Torrington, Prindle cruise to victory

TORRINGTON » Summer youth baseball can be as unpredictable as New England’s weather.

In leagues where the sport is meant to be fun, the outcome often depends on who shows up, the schedule and perhaps what the players had for breakfast.

In the Northwest Connie Mack league, a high school-age alternative to American Legion baseball, Torrington pounded Terryville 17-2 in a mercy-rule shortened game Monday evening at Fuessenich Park as a fine example.

Given the team records – Torrington is in second place in the five-team league at 5-4; Terryville is 1-5-1 – the win/loss outcome was predictable, but not the score – especially when a Terryville victory over Torrington last week accounted for Terryville’s only win.

“We had four games last week,” said Torrington Coach Scott Tucciarone. “We beat first-place Amenia (5-1-1) on Monday, then lost to Terryville Tuesday and got clobbered by New Milford (2-2) Wednesday. We just don’t have enough pitching.”

Meanwhile, Terryville played Monday night without its key players.

“This is our worst loss so far,” said Coach Travis Bonhomme. “All the others have been by one run.”

This Monday, Torrington had a pitcher. Torrington High School rising junior Ajay Prindle, working with just a fastball and changeup, went all five innings, giving up just five hits, along with six strikeouts and no walks.

Two Terryville pitchers – Adam Sprague and Bradley Kozikowski – struggled while Torrington batters teed off for 13 hits, including a triple and six doubles.

“When we play defense, we’re a pretty good team,” said Tucciarone.

Terryville gifts also helped. Torrington scored five runs in the first inning on just three hits, by Mason Condriet (double, 2 RBI); Riley Shredders (double, RBI); and Owen Spino (2-for-3, 2 RBI), along with 3 walks, an error and a hit batter.

Kozikowski did fine for the next two innings. Then the Torrington lid blew off for 10 runs on 8 hits, 3 errors, a walk and a hit batter in the fourth.

Terryville got two runs in the second inning on hits by Mike Ticia and Sprague, an RBI fielder’s choice by Tyler Clukey and Torrington’s only two errors.

But Prindle and his defense tightened up for just three more Terryville hits in the game while every batter in the Torrington lineup came through with at least one hit.

Jimmy Lamana was 2-for-2 with a double, triple, 4 runs scored and 3 RBI; Marcus Bloom was 2-for-3 with a double, 2 runs and 3 RBI.

Summer youth baseball has also been known to bring thunder.