH THE RUNNERS IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH WALK OVER THE PLATE WITH (3) RUNS ON ONLY (1) HIT. THIS WAS A BAZAAR GAME AND WE WERE THE GUYS ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK,  HEADED HOME OR AS OUR SPANISH CONTINGENT WOULD SAY HASTA LA VISTA.
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                                    2009 OVERVIEW

     THE 2009 SEASON HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS.  THE "UP" WAS AN OUTSTANDING TEAM.  THE "DOWN" WAS THE WEATHER THAT JUST WOULD NOT LET US PLAY AS WE FINISHED UP THE SEASON WITH (2) UNPLAYED GAMES IN WHAT WAS A SHORT SCHEDULE TO BEGIN WITH THIS YEAR.  (1) OF THEM WAS RESCHEDULED AT LEAST (5) TIMES.  AS A RESULT,  WE COULD NOT GET ANY MOMENTUM GOING, ONCE GOING (9) DAYS WITHOUT PLAYING A GAME WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSSED TO BE PLAYING (3) TIMES A WEEK. 
    THE 2009 TEAM WAS SOLID IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE GAME.  WE HAD EXCELLENT SPEED, A SOLID DEFENSE INCLUDING OUTSTANDING CATCHING, AN OFFENSE THAT BATTED A PHENOMENAL .312 AVERAGE AND A PITCHING STAFF THAT I CONSIDERED THE BEST IN THE   LEAGUE.  MORE IMPORTANTLY THOUGH WAS THE TEAM ATTITUDE AND THEIR COMMITTMENT TO THE PROGRAM.  THEY CAME TO PLAY HARD EVERY GAME AND HAD GREAT FUN DOING IT.  IT'S TOO BAD THE WEATHER DID NOT CO-OPERATE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SEASON TO REMEMBER AS ONE OF THOSE SPECIALTEAMS INSTEAD OF THE BAD WEATHER THAT INTERFERED WITH MOST OF OUR GAMES AND OVERSHADOWED WHAT WAS REALLY A VERY SUCCESSFULL SEASON.