Washington defeats Torrington

TORRINGTON — Washington’s American Legion team started its season with the same winning ways as its high school — Shepaug Valley — in an 8-5 victory over Torrington (0-2) Tuesday night at Fuessenich Park while the P38s were still getting used to a new home in Zone 5 after decades in Zone 1.

The move leaves last year’s state champion, Bristol, behind in Zone 1 along with other long-time Legion rivals like Winsted and Simsbury — “All those teams we’ve been playing for years,” said secondyear coach Doug Pergola before the start of a new rivalry with Washington, Oakville, Bethel, Naugatuck and Shelton in Zone 5.

Washington has provided Torrington with some of

its best players, like Evan, Myles and Troy Scribner, but last year launched its own Legion franchise.

“We found out late, so we were young and often short-handed, with a travel team in town as well,” Washington coach Mike Kersten said.

This year, Washington is ready — stocked with many of the Shepaug stars who led the Spartans to their second straight Berkshire League championship and a berth in the Class S state baseball tournament finals last Saturday.

The P38s gained some talent of their own with players from Litchfield, Loomis Chaffee, The Gunnery, Wamogo, Avon Old Farms, Wolcott Tech and even one from Northwestern, which provides much of its talent to Winsted in Zone 1.

“We’re better than last year,” said Pergola.

Tuesday, Washington’s persistence kept it ahead from the first inning as Torrington clawed back several times, only to fall on its own sword with disastrous mental errors in the final innings.

Shepaug’s Owen Hibbard led Washington with three RBI from Washington’s leadoff spot.

Pitching brothers Garrett and Chandler Coe combined for 12 strikeouts for the P38s, 8 of them by older brother Garrett.

Peter Wallace / For Hearst Connecticut Media Zach Prahach got the win over Torrington in Washington’s Legion season opener Tuesday evening at Fuessenich Park in Torrington.