The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Winsted cruises past Sports Palace
TORRINGTON >> Winsted’s Connie Mack baseball team wrapped up a long game early in a 13-3 spree over Torrington Sports Palace Thursday night at Fuessenich Park.
Eddie Eseppi (4-for-5) keyed the rout with a three-run double in the second inning, then crushed four more hits, including another RBI double in the final frame.
Winsted starter Jimi Phillips (five innings, four hits, eight strikeouts, four walks) no-hit Torrington through the first two innings, gave up a bunt single to Matt Baril in the third, then pitched his way out of back-to-back bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth innings while Winsted added another run, then three more in the fifth and another two pair in the sixth and seventh.
“We’ve been playing really well the last few games,” said Winsted coach Joe Nichols. “This was a great win for us because it put us in position to take one of the top two playoff positions and get the bye that goes with them.”
Winsted (11-4) came into the game in fourth place behind Amenia, Torrington and New Milford in the nine-team league. The top six finishers make next week’s playoffs.
Winsted lost a close game to New Milford Wednesday. Torrington battled through a 12-inning one-run loss to Amenia the same night.
“It was the best game I’ve ever seen at any level,” said Torrington coach Bill Heintz.
Then, after three innings
Thursday, Heintz shook his head.
“From best to worst,” he said.
T.J. Kent started the Winsted scoring in the first inning with a walk. Mike Huber doubled him in for Winsted’s first example of timely hitting.
The second inning offered more lessons in that art.
With one out, Phillips walked, followed by Eric Weingart (2-for-2) and Brandon O’Neill (2-for-3, double, three RBI) singles and an RBI walk by Kevin Kulinsky.
Eseppi, at the top of the Winsted batting order, nailed his three-run shot to the left center field gap, 5-0.
Phillips walked in the third, scoring on a double by Weingart.
Three more runs in the fifth came on more timely hitting. Singles by Bobby Smith and Jeremy Hodgekin and a Torrington error loaded the bases. O’Neill drill a threerun double.
Winsted scored two more runs in the sixth on hits by Eseppi and Rob Cusati, along with another error and an RBI fielders choice.
The final two came in the seventh on doubles by Phillips and Eseppi and one more Torrington error.
Mean while, Phillips shined brightest under pressure on the mound.
In the third, following Baril’s bunt single, he hit Dave Swanson with a pitch and walked Manny Rijo, then struck out the next three batters.
The following inning, Adam Fuoco ( single), Aaron Baker (2-for-3, double) and Ben Thompson (walk) loaded the bases for Torrington.
Weingart caught a drive to right field by Keith Millum, hit his cutoff man, Hodgekin, then cheered as Hodgekin relayed the throw home in time to catch Fuoco at the plate on his tag-up from third.
A fly- out to center field completed the escape.
Winsted, the defending league champion, was well on its way.