The Southington Black Knights were the top team in the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League during the regular season and earned the top seed in the double elimination playoffs.
Southington had to battle back from the loser’s bracket, but it managed to reach the championship, where it took on the Bridgeport Barnums. Southington needed two wins over undefeated Bridgeport to claim the title, but the Barnums won Tuesday evening, 5-2, at Simsbury’s Memorial Field to end the Black Knights’ run. Ty Davis was the losing pitcher for Southington, and his older brother Owen Davis was the catcher. Joe Ferrucci came on in relief of Ty Davis in the sixth inning. Ty Davis played his high school baseball for Bristol Central, Owen Davis suited up for St. Paul, and Ferrucci competed for Wolcott.
Bridgeport, which has a large number of players from Fairfield, scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Black Knights scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, but Cole Gibson came on in relief of starter Hayden Lee and saved the win for the Barnums.
For Southington, Ryan Kilpatrick had a hit and RBI while Andrew Lozier also drove in a run. Kilpatrick played his high school ball at St. Paul while Lozier suited up for Bristol Eastern.
The Waterbury Silverbacks went 1-2 in the tournament. Waterbury lost its opener to Bridgeport, 2-0, before rallying for an 8-6 victory over the Manchester Eagles. The Silverbacks were eliminated by the Black Knights, 5-4. Southington eliminated the defending champion West Haven Sailors, 5-2, then avenged its earlier loss to the Wallingford Silver Storm by a 13-6 margin to reach the championship.
OF NOTE
Former Brass City Bombers pitcher Joey Sangiuolo tossed a complete game four-hitter in Bridgeport’s 2-0 win over Waterbury in the playoff opener for both teams. One of Sangiuolo’s teammates on the Barnums was Christian Homa, who also played for the Bombers. Sangiuolo and Homa suited up for Brass City in 2022.
