GAME ROUNDUP

GAME #1 -- POMPERAUG (4) AT TORRINGTON (0) -- THE SEASON HAS STARTED OUT WITH A BUMP, BUT IT IS ONLY (1) GAME AND WE HAVE 20 MORE TO GO BEFORE PLAYOFFS.  IN THE FIRST INNING WE LOOKED VERY TIGHT COMMITTING (2) WALKS AND (2) ERRORS RESULTING IN (2) POMPERAUG RUNS.  TWO FACTORS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRST INNING PROBLEM, ONE, LACK OF PRACTICE WITH ONLY (1) PRACTICE IN (2) WEEKS DUE TO WEATHER AND LACK OF A SUITABLE FIELD AND TWO, A BRIGHT SUN STARING US IN THE FACE IN OUR HALF OF THE INNING.  PITCHER AUSTIN POUCHER CAME BACK FROM THAT FIRST INNING MESS TO PITCH A SUPERB GAME GIVING UP (1) HIT , (3) WALKS AND STRIKING OUT (7) IN (6) INNINGS OF WORK.  MIKE LAFRANCE CAME IN FOR THE SEVENTH INNING GIVING UP A HIT FOR POMPERAUG'S (2) HIT TOTAL.  TORRINGTON HITTERS RAN INTO POMPERAUGS LEFT HANDED PITCHER WHO ALSO PITCHED AN OUTSTANDING GAME GIVING UP 3 SCATTERED HITS WALKING NONE AND STRIKING OUT (10).  SINGLES BY WELLINTON SOSA, JIM FUCHSMAN AND MIKE LAFRANCE WERE THE BEST WE COULD COME UP WITH. WE HAVE TO PUT THIS GAME BEHIND US AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

GAME #2 -- TORRINGTON (11) AT LITCHFIELD (2) --  THE TOP OF THE FIRST INNING WE WERE OUT OF THE GATE  BIG TIME.  (5) HITS AND (5) RUNS, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING WAS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST GAME.  (1) HIT, (1) ERROR, ONE HIT BATTER AND (2) RUNS GIVEN UP.  UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS LIGHTS OUT FOR LITCHFIELD AS JOE MATEO DID NOT ALLOW ANOTHER HIT OR WALK ANYBODY WHILE STRIKING OUT (5), A (6) INNING PERFECT GAME.  OUR OFFENSE, ON THE HAND, KEPT RIGHT ON GOING SCORING ANOTHER (6) RUNS.  WE HAD (11) HITS THAT INCLUDED (2) TRIPLES.  BIG HITTERS WERE JIMMY FUCHSMAN WHO WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH (1) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED, WELLINTON SOSA WHO WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH (2) RBI, MIKE LAFRANCE, 1 FOR 3 WITH TRIPLE AND (2) RBI AND AUSTIN PATENAUDE WHO WAS 1 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE AND (2) RBI.  DEFENSIVELY WE WERE TOUGH, ONLY GIVING UP THE (1) ERROR.  AUSTIN PATENAUDE STARTED AT 3RD, NOT HIS BEST POSITION IN THE INFIELD, BUT HE HANDLED IT WELL.  PITCHING HAS BEEN SUPERLATIVE.  JOE PITCHED A (1) HITTER WITH A PERFECT GAME FOR 6 INNINGS, AUSTIN POUCHER HAD A ONE HITTER IN THE FIRST GAME.  NEXT UP IS MIKE LAFRANCE TAKING THE MOUND WITH MORE OF THE SAME, I HOPE.

GAME #3 -- DANBURY (2), TORRINGTON (8) -- WE PLAY A GAME, NOT VERY WELL AND WE WON THE GAME, BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT.  (3) ERRORS LEAD TO THEIR (2) RUNS.  THE DANBURY TEAM SHOWED UP FLAT WITH NO SPARK AND CERTAINLY LESS SKILLED THEN WE ARE.  MAYBE WE FELT SORRY FOR THEM BECAUSE WE DECIDED TO JOIN THE BLOOPER PARTY, TO KIND OF EVEN THINGS UP.  WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE OR THREE OF THIS TYPE OF GAMES DURING THE SEASON, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL END IN A WIN AS WELL. THE GOOD PARTS OF THE GAME ARE FEW.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN CONTINUES WITH THE HOT BAT WITH A 2 FOR 3 NIGHT, (1) RUN SCORED AND (1) RBI.  WILLINGTON SOSA ALSO HAS BEEN SWINGING THE HOT BAT WITH A 2 FOR 4 NIGHT WITH (1) RUN SCORED.  THE BIG GUN FOR THIS GAME WAS MIKE LAFRANCE.  OFFENSIVELY HE WAS 1 FOR1 WITH A RUN SCORED AND (2) RBI.  ON THE MOUND, HE HAD A VERY SOLID EXCEPTIONAL NIGHT.  (7) HITS AND (10) K'S, NO WALKS, NO HIT BATTERS AND NO EARNED RUNS. EVERYONE ELSE SHOWED UP FOR THE GAME.

GAME #4 -- TRIBURY (0), TORRINGTON (13) -- A GAME TO FATTEN UP THE STATS.  WE JUMPED ON TRI-BURY SO FAST, I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.  OUR BATS WENT TO WORK RIGHT AWAY, AUSTIN POUCHER WAS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ON THE MOUND,AND OUR DEFENSE WAS SUPERB.  WITH ONLY (3) K'S, THIS MEANT THE BALL WAS PUT IN PLAY A LOT.  EXCEPT FOR (1) ERROR AND A COUPLE OF MENTAL MISTAKES, THE DEFENSE SHUT TRIBURY RIGHT DOWN.  LEADING THE DEFENSE WAS OUTFIELD DUAL OF WELLINTON SOSA AND ALEX GIOIA.  IN THE INFIELD IT WAS MANNY BAEZ AND JIMMY FUCHSMAN.  BEHIND THE PLATE ALEX MARCONI WAS ALL BUINESS.  BIG HITTERS WERE MIKE LAFRANCE WHO WAS 1 FOR 2 WITH RBI AND A RUN SCORED, MANNY BAEZ WHO WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH DOUBLE, (2) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED, ALEX MARCONI, 1 FOR 1 WITH A DOUBLE AND (3) RBI, (3) RUNS SCORED AND (2) STOLEN BASES, AUSTIN POUCHER WHO HAD A DOUBLE, (1) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED AND FINALLY, ALEX GIOIA WHO WAS 2 FOR 3 AND (2) RBI.  AUSTIN POUCHER WENT (7) INNINGS, STRIKING OUT (3) GIVING UP (5) HITS AND WALKING NONE FOR HAS SECOND WIN.  ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR EVERYONE AND A NICE WIN.

GAME #5 -- TORRINGTON (7), WINSTED (1) -- WINSTED HAS NOT WON A GAME YET, BUT THEY WERE NOT THAT EASY.  THEY MADE GOOD CONTACT WITH THE BALL AND THEIR PITCHER HAD OUR BATTERS SOMEWHAT FOOLED.  NEVER THE LESS, WE BANGED OUT (9) HITS, (4) OF THEM EXTRA BASE HITS.  OFFENSIVELY, JIMMY FUCHSMAN WAS 1 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RUNS SCORED, AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A RUN SCORED AND (2) RBI, MANNY BAEZ WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH A RUN SCORED AND (2) RBI AND ALEX MARCONI CONTINUES WITH THE HOT BAT GOING 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RBI.  WELLINTON SOSA HIT A TRIPLE.  DEFENSIVELY, WE DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB WITH (4) ERRORS.  DUSTYN MARFYAK WAS THE ONLY STANDOUT ON DEFENSE AS HE HANDLED (6) CHANCES AT THIRD WITHOUT A  MISCUE. JOE MATEO EARNED HIS SECOND WIN WITH A (5) HIT, 1 UNEARNED RUN, 7 INNING EFFORT.  HE STRUCK OUT  (5) AND WALKED NONE.  ANOTHER SOLID PERFORMACE.  DUE TO AN ODDITY IN THE SCHEDULE, WE PLAY WINSTED AGAIN MON. AT FUESSENICH PARK.  MIKE LAFRANCE WILL START WITH HIS FASTBALL AND HARD BREAKING WHATEVER PITCH.

GAME #6 -- WINSTED (1),TORRINGTON (8) -- WINSTED SHOWED UP TO PLAY WITH THEIR FULL LINEUP AND TOP PITCHER.  IT WAS A TIGHT GAME FOR 3-1/2 INNINGS, BUT ERRORS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 4TH INNING DID THEM IN.  MIKE LAFRANCE KEPT THEIR BATS IN CHECK WITH A GREAT PITCHING PERFORMANCE.  HE SCATTERED (6) HITS, (1) UNEARNED RUN, (10) K's AND (1) WALK.  HE HELPED HIS OWN CAUSE WITH A SOLO LINE DRIVE HOME RUN IN THE 5TH.  AS A TEAM, WE HAD (10) HITS ON THE NIGHT.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN HAS NOW HIT SAFELY IN ALL (6)  GAMES.  JOE MATEO IS STARTING TO COME AROUND WITH HIS HITTING BY GOING 2 FOR 3 WITH RUNS SCORED.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH (1) RUN SCORED AND (1) RBI AND ALEX MARCONI IS STILL GOT THE HOT BAT WITH A 1 FOR 2 GAME, (1) RUN SCORED AND (1) RBI.  DEFENSIVLY WE WERE ERROR FREE UNTIL THE 7TH WHEN MANNY BAEZ WENT AFTER ONE OF THOSE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE OFF BALANCE CATCHES IN SHORT LEFT AND HE JUST COULD NOT  PULL IT IN.  NEVER THE LESS, IT WAS ANOTHER WELL PLAYED GAME AS THE TEAM IS STARTING TO COME TOGETHER.  MEMO TO THE OTHER TEAMS, LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING THROUGH.

GAME #7 -- TORRINGTON (12), WASHINGTON (1) -- 
ANOTHER SOLID GAME FOR US AGAINST A YOUNG, BUT FUNDAMENTALY SOUND TEAM.  AGAIN WE DID NOT SHOW ANY WEAKNESSES IN OUR GAME.  (1) EARNED RUN, (1) ERROR WHILE BANGING OUT (14) HITS AND A SUPERBLY PITCHED GAME.  WE ALSO HAD THE NEATEST, PROFESSIONALY LOOKING 4-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY AT THIS LEVEL OF PLAY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN IN A LONG TIME.  BANG, BANG, BANG.  JUST THAT FAST.  BIG HITTERS FOR THIS GAME WERE JOE MATEO WHO WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH A SINGLE, DOUBLE AND A TRIPLE FOR (2) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE, (2) RUNS SCORED AND (3) RBI.  ALEX MARCONI, CONTINUING HIS HOT STREAK, WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND (3) RBI ALSO.  DUSTYN MARFYAK WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH (1) RBI AND JIMMY FUCHSMAN WAS 1 FOR 2 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED AND (2) RBI. MIKE McKEON ADDED TO THE HITTING PARADE WITH A 2 FOR 3 GAME, WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RUNS SCORED. AUSTIN POUCHER WAS THE WINNING PITCHER GOING (7) INNINGS GIVING UP (1) RUN ON (6) HITS, (8) STRIKEOUTS AND (1) WALK. WE ARE ON A ROLL.

GAME #8 -- TORRINGTON (8), BRISTOL (4) -- THIS WAS A NON-LEAGUE GAME FOR US SO WE DID A LITTLE FOOLING AROUND.  IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE EVEN THOUGH THIS TEAM WAS OLDER AND A BIT MORE EXPERIENCED THAN THE TEAMS WE HAVE FACED IN THE PAST.  THE BEST PART OF THE GAME WAS TO GIVE CATCHER, ALEX MARCONI, HIS DREAM TO PITCH AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF HIM CATCHING THOUSANDS OF PITCHES FROM TEAM MATES.  HIS (2) INNING STINT WAS QUITE REMARKABLE.  HE GAVE UP NO RUNS, ONLY (1) HIT AND STRUCK OUT (1).  DUSTYN MARFYAK CAME IN RELEIF AND AFTER A ROUGH START, SETTLED DOWN TO GIVE UP (3) HITS, WALKING (2) AND STRIKING OUT (4).  (3) OF BRISTOLS (4) RUNS WERE UNEARNED.  ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE, WE BANGED OUT (10) HITS WITH JOE MATEO, A 2 FOR 3 NIGHT, MIKE McKEON, GETTING HIS BIG BAT GOING, WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH AN RBI AND AUSTIN POUCHER'S 1 FOR 3 GAME WITH A TRIPLE AND (1) RBI.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN LOST HIS (7) GAME HITTING STREAK BECAUSE HE HATES THE FIELD!!.  DEFENSIVELY, HE WAS OUTSTANDING, HANDLING SEVERAL CHANCES AND TURNING A SOLO DOUBLE PLAY BECAUSE, WELL,  HE LIKES THE PLAYING SURFACE??  HEY, IT MAKES GREAT SENSE TO ME, I THINK.

GAME #9 -- TORRINGTON (15), NEW MILFORD (2) --
ROGER AT SPORTS PALACE REWARDED ALL OUR PLAYERS WITH A NEW FREE PAIR OF UNIFORM MATCHING RED SPIKES FOR THE GREAT SEASON THEY ARE HAVING.  MUST BE WORKING BECAUSE WE UNLEASED A (17) HIT ATTACK AND WITH THE HELP OF A HALF A DOZEN NEW MILFORD ERRORS, SCORED THE 15 RUNS.  EVERYONE HAD AT LEAST A HIT EXCEPT FOR OUR LEADING HITTER, ALEX MARCONI AMOUNTING TO ANOTHER WIERD SPORTS ODDITY.  JIMMIY FUCHSMAN WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE (2) RUNS SCORED AND (3) RBI'S.  JOE MATEO WAS 3 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE, (4) RUNS SCORED AND 2 RBI.  WELLINTON SOSA WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A TRIPLE THAT I TRIED TO STREACH INTO A HOME RUN, BUT THE SPEEDSTER WAS OUT ON A NO SLIDE BECAUSE HE PROBABLY DID NOT WANT TO GET HIS (5) GAME UNWASHED UNIFORM ANY DIRTIER THAN IS, AS IF THAT WAS POSSIBLE.  HE ALSO HAD (2) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  JOE MATEO PITCHED ANOTHER SOLID GAME ALLOWING (2) RUNS ON (7) HITS, WALKING (1) AND STRIKING OUT (10).  IT HAS BEEN TOUGH FINDING ANY COMPETITION IN THE LEAGUE, EITHER BECAUSE WE ARE DARN GOOD OR THE LEAGUE IS WEAKER THIS YEAR.  KNOWING WHAT WE HAVE AND WHO WE HAVE, I BELEIVE IT IS THE FORMER NOT THE LATTER.  WE HAVE (4) PITCHERS THAT ARE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE OTHER TEAMS AND WE BELT THE HECK OUT OF THE BALL EVEN WHEN WE HAVE AN OFF NIGHT.  DEFENSIVELY, WE ARE TOUGH AS INDICATED BY THE (1) ERROR IN THIS GAME.  THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT MAY GIVES SOME TROUBLE, BUT THEY HAD BETTER HOPE WE HAVE AN OFF NIGHT. 

GAME #10 -- TORRINGTON (12), WATERBURY (0) --  THIS IS THE START OF (6) GAMES IN (4) DAYS.  I SUGGEST TO WATERBURY THAT BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A DOUBLE HEADER TO PLAY 5 INNINGS EACH  THEIR COACH AGREES BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOT.  I ON THE OTHER HAND JUST DO NOT WANT TO PLAY ANY MORE THAN NECESSARY BECAUSE I KNOW IS GOING TO BE A BLOWOUT.  ITS A BLOWOUT AND ITS 95 DEGREES AND HUMID SO WE WERE BOTH RIGHT.   DUSTYN MARFYAK STARTS AND GIVE UP (2) HITS, STRIKES OUT (1) AND WALKS NONE.  OUR OFFENSE BANG OUT 15 HITS ON OUR WAY TO (12) RUNS.  WELLINTON SOSA HITS A 2-RUN HOMER AND MIKE LAFRANCE A SOLO HOME RUN, HIS SECOND OF THE YEAR.  JIMMY FUCHSMAN GOES 3 FOR 3 WITH (3) RUNS SCORED AND A DOUBLE WITH (1) RBI.  JOE MATEO ALSO GOES 3 FOR 3 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED, A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE FOR (3) RBI.  MARFYAK AND AUSTIN POUCHER GO 2 FOR 3 AND RBI EACH. SWEATING LIKE WE ARE IN A  SAUNA WE MOVE ON TO SECOND GAME OF THE DOUBLE HEADER NOT EXPECTING ANTHING DIFFERENT, BUT WISHING WE WERE SOME PLACE ELSE WHERE AT LEAST IT WOULD BE COOL.

GAME #11 -- TORRINGTON (13), WATERBURY (5) --  MORE OF THE SAME AS EXPECTED EXCEPT THEY GET (5) RUNS.   DUSTYN MARFYAK STARTS THE SECOND GAME AS WELL AFTER EATING A SUBWAY, SOME FRUIT LOOPS AND A COUPLE BOTTLES OF SODA.  HE  GIVES UP (5) HITS AND (3) RUNS IN (2) INNINGS, TOO MUCH ENERGY MAYBE?? THINKING WE WILL HAVE A BATTLE ON OUR HANDS, I CHANGE PITCHERS WITH JAMES INFANTE WHO HASN'T PITCHED SINCE HE WAS TEN OR SO.  HE GETS THE JOB DONE WHILE OUR OFFENSE IS HAVING ANOTHER GREAT HITTING SERIES WITH (11) HITS COUPLED WITH  WATERBURY'S DOZEN ERRORS OR SO RESULTING IN (13) RUNS.  I JUST WANNA GO HOME.  IT'S SO HOT AND THIS IS SO NOT FUN.  EVERY ONE PADS THEIR HITTING STATS WITH JOE MATEO GOING 3 FOR 4 WITH DOUBLE AND (3) RBI'S AND A RUN SCORED, JIMMY FUCHSMAN 2 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AN RBI AND (3) RUNS SCORED, WILLINTON SOSA 2 FOR 3  WITH A DOUBLE  AND AN RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  EVERYONE IS NOW HITTING LIKE .750 I THINK, BUT THE GAME IS FINALLY OVER WITH  5-INNINGS FEELING LIKE TEN AND WE THEN ALL SPRINT TO THE AIR CONDITIONED CARS FOR THE DRIVE HOME.  IS THIS JUST THE START OF OUR MISERY OR WILL WE FINALLY GET SOME COMPETITION TO JUSTIFY PLAYING IN THIS BRUTAL HEAT.

GAME #12 -- TORRINGTON (6), AMENIA (2) -- WE HEAD TO AMENIA NY LOOKING FOR A COMPETITIVE GAME FROM A GOOD TEAM AND WE GET A GOOD GAME. WE HAVE MIKE LAFRANCE PITCHING WHO IS 2-0 WITH A 0.00 EARNED RUN AVERAGE.  WE FACE A GOOD LEFT HANDER AND THE SCORE IS 0-0 AFTER 4 INNINGS.  IN THE TOP OF THE FIFTH, WE SCORE A RUN WITH AUSTIN POUCHER LEADING OFF WITH A SINGLE.  OUR BEST BUNTER, ALEX MARCONI, IS UP SO I ASK FOR THE SACRIFICE AND HE LAYS IT DOWN PERFECTLY.  ALEX GIOIA STEPS UP AND HITS A LONG SINGLE THAT SCORES POUCHER FOR A (1) RUN LEAD.  IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH, AMENIA LEADS OFF WITH A WALK, AN ERROR AT THIRD PUTS (2) MEN ON, NO OUTS, ANOTHER WALK, A HIT BACK TO THE PITCHER FOR THE FORCE AT HOME, A SINGLE THAT DRIVES IN A RUN, A POP OUT AND ANOTHER SINGLE FOR A (2-1)  LEAD AND FINALLY A FLY OUT.  WE ARE NOT USE TO THIS AS WE ARE USUALLY UP BY 8-10 RUNS BY THIS TIME. LAFRANCE INJURES HIS ARM AND JOE MATEO, WHO I AM SAVING FOR A GAME AT THE END OF THE WEEK, HAS TO BE USED.  NO SCORING IN THE SIX AND IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH, ERIC RINALDI OPENS WITH A SINGLE.  THE NUMBER 4 HITTER FLYS OUT AND THEN POUCHER DOUBLES TO MOVE RINALDI TO THIRD.  MY FAVORITE BUNTER ALEX MARCONI IS UP AGAIN.  I TELL THE VERY FAST RINALDI WE ARE GOING TO RUN A SAFETY SQUEEZE AND HE LOOKS AT ME LIKE I SPOKE TO HIM IN SPANISH.   I QUICKLY EXPLAIN TO HIM THE PROCEDURE NORMALLY PRACTICED  BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS THAT IS IF WE HAD PRACTICE, BUT IT ALWAYS RAINED.  MARCONI LAYS DOWN THE PERFECT BUNT AND RINALDI SLIDES ACROSS HOME PLATE TO TIE IT UP.  MATEO SHUTS THEM DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH AND IN THE TOP OF THE 8TH WE START TO HIT, SCORING (1) RUN BEFORE RINALDI HITS A (2) RUN BOMB OVER THE RIGHT FIELD FENCE.  MATEO SHUTS THEM DOWN WITH (2) K's IN THE BOTTOM AND WE WALK AWAY WITH A VERY SATISFYING WIN AS DOES JOE.  WE HAD (10) HITS ON THE NIGHT WITH JOE MATEO GOING 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED AND AN RBI TO GO ALONG WITH POUCHER'S, RINALDI'S AND GIOIA'S SOLID HITTING NIGHT

GAME #13 -- TORRINGTON (10), LITCHFIELD (1) --  ANOTHER DOUBLE HEADER, THIS TIME 7 INNING GAMES IN 90 DEGREE HEAT THAT WE MUST BE GETTING USED TO.  THE 4TH AND 5TH GAMES IN 3 DAYS.  WE GET OUT OF THE GATE FAST ON THIS ONE WITH MIKE LAFRANCE'S THIRD HOME RUN OF THE YEAR FOR (2) RBI IN THE FIRST INNING.  ALL THIS WHILE AUSTIN POUCHER IS THROWING A (1) RUN, (5) HIT, (12) STRIKOUTS, (0) WALKS COMPLETE GAME.
OTHER BIG HITTERS FOR THE GAME ARE JIMMY FUCHSMAN, CONTINUING HIS HOT STREAK, GOING 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED AND (1) RBI, WELLINTON SOSA,  2 FOR 2 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED , JAMES INFANTE, HAVING A HOT NIGHT, GOING 2 FOR 3 AND (3) RBI AND AUSTIN PATENAUDE, 1 FOR 3 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED AND AN RBI
ALONG WITH A FINE DEFENSIVE GAME AS WELL.  THE PIZZAS ARE HERE AND WE CAN REST A BIT BEFORE WE BEGIN ANOTHER GAME.  

GAME #14 -- TORRINGTON 1, BROOKFIELD 3 --  WE HAVE BEEN AMBUSHED I THINK.  BROOKFIELD HAS BEEN IN THE BOTTOM THREE OF THE STANDINGS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON. WE ARE OUT OF PITCHING SO ALEX MARCONI, OUR CATCHER, IS PITCHING IN A REAL GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME.  HE DOES A GREAT JOB, PITCHING A NO HITTER FOR 4-1/3 INNINGS THEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT, BUT NOT ALL HIS FAULT.  I DO NOT CRITISIZE UMPIRES VERY OFTEN, BUT THESE (2) UMPS, THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE (IN OVER 600+ GAMES), USED A PIVITOL PLAY THAT TOOK THE GAME AWAY FROM THE PLAYERS.  WITH MEN AT FIRST AND SECOND AND (1) OUT, A GROUND BALL IS HIT TO MANNY BAEZ AT SHORTSHOP WHO CLEANLY FIELDED THE BALL, THROW TO SECOND BASEMAN, JIMMY FUCHSMAN, WHO TURNED AND THROW TO FIRST WELL IN TIME TO GET THE RUNNER.  BUT TO THE ROOKIE UMP IN THE HINDERLAND, FIFTY+  FEET AWAY, THE RUNNER IS CALLED SAFE.  I AM TEN FEET FROM THE PLAY AND I SEE THE RUNNER, JUMP STEP THE BAG BEFORE HIS FOOT EVEN COMES NEAR TO COMING DOWN, THE BALL WAS RIGHT THERE.  NOT EVEN CLOSE.  NORMAL PROCEDURE IS WHEN A GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY IS MADE AND IT IS CLOSE, WHICH THIS WASN'T, THE CALL GOES TO THE DEFENSE JUST FOR THE GREAT EFFORT.  GOOD UMPS ALWAYS CALL IT THIS WAY BUT THIS JAMOK, I AM SURE, BARELY PASSED THE UMP CORRESPONDENCE COURSE. AND WE GOT STUCK WITH HIM.  THERE WAS ONLY (1) ERROR COMMITTED IN THE WHOLE GAME. IT WAS A GREAT BASEBALL GAME RUINED BY SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE KEPT AT THE BABE RUTH LEVEL UNTIL HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.  ANYWAY, (3) RUNS WERE SCORED IN THE TOP OF THE FIFTH AND WE COULD NOT COME BACK WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE INNING.  AUSTIN PATENAUDE CAME INTO RELIEVE MARCONI AND DID A GREAT JOB IN LIMITING BROOKFIELD TO (2) HITS. MIKE LAFRANCE WAS 2 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND MANNY BAEZ WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH A DOUBLE AND THE ONLY RBI.  I KNOW THE TEAM IS TIRED AND I AM PROUD OF THEY WAY THEY PLAYED RIGHT TO THE END.  THIS IS A TEAM THAT DOES NOT LIKE TO LOSE AND TO ACCEPT DEFEAT BECAUSE OF AN UMPIRE'S BAD CALL MAKES LOSING THAT MUCH MORE SOUR.  YOU CANNOT, HOWEVER, TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT BROOKFIELD
PLAYED A GREAT GAME.  WHEN WE PLAY THEM IN THE LAST GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON, WE WILL NOT UNDERESTIMATE THEM AGAIN.  I AM SURE THEY WILL BETTER THEIR RECORD CONSIDERABLY IN THE MEANTIME.

GAME #15 -- TORRINGTON (11), DANBURY (4) --
WE GOT BACK ON TRACK WITH THIS GAME ON ANOTHER FIELD IN POOR CONDITION.  JOE MATEO PITCHED A SOLID GAME FOR THE WIN WITH (4) RUNS, (2) EARNED, 8 HITS, 8 K's AND NO WALKS.  IT IS HIS FIFTH WIN AGAINST NO LOSSES.  BIG HITTER FOR THE GAME WAS JIMMIY FUCHSMAN ONLY 1 FOR 4, BUT THE ONE HIT WAS A (2) RUN HOMER, WELL BEYOND  CENTER FIELD.  HE IS NOW BATTING .412 AND LEADING THE TEAM IN RBI'S WITH 13. ALEX GIOIA HAS CONTINUED HIS CLUTCH HITTING GONG 1 FOR 3 WITH A RUN SCORED AND A DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI.  ALSO WITH THE BIG BAT WAS WELLINTON SOSA, 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED, AND MANNY BAEZ WHO WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED.  THE DEFENSE HAD A BAD NIGHT WITH (5) ERRORS, BUT DANBURY HAD AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT IF NOT MORE.  DEFENSIVELY THE (2) ALEXS, ALEX MARCONI AND ALEX GIOIA CONTINUE TO PLAY SOLID DEFENSE.  WE NOW HAVE (6) DAYS REST AFTER (6) GAMES IN FOUR DAYS.  EVERYBODY GETS TO REST THEIR SORE ARMS AND GET READY FOR THE LAST THIRD OF THE SEASON, STILL FIGHTING WITH POMPERAUG FOR THE TOP SEED COME POST SEASON TOURNAMENT TIME.

GAME #16 -- TORRINGTON 13, WASHINGTON 5 -- THIS WAS ANOTHER GAME WHERE WE WERE QUICK OUT OF THE GATE SCORING (4) RUNS IN THE FIRST AND (4) RUNS IN THE THIRD.  DEFENSE WAS SOLID WITH 
ANOTHER NIFTY 1-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY AND THE PITCHING FROM AUSTIN POUCHER WAS VERY GOOD WITH (3) RUNS ON (5) HITS IN SIX INNINGS OF WORK.  HE STRUCK OUT (6) WHILE WALKING ONLY (2) FOR HIS 4TH WIN.  HIS EARNED RUN AVERAGE IS BELOW (1) AFTER (33) INNINGS OF WORK.  ON OFFENSE WE HAD (16) HITS WITH AUSTIN POUCHER LEADING THE WAY WITH A 2 FOR 4 NIGHT, (2) RUNS SCORED AND (3) RBI'S.  ERIC RINALDI  WAS ALSO 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED A TRIPLE AND (2) RBI.  ALEX MARCONI WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH (3) RUNS SCORED AND (1) RBI AND MANNY BAEZ WAS ALSO 2 FOR 4 WITH (1) RUN SCORED.  THIS WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR OUR HITTERS AFTER BEING OFF AND RESTED FOR 6 DAYS.  

GAME #17 -- TORRINGTON (8), TRIBURY (4) --  EVEN THOUGH OUR DEFENSE DID NOT SHOW UP TONIGHT PROBABLY TAKING THIS GAME OFF BECAUSE OF THE HEAT, IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT TRIBURY'S DID NOT SHOW UP EITHER.  OUR OFFENSE, HOWEVER, DID SHOW UP AND ALONG WITH SOME AGRESSIVE BASE RUNNING WE WERE ABLE TO SQUEEZE OUT (8) RUNS ON (9) HITS AND (2) WALKS.  THE ONLY PLAYER WITH MORE THAN (1) HIT WAS MIKE LAFRANCE WHO WAS 2 FOR 4 WITH A RUN SCORED AND (2) RBI'S.  MANNY BAEZ HAD THE BIG HIT WITH A BASES LOADED TRIPLE FOR (3) RBI'S.  JOE MATEO CONTINUED HIS GOOD WORK ON THE MOUND GETTING HIS 6TH WIN OF THE SEASON.  HE GAVE UP (4) RUNS ON (6) HITS, STRIKING OUT (5) AND WALKING ONLY (1).  THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST GAME WE HAVE PLAYED, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH TALENT THAT WE CAN WIN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS AS WE DID IN THIS GAME.  WE ARE WINDING DOWN THE SEASON WITH A COUPLE OF POTENTIALLY TOUGH GAMES AHEAD OF US AND WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST SEED IN  POST SEASON PLAY.

GAME #18 -- TORRINGTON (10), AMENIA (7) --  THE COMEBACK KIDS.  LOOKING DEFEAT IN THE EYES, DOWN 7-3, BUT WITH THE OPPOSING PITCHER GETTING TIRED, WE STARTED TO PUT THE BALL IN PLAY IN THE SIXTH INNING WITH RESULTS THAT SURPRISED EVERYONE.  (7) RUNS ON KEY HITS AND PLAYS AND HELP FROM AMENIA WITH (4) ERRORS.  IT ALL BEGAN WITH LEAD OFF HIT FROM ERIC RINALDI, 3 FOR 4 WITH A DOUBLE AND (2) RUNS SCORED, A SINGLE BY DUSTYN MARFYAK AND A DOUBLE FROM MANNY BAEZ WHO WAS 3 FOR 3 WITH (3) DOUBLES FOR (2) RBI AND (2) RUNS SCORED.  A PERFECT BUNT FROM JIMMY FUCHSMAN TO SQUEEZE BAEZ IN AND FROM THERE IT WAS AMENIA ERRORS AND A KEY HIT FROM WELLINTON SOSA TO DRIVE IN (2) RUNS WHILE SCORING (1).  AUSTIN POUCHER TIRED IN THE FOURTH INNING MAKING WAY FOR RELIEVER, DUSTYN MARFYAK WHO GAVE UP ONLY (3) HITS AND (0) RUNS IN THE REMAINING (3) INNINGS OF WORK TO PICK UP THE WIN.  OUR DEFENSE COMMITTED (5) ERRORS AND WILL NEED TO TIGHTEN UP IF WE WANT TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT TONIGHT, HITTING AND AGGRESSIVE PLAY WON OUT.  THE HEROS IN THIS GAME WERE ERIC RINALDI WITH HIS HITTING AND SLIDING SHOE STRING CATCH IN LEFT, MANNY BAEZ WITH HIS PERFECT NIGHT AT THE PLATE, ALL DOUBLES, AND DUSTYN MARFYAK'S PITCHING, CONTROLLING THE LAST (3) INNINGS OF THE GAME. THIS WAS THE GOOD, HARD FOUGHT GAME WE NEEDED TO GET READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS.  THERE HAVE BEENTOO MANY EASY GAMES THAT HAS PUT US IN A MENTAL RUT, BUT A COUPLE OF COMPETITIVE GAMES WILL, HOPEFULLY, WASH THAT ATTITUDE AWAY.

GAME #19 -- TORRINGTON 6, POMPERAUG 0 --  WE TRAVELED TO POMPERAUGS FIELD FOR A DOUBLE HEADER IN THE HEAT AGAIN.  THIS GAME AT 2:00 AND NEXT GAME AT 5:00 AGAINST NEW MILFORD.  POMPERAUG WAS VERY GRACIOUS TO LET US USE THEIR FIELD SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD  THE GAME STARTS WITH 3 UP AND 3 DOWN IN THE FIRST INNING, BUT THEN WE GET OUR HITTING SWING GOING WHILE OUR JOE MATEO WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE POMPERAUG BATS.  IN FACT, JOE WAS THROWING A  PERFECT GAME FOR THE FIRST THREE INNINGS.  AS IT WAS, HE ONLY ALLOWED (4) HITS, STRIKING OUT (4) AND WALKING NONE IN PICKING UP HIS 7TH WIN ON THE SEASON.  OFFENSIVELY, THE BIG HITTER WAS JOE "THE SUPERSTAR" MATEO WITH A 2 FOR 4 NIGHT, SCORING ONE RUN AND HITTING A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE.  MIKE MCKEON GOT THE KEY HIT WITH A BASES LOADED DOUBLE FOR (2) RBI'S.  MIKE LAFRANCE HAD A NICE DAY WITH THE BAT ALSO GOING 2 FOR 2 WITH A RUN SCORED AND A DOUBLE WITH (1) RBI.  WE HAD (10) HITS ON THE DAY.  THE DEFENSE WAS STELLER AS WE DID NOT COMMIT AN ERROR AND WITH (4) STRIKEOUTS, THE BALL WAS BEING HIT AROUND THE FIELD.  POMPERAUG BEAT US IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON, SO THIS WAS A PARTICURLY SATISFYING WIN, PLUS IT NAILED DOWN THE FIRST SEED FOR THE TOURNAMENT.  THIS WAS A GREAT TEAM EFFORT.

GAME #20 -- TORRINGTON (11), NEW MILFORD (2) - NEW MILFORD SHOWS UP LOOKING ABOUT AS TIRED AND DIRTY AS WE WERE.  THEY THEY HAD PLAYED A 1:30 GAME AND STOPPED IN TO THE POMPERAUG FIELD TO MAKE UP A PREVIOUSLY RAINED OUT GAME.  THEY PROBABLY WISHED THEY KEPT GOING AS WE WERE OUT OF THE GATE RUNNING WITH A HIT FROM OUR SECOND BATTER AND ONLY GOT WORSE FOR THEM FROM THERE.  WE SCORED (2) RUNS IN THE 1ST, (2) RUNS IN THE 2ND AND (7) RUNS IN THE THIRD.  DUSTYN MARFYAK PITCHED A SOLID GAME, GIVING UP (2) RUNS ON (6) HITS, 5 K's AND (1) WALK.  THE BIG HITTER WAS JOE MATEO AGAIN.  BORN AND RAISED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JOE IS USED TO PLAYING IN THIS HEAT AND LOOKED FRESH AS A DAISY WHILE THE REST OF US WERE FAST WILTING IN THE HEAT.  HE WAS 2 FOR 2 WITH (3) RUNS SCORED AND (2) RBI.  HE WAS JOINED BY JIMMY FUCHSMAN, BUSTING OUT OF HIS LITTLE SLUMP, BY GOING 2 FOR 4 WITH (2) RUNS SCORED, A DOUBLE AND (2) RBI.  AUSTIN POUCHER WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH 2 RBI AND AUSTIN PATENAUDE WAS 1 FOR 3 WITH (1) RBI AS WELL AS PLAYING GOOD DEFENSIVE BALL AT SECOND.  MIKE LAFRANCE KEPT HIS BAT GOING WITH A 1 FOR 1, 2 RBI DAY.  DEFENSIVELY WE HAD (1) ERROR.  WE CALLED IT A GAME AFTER (6) INNINGS BECAUSE WE WERE FAST APPROACING (6) HRS IN THE UNBEARABLE HEAT.  YOU HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE TOUGHNESS OF THE NEW MILFORD AND TORRINGTON PLAYERS, GOOD GUYS ALL.  I, ON THE OTHER HAND, COULD NOT WAIT TO GET TO MY AIR CONDITIONED CAR.

GAME #21 -- TORRINGTON 3, BROOKFIELD 1 -- BROOKFIELD IS RESPONSIBILE FOR OUR OTHER LOSS SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FIRST SEED AND HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE, WE HAVE THE INCENTIVE TO GET THIS JOB DONE.  NO EASY TASK.  FOR A TEAM IN 9TH PLACE THEY SURE DO NOT PLAY LIKE IT.  FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE AUSTIN POUCHER WHO SHUT THEIR HITTING DOWN BY STRIKING OUR 12, WHILE WALKING NONE.  HE GAVE UP (1) RUN ON (6) HITS.  OFFENSIVELY, WE HAD (9) HITS WITH BIG MIKE MCKEON'S 2 FOR 3 NIGHT INCLUDING AN RBI DOUBLE. JIMMY FUCHSMAN HAD A LONG RBI DOUBLE AND AUSTIN PATENAUDE HAD A LONG DOUBLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OVER THE FENCE HOME RUN AT MOST FENCED FIELDS. ON DEFENSE, WE DID NOT COMMIT AN ERROR AND THAT GIVES US (1) ERROR IN (3) GAMES.  THE REGULAR SEASON IS OVER AND WE ARE THE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS, THE NO 1 SEED WITH THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE FOR POST SEASON PLAY BUT NO HOME FIELD AVAILABLE BECAUSE A BUNCH OF NON-RESIDENT, NON-TAXPAYING TEAMS ARE USING THE ONLY FIELD WE HAVE AS RESULT OF QUESTIONABLE PLANNING BY OUR CITY OFFICIALS.  MORE ON THAT LATER.  RIGHT NOW WE ARE RESTING UP FOR THE POST SEASON TOURNAMENT BEGINNING, SATURDAY, JULY 31 SOMEWHERE.