By Ron P. Coderre

Plainfield High School baseball, the pride of northeastern Connecticut, rebounded from its two-game slump with two victories to end the regular season.  The Panthers completed the regular season at 18-2 and outright winners of the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division with a 9-1 log.  The Panthers then moved on to the ECC Tournament where they lost in the title game to Waterford.

Killingly despite not qualifying for the postseason went out on a high night winning two games.  The Putnam Clippers, on the other hand, are in the midst of a five game losing streak as they enter the State Tournament.  Woodstock Academy, experiencing a successful season under coach Bill Carpenter, ended regular season competition at 10-10, picking up two victories in the final week of play.

In softball, Killingly and Plainfield with last gasp efforts both picked up their eighth wins of the 2014 campaign to qualify for the CIAC Tournament.

ECC Tournament A Toothache to Panther Coaching Staff

The scheduling of the ECC Tournament just prior to the opening of the State Tournament has created some ill wind with Plainfield coach Jason Chaviaras.  The Panther mentor contends the dates of the ECC event can wear out the pitching arms of his staff and weaken them for the State Tournament.  His contention proved to be true as his team made it to the finals before the arms ran out of steam.

In the initial game of the ECC Tournament at Dodd Stadium, Chaviaras brought up junior varsity pitcher Dave Carpenter to hurl against Lyman.  The sophomore responded by shutting out the Bulldogs on five hits 4-0.  Garet Griffin and Steve Jankowski with a double and triple respectively were the offensive forces for the Panthers.

The following night Plainfield avenged one of its two regular season losses by beating East Lyme 3-1 in a semifinal contest.  Kyle Boarman improved his record to 6-0 in picking up the win on a nifty four-hitter.  After falling behind in the first inning the Panthers responded with three runs in the third and the remainder of the game belonged to Boarman.

In the championship game against Waterford it appeared the contest would be a high scoring affair as the teams were knotted at 3-3 after three innings.  However, Waterford pitcher Colin Harrington silenced the Plainfield bats the rest of the way as his team walked off with a 7-3 win and the ECC Championship trophy.  Starting pitcher Ryan Pambuku suffered the loss.

Plainfield concluded the regular season with a 14-1 win over Tourtellotte and a 4-3 nine inning victory over Montville. Pambuku picked up the win on the hill against Tourtel

lotte  and supplied some fire power, going 4-for-4 at the plate.  Jordan Federer drove in two runs and Mike Esposito had three runs batted in for the Panthers.

Federer was on the mound for the win over Montville, which clinched the ECC Medium Division crown outright for Plainfield.  The winning run scored in the ninth inning when Jankowski coaxed a bases loaded walk off losing pitcher Evan Hopkins.

Entering the State Tournament Plainfield is 21-3.

Killingly, which suffered through a 5-15 season, finished with a pair of regular season wins.  The Redmen opened the week with a 5-3 win over Windham behind the tosses of Drew Daley.  They followed up the victory with a solid 8-5 win over Griswold.  Travis Zurowski picked up the win.

Despite losing to Norwich Free Academy 13-2 the Woodstock Academy Centaurs were able to finish the season at 10-10 as they beat a pair of Constitution State Conference teams, Ellis Tech and Putnam.  Alden Brennan hurled a complete game win over the Techsters, white washing the Eagles 13-0.  Kolby Reggione paced the offense with a double and triple.

Will Bourgeois was the winning pitcher in a 12-4 win over Putnam.  Trent Appleton continued his hot hitting for Woodstock with a timely double.  Kyle Tyler also had a double for the Acads.  Putnam’s woes continued as they lost to Kaynor Tech in a first round game of the CSC Tournament.  The Clippers then travelled to Thompson as part of a Memorial Day doubleheader and let a 3-2 lead turn into a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Tourtellotte.  Shawn Houle was the winning pitcher outdueling losing hurler Josh Allard, who fanned nine Tiger batters.  Joe Donovan went 3-for-3 for the 6-13 Tigers as they celebrated Senior Day with the win.  Putnam closes out its season at 12-8, as it prepares for the CIAC Tournament.

Short Week of Softball Action

The highlight of the softball week was a 10-0 Plainfield victory over Tourtellotte.  The win was the eighth of the season for the Panthers, making them eligible for the CIAC Tournament.  Keri Lethonen was the winning pitcher, with offensive support from Chivon Burns who had a double and a pair of triples for the 8-12 Panthers.

Killingly lost its final game of the season to Montville 5-4.  The Redgals at 8-10 will play in the postseason. 

RPC’s Super Standings – Baseball: Plainfield 21-3; Putnam 12-8; Ellis Tech 12-7; Woodstock Academy 10-10; Marianapolis 9-7; Tourtellotte 6-13; Killingly 5-15; Pomfret School 4-2; Putnam Science Academy 1-6.

RPC’s Super Standings – Softball: Marianapolis 11-2; Ellis Tech 11-6; Putnam 11-8; Killingly 8-12; Plainfield 8-12; Pomfret School 7-4; Tourtellotte 7-12; Woodstock Academy 2-16.

 

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