American Legion Wrapup

American 

Legion 

Baseball takes

center stage

By Ron P. Coderre

Baseball players who participate in American Legion Baseball are the true amateur ‘boys of summer.’  At the conclusion of the high school season, these young men put away one uniform and don another in a transition that all takes place in a very few days. 

American Legion Baseball, tabbed as the best baseball program for young men ages 14 through 18, is similar to the adage, “When one door closes, another door opens.”  The conclusion of the high school season signals the beginning of an intense five weeks of competition for those players who are members of local American Legion teams.

The three local teams, TriTown, Danielson and Moosup have all embarked on the 2016 season, as play in Zone VI officially was underway last week.

The TriTown entry had the busiest season opening, playing eight games in a space of approximately 10 days.  The Towners bounced back following a disappointing three-game opening series against New London by beating Norwich and playing two good games in losses to Niantic.

The Moosup Post #91 also dropped its opening three-game series to a very good Waterford entry.  Post #91 finally broke into the win column against Norwich.  Danielson’s opening series against Willimantic was a bit more successful as the Recs picked up two wins in the three-game set.  In the next series against New London, Danielson struggled.

Before we realize it, the season will be coming down the stretch and the locals will be vying for a spot in the Connecticut State American Legion Tournament.  Until that time there is plenty of baseball action for local fans to enjoy.

TriTown, the only local program with a Jr. Legion team, had a strong opening season series, taking two of three games from Norwich. 

TriTown Bounces Back Against Norwich

TriTown American Legion Baseball, sponsored by Post #13 of Putnam, Post #111 of Woodstock and Post #67 of Thompson, opened its season on a disappointing note, losing all three games of its opening set to a strong New London team.  

The Whaling City crew took advantage of TriTown’s pitching, which was still getting organized, in beating the locals 13-2 in the first game followed by a doubleheader sweep.  New London captured the lidlifter of the DH 9-0 and took the second game 14-9 as the TriTown bats finally showed some pop.

Facing a Norwich team that’s searching for answers under head coach Todd Meadows, the Towners took eight innings in posting a 7-6 victory.  Leading 6-2 into the bottom of the seventh inning coach John Foucault’s charges gave their coach some gray hairs as the pitching allowed a grand slam that knotted the contest at six all.

In the top of the eighth, TriTown’s Chuck Innes reached on an error, advanced to third base on a single by Kyle Tyler, who played at Worcester Poly Tech this spring, and scored on a Ryan Gadoury (two hits and three runs) sacrifice fly.  Earlier in the game, key hits by Tyler and Jacob Guertin plated runs for the Towners.

The following evening the teams went eight innings once again before TriTown pulled out an exciting 4-3 verdict.  The winning run was plated on a bases loaded single by Nick Foucault, driving home Gadoury with the winner.  Jared Durand was outstanding on the mound for the winners, scattering nine hits in a route going performance.  Durand, who is a junk-ball hurler, kept the Norwich bats off balance all game with an assortment of speeds and breaking balls.

In the final game of the series TriTown almost let a six-run lead slip through its fingers.  Leading 8-2 entering the last of the seventh inning, starting hurler Innes tired, allowing Norwich to score five run for the final score of 8-7.  The win leveled TriTown’s early season record to 3-3.

In the opening game of a doubleheader against Niantic, one of Zone VI teams favored to capture the crown, the Towners hung tough in a 6-1 loss.  Gadoury and Alex Angelo worked the game on the hill for TriTown, which saw Niantic pick up runs by dropping hits in front of the Towner outfielders who were playing deep.

In the second game TriTown starter Jake Dutcher hooked up in a pitcher’s duel with Niantic’s Jackson Deweese.  Niantic prevailed 3-1 despite Dutcher’s complete game effort, as the Towners bats were unable to solve the tosses of Deweese.  TriTown is 3-5 after eight games.

Danielson captured the initial two games of its 2016 season before dropping the final game of its three-game set to Willimantic 3-2 in a heartbreaker.  The Danielson entry rode the strong arm of Drew Daly and some key hitting in winning its opener 11-3.  Daly went the distance in picking up the win.  Derek Grzysiewicz had four hits and three RBI to pace the offense, while Derek Miner had three hits and scored three runs.

Brian Albee tossed a three-hit shutout at Willi in the middle game of the series, as his mates helped power the Recs to an 8-0 win.  Ben Desaulnier wielded the big stick in the win going 2-for-3 at the dish.

In the finale of the series Danielson couldn’t produce in key situations losing a one-run verdict 3-2.  Miner had two hits and an RBI in the loss.

League leading New London took a doubleheader from Danielson, winning the first game 8-0 as the Recs were unable to solve winning pitcher Hunter Nadeau.  In the second contest Danielson put up a valiant effort but fell just short, losing 4-3.  

Moosup, composed primarily of players from Plainfield High School, went from the frying pan into the fire in opening its season.  The high school team advanced deeply into the CIAC Tournament and then had to quickly become Post #91 and face a solid Waterford team.  Moosup lost all three games of its opening set.

They were beaten in the opener 5-1 as they managed only two hits.  In the second game 4-1 loss they managed four hits but 11 Post #91 batters went down via the strike out route.  In the third contest Post #91 lost a heart breaker, as it was beaten 1-0 in a classic pitcher’s duel.  David Carpenter went the distance in the loss, giving up only two hits and striking out 12 Waterford batters.  The only run of the game was unearned.

Moosup finally got into the Win column by taking the opening game of a doubleheader 11-1 over a struggling Norwich team.  Jeff Nicolosi was the winning hurler with a complete game three-hit effort.  Colby Greenhalgh (3-for-4) and Jordan Federer (double and two runs scored) provided the offense for Post #91.

In the second game Norwich rebounded for its first win of the season, beating Moosup 4-2.  In the wrap-up contest on Sunday Moosup was shutout by Norwich 8-0.  Moosup is 1-5 in the early season.

TriTown Jrs. Open on a High Note

The TriTown Jr. Legion team coached by Shawn Bates opened its season with a 6-0 shutout over Norwich.  Young Scott Davagian was immense on the mound, limiting Norwich to only one hit in the route-going performance.  Mitchel Barylski was the hitting star for TriTown going 2-for-3 at the plate.

In the middle game of the set, which was TriTown’s home opener, the Towners prevailed once again, winning 7-2 before dropping the final game of the set 5-4 in a game played in Norwich.

 

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