The top two teams in the Tri-State Baseball League met in the first game of the best-of-three World Series on Wednesday night at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium.
It has been billed as top-seeded Terryville’s offensive firepower against second-seeded Tri-Town’s old-school approach of pitching and defense, along with timely hitting. The Trojans used several infield singles, a bunch of walks, and one timely hit to the outfield to scratch out runs in a 5-0 victory over the Black Sox. Game 2 is scheduled for tonight at 7, weather permitting. Tropical Storm Fred’s remnants are supposed to be coming through the area, so the game could get postponed.
Tri-Town was able to push some runs across, and Dan Livingston did more than an adequate job of making those hold up. Livingston was terrific, yielding singles to Billy Armstrong, Justin McCulloch and Tony Patane over nine innings. Livingston’s mix of sinkers, changeups and differing arm angles proved tough to handle.
Terryville, its pitching staff battling fatigue following four games in the AABC Stan Musial Northeast World Series, relied on Eli Oliphant, Jay Berger and Taylor Donofrio to get through the first game.
Tri-Town struck its first blows in the top of the second inning. Danny McCarty and Landon Gardella led off with back-to-back singles, then Coleby Bunnell walked to load the bases. Brad Ellis’ bases-loaded walk brought across the first run of the game. Oliphant struck out Tommy Troy, but Casey McDonald’s grounder in the 5-6 hole forced the shortstop Patane to throw to third baseman Eric Schlitter for a force out. Gardella scored to make it 2-0. A walk to Matt Troy reloaded the bases with two outs, then Austin Swanson walked to score Ellis and make it 3-0.
In the fourth inning, Bunnell led off with a double to right center field. Ellis and Tommy Troy reached on infield singles to load the bases. After Berger picked up a strikeout, Matt Troy singled to right field to score Bunnell and Ellis to make the score 5-0.
Livingston never allowed more than two baserunners in any inning. Terryville’s Armstrong and Patane led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and single. Livingston struck out Alex Rauso and Andrew Hinckley back-to-back, then got Justin McCulloch to foul out to the catcher Gardella to end the game.
CAPTION: Terryville’s Chris Ayer gets back to first base as Tri-Town first baseman Coleby Bunnell reaches for the pickoff throw during Wednesday night’s game.
GALLERY
Here are my photos from the game.
