Plowboys claim sixth league championship, 2-1

TORRINGTON — The Bethlehem Plowboys toppled the Tri-Town Trojans at Fuessenich Park in a nine-inning pitching duel that yielded a 2-1 Tri-State Championship win for the Plowboys. Bethlehem swept the best of three series, dropping the Trojans in a very close game one,  before battling out the win in game two for their sixth championship victory.

Plowboy starter Jason Krajeski and Tri-Town’s Miles Scribner provided an early glimpse of the larger game story, pitching three scoreless innings with the help of strong fielding efforts from both sides.  Scribner wasn’t hesitant to make his own breaks either, turning a double play in the first to halt Bethlehem’s early offensive efforts.

Bethlehem opened up the scoring in the top of the fourth, putting the would-be run on base with a single from Aaron Granahan. Plowboy Tony Geraci laid down a near perfect bunt and motored down the line, trying the beat the throw to first. The throw was sent wild, allowing Granahan to score and Geraci to move to third — turning a sacrifice bunt into an RBI triple on an error. The Plowboys led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Scribner and Krajeski continued to grapple through the middle innings, with neither pitcher coughing up so much as a hit in the fifth or sixth inning. Geraci broke the hitting drought with a seventh-inning leadoff solo homerun. Scribner remained composed and closed out the inning to keep the game within reach, now trailing 2-0.

The Trojans responded in the bottom of the seventh with a base hit from Kyle Osolin. Troy Kobylarz worked a single of his own, and a costly Plowboy throwing error allowed Osolin to move to third. Landon Gardella stepped up and brought Osolin home, hitting into a fielder’s choice, cutting the Plowboys’ lead in half, 2-1.

Scribner put his shoulder to the wheel and went to work in the top of the eighth, striking out two and inducing a fly out. Krajeski matched Scribner’s efforts at the mound, starting the bottom of the eighth with an easy ground out. Krajeski then gave up a walk, but quickly negated it by picking off the base runner at first. Krajeski closed out the eighth with a strikeout to preserve the Plowboy’s 2-1 lead.

Scribner continued to command the game from the mound, striking out two more in the ninth and finishing out the inning with a ground out, leaving the Trojans a half inning to tie or win the game outright.

Krajeski silenced the Tri-Town fans at Fuessenich by striking out the lead-off batter. Danny McCarty hit into a ground out, putting Tri-Town just one out from being eliminated. Steve Price provided a measure of hope for the Trojans with a base hit, but it was short lived, as Osolin shot a lazy grounder back to Krajeski, who made the play the first to seal his 2-1 Tri-State Championship victory.

Scribner took the loss but had a spectacular day at the mound, striking out 10 while giving up no walks and six hits. Krajeski struck out seven, walked two and gave up six hits in his complete game performance.