Whalers spank Wild, 8-3

WINSTED — In win or be eliminated circumstances, the Winsted Whalers managed to produce enough early offense to take an 8-3 win over the Waterbury Wild at Fuessenich Park Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Whaler Don Connelly started on the mound and quickly found himself in an ugly spot, giving up two walks, a single and an RBI at the top of the first. The Whaler defense made a quick play to collect a fielder’s choice at third to keep Waterbury from collecting a second run.

The Wild loaded the bases after a hard shot came back to the mound and struck Connelly in the leg. Connelly, however, remained in the game and closed out the inning after Zac Tuozzo snagged a hard liner was snagged out of the air and turned the double play. The Whalers trailed by one heading into the bottom half of the first.

Winsted has struggled with their offensive production throughout the season, but were able to lay good wood on the ball throughout first, in a quick retaliatory strike. Donny Crossman started off the inning with a line single, which was followed by another line base hit by Tuozzo. Chris Davidson drove in Crossman on a base hit to tie the game 1-1. Davidson put himself in position to score by stealing second and was quickly brought home on a two-run single by Charlie Putnam.

Joel Castillo had his first hit of a spectacular day, on the fifth consecutive hit given up by Waterbury. The Wild made things worse by living up to their namesake, coughing up a bad throw trying to snag Ricky Langer stealing second, allowing Putnam to walk into home for the fourth run of the inning.

Connelly appeared to be heading for more ugliness in the top of the second, giving up two singles and a sacrifice bunt that put two in position to score. Connelly remained composed and forced an easy groundout, and, after giving up a walk, responded with his first strikeout of the game to close out the inning with Winsted still ahead 4-1.

The Whalers kept their bats moving in the bottom of the second, but it was another wild pick-off attempt that allowed Crossman to score the fifth run of the game.

Connelly seemed to be having yet another rough start to the inning, after the Wild produced a single and a double off Winsted’s right-hander, but Connelly responded accordingly once again, dropping the next batters on a grounder, pop out, and strikeout. Winsted held onto their lead, 5-1.

Castillo kicked off the third with a long drive that just missed the fence for a stand up double. Langer drove Castillo home with base hit and was brought home on an RBI single by Winsted’s Jeoff Langill.  The Whalers increased their lead 7-1 moving into the top of the fourth.

Waterbury was able to cut the lead in the fifth, adding two, but Castillo was far from finished working at the plate, tallying the eighth run of the game for the Whalers with an incredible in-the-park homerun and puting the score at 8-3.

The Whalers relieved Connelly before the eighth, sending in Adam Piechowski to close out the 8-3 Winsted victory.

Winsted coach DJ Reese said he was pleased with his team’s performance in an important game.

“We need to stay focused,� said Reese. “We have a great pitching staff and our fielding is strong. But we need to hit and stay focused.�

Davidson and Putnam both went two for four on the day. Davidson added an RBI and a stolen base, while Putnam added two RBIs. Langer was one for four with an RBI and a stolen base. Langill went one for three with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. Joel Castillo went a phenomenal three for four, adding a double and a in-the-park homerun.

Dan Connelly earned the win, pitching seven innings and striking out three. Adam Piechowski closed the game out striking out three in two innings.