Baseball/Softball Wrap-up

Killingly  

opens CIAC 

tourney play

with big win

By Ron P. Coderre

In a week characterized as mop up time, only a handful of games were played as teams finished the regular season schedule.  

As most teams prepped for the upcoming CIAC Tournament, the Killingly Redmen got a jump on the action with an impressive victory, shutting out visiting Seymour 2-0.  Killingly ranked #31 in Class M hosted #34 Seymour Wildcats in a Qualifying Round contest.

Dave Austin, the Killingly coach, put all his eggs in one basket, throwing his ace Cory Sipos at the Wildcats in an attempt to give his 9-11 Redmen an opportunity to advance.  The roll-of-the-dice paid off as Sipos went the distance, allowing only four hits while striking out five opposing hitters.  

The risk in throwing Sipos means that Austin now has to do some magic in finding as starter for his next game.  The #2 man in the Redmen rotation, Drew Daley is sidelined with a foot injury.  Killingly went up against #2 ranked Montville in a First Round game on Monday.

The 5th inning proved to be the difference in the contest when Killingly scored both its runs.  Derek Grzysiewicz who had doubled in his previous at-bat, drove home Mike Lebeau, who had reached on an error, with a booming triple.  Following the two-run inning, Sipos did the rest, shutting the door on Seymour and sending the Wildcats home on a long two-hour bus ride.  Killingly now stands at 10-11 on the season.

Putnam & Ellis Tech Enter 

Tourney on Losing Note

The Putnam Clippers finished the regular season at 9-11 as they dropped a pair of games in the final week of regular season play.  Facing a Tourtellotte team that had only won two games all season, Putnam wasted an early 2-0 lead in losing 4-2 to the Tigers in a game played at Dodd Stadium in Norwich.

The Clippers were beaten by freshman hurler Simon Silvia who pitched a complete game in picking up his first career varsity victory.  Joe Donovan, who’s been hot of late, was Tourtellotte’s offensive catalyst, going 3-for-4 and driving in a run.  Alex Leveille had a pair of hits for the Tigers who closed the books on the 2015 season at 3-17.

In its final regular season contest, Putnam ventured into the Eastern Connecticut Conference playing Large Division Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton.  Despite a fine pitching performance by freshman Scott Davagian, the Clippers went down at the hands of the Falcons 6-0.  In addition to throwing a complete game, Davagian had two of Putnam’s three hits.

Putnam enters the CIAC Tournament ranked #23 in Class S

Ellis Tech closed the books on the 2015 regular season losing a close 3-2 decision to the Griswold Wolverines.  The Techsters are 10-10 entering the CIAC Tournament ranked #24 in Class M.

Woodstock Gals Close Season on Down Note

The Woodstock Academy softball team, enjoying one of its best seasons in recent history, was defeated 3-2 in its regular season finale by Ledyard.  Despite a stellar pitching performance by Rylee Hehir the Centaurs were unable to generate that necessary offense to pick up the victory.  The Acads close the regular season books at 10-10.  They enter the CIAC Class L Tournament ranked #22.

ECC Baseball & Softball All Stars Named

The Eastern Connecticut Conference announced baseball and softball all stars immediately following the conclusion of the league tournaments.  A number of local players were among the selections.

Baseball: Large Division First Team – Trent Appleton, outfield (Woodstock Academy); Honorable Mention – Kyle Tyler and Evan O’Connor (Woodstock Academy); Sportsmanship – Hunter Malboeuf (Woodstock Academy).

Medium Division First Team – Tre Belanger, outfield (Killingly); Jordan Federer and Steve Jankowski, outfield (Plainfield); Honorable Mention – Colby Greenhalgh (Plainfield); Sportsmanship – Jason Biesiadecki (Plainfield); Owen Guillot (Killingly).

Small Division Honorable Mention – Joe Donovan (Tourtellotte); Sportsmanship – Tyler Boyden (Tourtellotte).

Softball: Large Division Honorable Mention – Rylee Hehir (Woodstock Academy); Sportsmanship – Meghan Labbe (Woodstock Academy).

Medium Division First Team – Chivon Burns, infield and Keri Lehtonen, designated player (Plainfield); Honorable Mention – Cara Mayhew (Killingly); Kat DeVolve and Cali Joslyn (Plainfield); Sportsmanship – Cara Mayhew (Killingly); Sarah LeClair (Plainfield).

Small Division First Team – Christina Kopacz, infield (Tourtellotte); Honorable Mention – Crystal Daly and Carinne Sosnowski (Tourtellotte); Sportsmanship – Emily Vincent (Tourtellotte).

 

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