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MIDDLETOWN – The Coventry baseball team had a 23-game win streak. The Patriots, who won a Class S state title two years ago with many of the players on this year’s team, hadn’t lost since April 8.
But Tuesday, they ran into a determined Stonington team in the Class S semifinal game at Palmer Field. Coventry had been to the finals three years ago and lost, two years ago and won; Stonington hadn’t been to a state championship game since 1960.
Stonington won 14-6, handing top-seeded Coventry its first loss since the Patriots lost 3-2 to Suffield in the second game of the season.
“It’s been a very long time,” Coventry coach Jonathan Stanizzi said. “We’ve had a remarkable season. I’m proud of my guys, the way we battled all season.”
Coventry, which had only given up one run in the state tournament before Tuesday, finished at 24-2.
Stonington (19-6) will face St. Paul, last year’s defending champion, in the Class S championship game either Friday or Saturday at Palmer Field at a time to be determined.
“I’m a Stonington graduate, 2016,” Stonington coach Billy Keane said. “It means a lot to me, to make history.
“Our shirts say ‘Make It Happen,’ and that was our goal. Whatever it takes.”
Stonington, which scored 62 runs in three games in the state tournament, jumped on Coventry early when Matteo Panciera tripled and scored the Bears’ first run. They got four in the second inning and two in the third to go up 7-0.
Coventry rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third and trailed 7-4 but Stonington tacked on two more runs in the next two innings then batted around in the sixth and scored five runs.
“Early on, they barreled some balls up, they hit a lot, but we continued to maintain resilience,” Stanizzi said. “Unfortunately for us, we were barreling some balls out early on, just at guys. We put up the four-spot (in the third); we felt good. Credit to my boys, they continued to battle.
“Hats off to Stonington – couple of squeeze plays, they hit the ball deep, sacrifice fly, flares, they did everything tonight. Those guys should be proud.”
at Palmer Field, Middletown
Stonington 14, Coventry 6
Stonington 142 115 0 14 15 1
Coventry 004 000 2 6 8 2
WP-Sean Durham; LP-Dominic DeAngelis.
Records: Stonington, 19-6; Coventry, 24-2.
Continue reading...
But Tuesday, they ran into a determined Stonington team in the Class S semifinal game at Palmer Field. Coventry had been to the finals three years ago and lost, two years ago and won; Stonington hadn’t been to a state championship game since 1960.
Stonington won 14-6, handing top-seeded Coventry its first loss since the Patriots lost 3-2 to Suffield in the second game of the season.
“It’s been a very long time,” Coventry coach Jonathan Stanizzi said. “We’ve had a remarkable season. I’m proud of my guys, the way we battled all season.”
Coventry, which had only given up one run in the state tournament before Tuesday, finished at 24-2.
Stonington (19-6) will face St. Paul, last year’s defending champion, in the Class S championship game either Friday or Saturday at Palmer Field at a time to be determined.
“I’m a Stonington graduate, 2016,” Stonington coach Billy Keane said. “It means a lot to me, to make history.
“Our shirts say ‘Make It Happen,’ and that was our goal. Whatever it takes.”
Stonington, which scored 62 runs in three games in the state tournament, jumped on Coventry early when Matteo Panciera tripled and scored the Bears’ first run. They got four in the second inning and two in the third to go up 7-0.
Coventry rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third and trailed 7-4 but Stonington tacked on two more runs in the next two innings then batted around in the sixth and scored five runs.
“Early on, they barreled some balls up, they hit a lot, but we continued to maintain resilience,” Stanizzi said. “Unfortunately for us, we were barreling some balls out early on, just at guys. We put up the four-spot (in the third); we felt good. Credit to my boys, they continued to battle.
“Hats off to Stonington – couple of squeeze plays, they hit the ball deep, sacrifice fly, flares, they did everything tonight. Those guys should be proud.”
Class S semifinal
at Palmer Field, Middletown
Stonington 14, Coventry 6
Stonington 142 115 0 14 15 1
Coventry 004 000 2 6 8 2
WP-Sean Durham; LP-Dominic DeAngelis.
Records: Stonington, 19-6; Coventry, 24-2.
Continue reading...
