(Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
For the second time in three seasons, Wolcott baseball will play for a Class M state championship under the lights of Middletown’s Palmer Field.
Standing in the way of a second state title for the Eagles is the Seymour Wildcats, a fellow member of the NVL. The teams met during the regular season, and Seymour rallied for an 8-7 win at Wolcott to end the Eagles’ undefeated start (9-0). Both teams are much improved since that poorly played game, and they are both playing well entering tonight’s final, which is scheduled for 7 o’clock.
Wolcott has relied on the pitching of Jack Drewry, Brett Adams and Dane Hassan. Drewry and Adams have drawn the starting nods, and Hassan has come on to close things out. Adams started in Wednesday’s semifinal win over Ledyard, threw 85 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, and is ineligible to pitch. Hassan threw 33 pitches on Wednesday and is available.
Wolcott’s offense has been hitting the ball well over the past two games, wins over Bacon Academy (9-3) and Ledyard (9-4). Eight different Eagles had at least one hit in the win over the Bobcats in the quarterfinal round, with Hassan leading the way with two. Nick Trager started the scoring in a six-run sixth inning against Bacon Academy with a sacrifice fly. Trey Nastri had a two-run single and Ethan Gillotti added an RBI single.
Wolcott used another six-run inning, this time the bottom of the second, to jump on Ledyard in the semifinal. The Eagles scored their first run on a walk, then Anthony Ligi’s RBI single made it 2-1. After an error brought home the third run, Trager laced a two-run triple to right center to put Wolcott up 5-1. Drewry’s double to left made the score 6-1. Tino Ciarlo and Ligi had back-to-back RBI singles in a three-run third. Hassan drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.
Seymour makes its first appearance in a state final since 2011, when it lost 1-0 to Montville in Class M. The Wildcats got an unbelievable performance from Austin DeRosa in the semifinal win over St. Joseph of Trumbull, but he threw 102 pitches and is unavailable. Austen Green threw 4 1/3 innings in a 15-3 first round win over Ellington.
DeRosa tossed 8 1/3 innings for the win in the 3-2 second round victory over Coginchaug that went nine innings. Dan Manente threw a third of an inning, followed by another third from Christian DeJarnette, who picked up the save.
DeJarnette, Manente, Brandon Ellsworth and Green all pitched in the 8-5 win over Northwest Catholic in the quarterfinal round game, one which stretched over two days because of rain.
Seymour’s offense has scored eight or more runs in three of the four state tournament games played. The Wildcats have gotten contributions up and down a solid lineup that begins with catcher Zack Edwards. Edwards was one of three players to tally three hits in the win over Ellington. John Chacho and DeJarnette also had three hits. Chacho erupted for four hits and three RBI in the semifinal win over St. Joseph. Ellsworth added three hits and three RBI in the semifinal game.
Seymour’s biggest offensive performance was against Northwest Catholic. The Wildcats scored seven times in the bottom of the fifth inning to claim an 8-4 lead. After the first run scored on an error, Manente tripled in two runs to tie the game at 4-4. Northwest Catholic got a strikeout for the first out, but DeRosa struck a big blow with a two-run home run to put Seymour ahead 6-4. Austin Verab’s sacrifice fly and Edwards’ RBI single put the Wildcats up 8-4.
In this matchup of NVL foes, both teams can hit and both can pitch. Each side will look to play clean defense, which could prove to be a major factor in the outcome. I, for one, believe this game will be a classic. Wolcott has experience on its side with four players on the 2018 roster that were also on the 2016 Class M state title team. Seymour has been playing with a lot of confidence, and I wouldn’t expect them to be intimidated by the big stage. They certainly weren’t intimidated by St. Joseph.
Expect a good game, and a fitting finale to the state baseball championships at Palmer Field.
Here’s a story about Wolcott’s semifinal win over Ledyard.
Here are my photos from the semifinal win.
CLASS M BASEBALL FINAL
NO. 3 WOLCOTT VS. NO. 9 SEYMOUR
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Palmer Field, Middletown
Records: Wolcott 22-4, Seymour 19-7
Road to the Final: Wolcott — No. 30 Ansonia 2-1, No. 14 Northwestern Regional 3-1, No. 6 Bacon Academy 9-3, No. 18 Ledyard 9-4; Seymour — No. 24 Ellington 15-3, No. 8 Coginchaug 3-2 (9 inn.), No. 17 Northwest Catholic 8-5, No. 12 St. Joseph 8-0
Championship history: Wolcott — 2nd appearance (1-0); won in 2016; Seymour — 11th appearance (4-6); won in 2007, 1969, 1962, 1956; lost in 2011, 2003, 1999, 1997, 1992, 1964
Previous state tournament meeting: The teams last met in 2011. Seymour defeated Wolcott 4-0 in a Class M semifinal and moved on to the state final, where it lost 1-0 to Montville
