The Wolcott-Terryville Scrappers swept their way through the Connecticut Twilight League playoffs for their second championship in the past three seasons.
Wolcott-Terryville outscored its opponents, 13-0, over a four-game span. That’s right, the Scrapper pitching staff didn’t let in a single run. Derek Duffy struck the final blow with a complete-game shutout in a 7-0 Wolcott-Terryville victory over the Bristol Shock in Tuesday night’s championship at Torrington’s Fuessenich Park.
Duffy bent (seven hits), and so did his defense (three errors), but the Scrappers collectively didn’t break. Bristol’s biggest opportunity came when it had the bases loaded and one out following a single, error and infield single. Duffy fielded a comeback and threw home to catcher Cris Ruiz for the first out, and Ruiz fired to first baseman Jack Drewry to complete an inning-ending double play. Duffy wound up closing out the game with a strikeout.
Wolcott-Terryville’s offense was disciplined and opportunistic in a seven-run second inning. The Scrappers drew six of their eight walks in that frame, and they also had some key singles as they opened the game up. Drewry, Andrew Hinckley and Eric Rovinetti each had a single and an RBI while Connor Goggin, Kyle Skidmore and Eric Schlitter added an RBI apiece. Gavin Lavallee (two walks, run scored) and Zack Rinkavage had the other two hits, also singles. Goggin, Ruiz, Skidmore and Schlitter all walked and scored a run.
Wolcott-Terryville finished with a record of 16-8 and its second CTL championship. The first came in 2022, when they were still known as the Terryville Black Sox.
Bristol saw a magical run end with a rough night. The Shock battled back through the elimination bracket, winning three straight games to reach the championship. Kyle Pileski was 3 for 3 with a double to lead Bristol. Carson Lentini, Colby Jones, Sean Cleary and Mark Creamer each had a single.
Photo credit: Connecticut Twilight League via Instagram.