After a year away due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mickey Mantle World Series returned last week to local ballparks Municipal Stadium in Waterbury and Fuessenich Park in Torrington.
There were a bunch of local ballplayers who took part in games at both parks. The CT Gamecocks, which had players from Wolcott, Kaynor Tech and Holy Cross, came the closest to championship glory. The Gamecocks played the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers for a chance to take on the Midland (Ohio) Tomahawks on championship Sunday. The Gamecocks rallied to tie the game after losing leads of three and two runs, but the Dodgers won in walk-off fashion, 9-8, and eliminated the local team.
The Overlook Blacksox, which had players from Wolcott and Holy Cross, made it to the consolation final. The US9 Prospects, which had a Holy Cross player and the son of a former Waterbury standout, lost to the Gamecocks on the second-to-last day and were eliminated.
Devin Fuegen (Wolcott), Joe Stasik (Kaynor Tech) and Alec Ash (Holy Cross) all played in multiple games for the Gamecocks. Fuegen went 7-for-19 with two doubles, three runs and six RBI. Stasik threw a complete game (1 run, 5 hits) in his team’s first game, a victory over Midland. Ash also picked up a win, throwing 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts and three walks in a victory over the Texas Desperados.
Aiden Martinez (Wolcott), Joe Ferrucci (Wolcott) and Logan Brown (Holy Cross) each played in all four games for Overlook. Martinez pitched five innings and gave up three hits to go along with two strikeouts in a game his team won in extra innings. He also had three hits during the tournament. Brown went 2-for-7 at the plate with a walk and an RBI. Ferrucci was the ultimate utility man for Overlook as he spent time at catcher, left field, shortstop, center field, first base and right field. Andreas Effes (Holy Cross) played in three games, Andrew Rocca (Wolcott) was in two games and Garrett Mowad (Holy Cross) appeared in one game.
Logan Bessette (Holy Cross) played in all five games for the US9 Prospects. Bessette tossed six innings of one-run, three-hit ball with five strikeouts in a win over Texas. At the plate, Bessette went 3-for-9 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and three RBI. He played right field and third base in the field. Anthony Tirado (Cheshire), the son of former Waterbury baseball standout George Tirado, was the leadoff batter and starting shortstop. He had three hits, two walks and three runs scored. Tirado also appeared in one game on the mound.
GALLERIES: Here are my photos of the CT Gamecocks. Here are my photos of the US9 Prospects. (I didn’t get the chance to see Overlook play)
