The Wolcott Scrappers could only look on as Chase Belisle’s walk-off single delivered a series victory for the Bethlehem Plowboys in the final minutes of daylight Tuesday at Bethlehem’s Gallop Field.
For the second straight evening, a game in the Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League first round playoff series between the top-seeded Bethlehem Plowboys and ninth-seeded Wolcott Scrappers came down to the ninth inning.
It also came down to the final minutes of daylight.
And for the second straight evening, the game ended with a walk-off single. A day after Wolcott walked off on Bethlehem, 8-7, at Wolcott High School’s Tary Scott Memorial Field, the Plowboys returned the favor against the Scrappers, 3-2, at Gallop Field. Chase Belisle’s single scored Nate Cormier with the winning run for Bethlehem, which took the series over Wolcott, 2-1. The Plowboys move on to the semifinal round against the fourth-seeded Valley Ducks. When that series, and the other semifinal series between the second-seeded Tri-Town Trojans and third-seeded Burlington Hunters, begins is to be determined, given Tropical Storm Debby is on the way.
Staring down a potential suspended game and the uncertainty as to when it would be completed, Bethlehem mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the game tied, 2-2, Cormier (1-3, 2B, BB), who had a rough evening at shortstop, worked a big one-out walk, and Isaiah Johnson (1-2, RS, BB, HBP) was hit by a pitch. That set up Belisle, the former Wolcott High catcher. Belisle (2-3, SB) was facing many former teammates from Wolcott High, but he’s a Bethlehem Plowboy in Tri-State. Belisle served a single the other way to right field. Cormier beat right fielder A.J. Martinez’s throw home to catcher Joe Dunne, and Bethlehem erupted in celebration.
It was a great game, and it provided another heart-pounding ending. For most of the contest, it was a pitchers’ duel between Bethlehem’s Keegan Daigle (2 runs, 5 strikeouts) and Wolcott’s Joe Ferrucci (2 runs, 5 strikeouts). Jesse Swartout got the Plowboys on the board first in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI groundout that scored Isaiah Johnson. Devin Fuegen drove in Nick Sconziano with an infield single in the top of the sixth inning. A throwing error on the same play allowed Josh Dunne to score and gave the Scrappers a 2-1 lead.
Greg Campbell (2-4) tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning when he somehow got his bat to a good outside pitch from Ferrucci and singled home pinch runner Matt Palumbo. Palumbo was running for Jarrett Michaels, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the eighth inning, Bethlehem manager Rich Revere turned to Game 1 winner Ty Boisvert (2 innings, 4 strikeouts), and the right-hander responded by striking out the side.
Greg Campbell (2-4) tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning when he somehow got his bat to a good outside pitch from Ferrucci and singled home pinch runner Matt Palumbo. Palumbo was running for Jarrett Michaels, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the ninth inning, Plowboy center fielder Jon Wilson made a potential series-saving diving catch on a ball hit by Dillon Fernandes. Ferrucci made it through eight innings before Wolcott manager Alex Sconziano turned to Nate Yachtis for the ninth. Yachtis got a flyout for the first out, but walked Cormier and hit Johnson. Nate Ehmer came on in relief to face Belisle, who tallied the winning hit.
There were other solid plays in the game. Fernandes dove to his right on a line drive and speared it for an out, and his terrific scoop at first base secured another out. Martinez laid out for a diving catch in right field. Swartout, the Bethlehem catcher, made some key blocks behind the plate.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Game 3.
VIDEO: Here’s the series-winning hit from Belisle.
