For seven innings, the Tri-Town Trojans and Bethlehem Plowboys hooked up in a terrific pitchers’ duel that left Tuesday night’s Game 3 of the Tri-State World Series in a stalemate.
Tri-Town broke through with the big two-run hit, which came off the bat of veteran Mike Fabiaschi, in the top of the eighth inning and beat Bethlehem, 3-1, to claim its fourth straight Tri-State championship. The Trojans, who knocked off the Plowboys in the World Series for the third consecutive year, equaled the four-peats spun by the Amenia Monarchs (1982-1985) and Torrington Rebels (1992-1995). Tri-Town also sent Danny McCarty off with a fifth championship in his final game as manager. McCarty has been with the Trojans since their inception in 2005, and he was also part of all six Tri-State championships.
Tri-Town’s big break came in the top of the eighth inning. Casey McDonald led off and reached on an infield error. Tom Troy put down a great bunt and was safe at first, but the call was overturned because it was determined that he was out of the baseline when he avoided Bethlehem first baseman Ian Schmidt. Joey Weed sacrificed McDonald to third base, which brought up leadoff batter Willy Yahn with two outs. The Plowboys had reliever Brett Wilkes walk Yahn to get to Owen Hibbard. Wilkes hit Hibbard, however, which loaded the bases for Fabiaschi. The veteran shortstop, who had struggled in this World Series, came up big in the clutch with a two-run single to drive in McDonald and Yahn.
Bethlehem could only watch as Tri-Town starter Connor Gannon worked his way through the final six batters in order. For the second straight year, Gannon had thrown a complete game in the deciding Game 3. And for the second straight year, Gannon found himself in the middle of a Trojan championship celebration at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium.
Tri-Town struck first when Hibbard singled home Yahn in the top of the third inning. Yahn had doubled to the left field wall with two outs. Bethlehem answered in the bottom half of the inning when Jarrett Michaels ripped his own double to the left field wall. The hit scored Jesse Swartout, who singled to lead off the frame.
Bethlehem starter Kyle Banche pitched well into the sixth inning before back-to-back walks to Hibbard and Fabiaschi did him in. Tri-Town tried a double steal with Wilkes on in relief, but Bethlehem caught Hibbard in a rundown to end the inning. Jon Wilson doubled past a diving McDonald in left field with two outs in the Plowboy half of the sixth, but Gannon got a grounder to Matt Troy at second base for the last out. Wilson was the last baserunner of the game for Bethlehem.
FINAL RECORDS: Tri-Town 25-5; Bethlehem 26-4.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Game 3.
