The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Torrington gets upended by Ansonia
Chargers’ coach collects milestone 500th career victory
TORRINGTON >> Ansonia delivered Coach Mike Vacca’s 500th career victory with a 10-3 win at Torrington’s Fuessenich Park Monday afternoon.
Vacca, in his 40th year with the Chargers, issued his formula before the game began between the two young teams.
“That (career win) number is not important,” he said. “The important thing is we have to win five more games to make the (state) tournament.”
The Chargers (4-10) put away one goal and moved toward the next with seven runs in the first two innings.
Battery-mates Bryson Cafaro (3-for-4; 2 runs) and Cody Teodosio (2-for-4; 2 runs) gave Cafaro’s complete-game win on the mound a boost with a home run and double as Ansonia’s first two batters in the top of the first inning.
Trent Mankulics (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs); Ricky Torres (RBI); Jordan Jones (3-for-3, double, RBI); Luca Belenchia (double, RBI); and John Picheco (2-for-3; RBI) completed the first-inning barrage for a total of six runs on seven hits and a Torrington error.
Teodosio pounded another home run in the top of the second inning.
“Any home run is special, but to do it for Coach Vacca’s 500th makes it extra special,” said Cafaro, with Teodosio in full agreement.
Torrington (3-12), beset with inexperience and injuries to key players, had some bright spots. Freshman Kyle Banche was solid in relief for 5.1 innings and 3 earned runs. The Red Raiders’ offense scored twice in the bottom of the second on an Ansonia error, walk and RBI singles by Ryan
Ahlman and Austin Todd; and one more in the sixth on a leadoff double by sophomore Mike Paniati (2-for2, 2 runs) and RBI single by sophomore C.J. Root.
Nevertheless, from the first inning on, the game belonged to Vacca and his players.
Jones walked and scored on an error in the fifth inning; Cafaro and Patick Palmer (2-for-3; RBI; 2 runs) scored two more in the sixth on a single, walk and tworun double by Mankulics.
On the mound, Cafaro, a left-hander, was in control for 7 innings; 2 earned runs; 5 hits; 9 strikeouts; and 3 walks.
“He’s going to play baseball for Fairfield University next year, but I don’t know where they’ll play him because he can pitch and he can hit,” said Vacca, delivering a second formula for 40 years of success.
“It’s all about the players,” he said. “I’ve had a long line of hard working players and assistant coaches.”
Torrington Coach Pat Richardson refused to leave it at that.
“He’s a class act who makes our game better,” said Richardson, recognizing a final key to Vacca’s historic number.