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- Category: Past Issues
Local AAU
seniors miss
tourney
opportunity
Pomfret/Woodstock/Eastford lost in the District 11 Senior League Finals in extra innings 3-1 to Killingly/Brooklyn. In a very exciting game between local rivals, Killingly/Brooklyn was able to push across two runs in the eighth inning to advance to the Sectionals in the state tournament. PWE was eliminated after a successful run in pool play.
PWE opened pool play at Plainfield posting a 10-0 victory. Mike Thienel pitched four scoreless innings of 1-hit ball, while Adam Naughton pitched the final two innings also letting up one hit and no runs. The offense had seven players driving in runs, with Garrett Ponte (3) and David Whittenburg (2) leading the way. Thiniel, Ponte, and Will Bourgeois each had two hits and a double apiece to pace the offense.
PWE next defeated Jewett City at home 4-0 to start pool play at 2-0. Will Bourgeois pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout for PWE. Bourgeois limited Jewett City to only three base-runners for the game, while striking out eight batters. Dylan Goulet paced the offense with two hits and two RBI, while Adam Naughton also knocked in a run for PWE.
In the last game before the District 11 Championship game, PWE faced K/B in a game with little consequence as the two teams would be meeting up again to determine the district champion. Both teams used a variety of pitchers and K/B won 12-3. Mike Thienel paced the PWE offense going 3-3 with a home run and two runs scored. Justin Rapose also knocked in a run for PWE, while Dylan Goulet added a double. Cody DeGray, Gage Gilbealt and Chris Mayhew led K/B each collecting multiple hits, where Mayhew also stroked a home run.
In the district final, the story was all about pitching and defense. Mike Thienel kept B/W at bay pitching the first seven innings for PWE allowing only three hits and one unearned run. Chris Mayhew pitched the first seven innings for K/B also only letting up one run. PWE had more opportunities early but was unable to take advantage of many opportunities, leaving 10 runners on base through the first six innings. PWE took the lead in the second inning but squandered the chance stretch their lead as they left the bases loaded in the inning, and left runners on second and third in the fourth and fifth innings.
K/B tied the score in fifth, and it looked like the next run scored would be the game winner. PWE appeared to have scored that hard to come by run when Thienel hit a monster shot to left field which cleared the fence by a good ten feet. Unfortunately, the ball bounced high up and it appeared to the second-base umpire as if it may have bounced before it reached the fence, so Thienel was awarded a ground-rule double. PWE was unable to score afterwards and the game eventually went into extra innings. K/B managed two runs without a hit in the eighth to win the game and a trip to the state tournament.
Both coaches were quoted after the game as noting that both teams were worthy of moving on and that it was an exciting, well-played game. PWE wishes the K/B good luck in the State Tournament.
Pomfret: Colin Rodman, Brendan McMerriman, Mike Potter, Dylan Goulet.
Woodstock: Brett Bartomioli, Will Bourgeois, Mike Thienel, Justin Rapose, Garrett Ponte, Nick St. Jean.
Eastford: Adam Naughton, David Whittenburg
Manager: Tom Naughton
Coaches: Steve Rapose, Rick Ponte, Mike Bourgeois