Torrington drops both games to Newport

The Torrington Twisters began Saturday with a chance to tie the Manchester Silkworms for the last playoff spot in the NECBL’s Southern Division.
Torrington ended the day with no chance of a tie after losing both games to second-place Newport Gulls. Early offense from Newport, and a lack of it from Torrington contributed to the losses. Manchester won its game Saturday, putting the Twisters 2 games behind the Silkworms for the final playoff spot. Torrington plays at Manchester tonight at 7.
Torrington struck out nine times in both games. Gulls pitchers Stephen Peterson (CG, 1 run, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk) and Geoff Brown (6 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk) shut down Torrington’s bats. In the first game, Peterson (Marist) carried a perfect game into the fifth and a no hitter into the sixth, losing each on the first batter of the inning. In the nightcap, Brown (University of Washington) gave up a first inning single to Jimmy Rivas (New Haven), then retired 17 of the next 18 batters he faced (Brian Baudinet reached base on a passed ball after striking out).
The Twisters managed just seven base runners in the two seven-inning games. The 0-6 record against the Gulls is the first time in Torrington history that the team has gone winless against a divisional opponent.
Despite being down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth of the opener, the Twisters appeared to have something going after Ricky Wilson (Chandler Gilbert) doubled and Josh Chasse (San Diego State) hit a broken bat single to center to put runners on first and third. On a 1-1 count to leadoff batter Corey Shimada (Utah), Chasse broke for second, but was thrown out trying to steal.
"We get a guy thrown out at second base running on his own," Torrington coach Gregg Hunt said. "It’s not good baseball at any level. We just got a double and a single out of (the eight and nine batters) and things aren’t looking good, but they’re getting better. We’re at the top of the order and we run into an out."
Shimada struck out looking for the second out. Joe De Pinto (USC) got the Twisters on the board with a double past left fielder Kyle Conley (Washington) to score Wilson. Peterson, however, escaped by getting Rivas to fly out to center to end the inning.
Falling behind early in the three losses the last two days has not helped the Twisters. The trend that started in the second game Friday continued Saturday. Newport got two runs in the first of the first game on a two-run error by right fielder Jaren Mathews (Rutgers). Mathews sprinted toward the right center field wall on a ball hit by Conley, but overran the ball. Mathews dropped the ball on a tough play, allowing both runs to score. In the third, the Gulls made it 3-0 on a run-scoring single by Alex Gregory (Radford). Taylor Meehan (Harvard) walked with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout to center by Mike Tamsin (Northeastern).
It was much of the same in the nightcap. Newport scored twice in the first on a run-scoring triple by Tamsin and a sacrifice fly from Conley. The Gulls tacked on three more in the second against starter Craig Schneider (Alderson-Broaddus). With one out, David Poutier (Pensacola Community College) reached on an infield single. Cody Grisham (University of Tennessee) was hit by a pitch. Poutier and Grisham executed a double steal as Torrington catcher Alejandro Crisostomo (St. Augustine College) could not get a grip on the ball. Leadoff batter Kyle Rhoad (Eastern Michigan) lofted a blooper into center field. The ball landed in front of Baudinet (UMass-Amherst) and Baudinet gunned the ball home to try to get Poutier. Crisotomo reached to catch the ball, but could not hold on as he tried to tag Poutier, making the score 3-0. A sacrifice fly from Tamsin and a run-scoring single by Gregory off of the glove of third baseman Corey Huffine (Post University) to make it 5-0. Brown took care of the rest for Newport.
Torrington plays at Pittsfield, Mass., at 1 p.m. Monday before returning home Tuesday for the first of back-to-back doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday.

Torrington v. Newport - July 26

The Twisters play the second of four doubleheaders when they host Newport today, starting at 5 p.m.
Torrington is scheduled to start Miles Morton (Auburn) and Craig Schneider (Alderson-Broaddus). Morton is 0-2 with a 14.54 ERA in 3 games this season, according to the NECBL's Web site. In 4.1 innings pitched, Morton has given up 7 runs (all earned) on 8 hits, striking out 3 while walking 1. Opponents are batting .400 against him this season.
Schneider is 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 10 appearances this season. In 19.2 innings pitched, he has given up 8 runs (5 earned) on 18 hits, striking out 22 while walking 11. Opponents are hitting .234 against Schneider this season.
Newport is projected to pitch Stephen Peterson (Marist) in Game 1. Peterson is 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 appearances (2 starts). In 28 innings pitched, he has given up 16 runs (10 earned) on 33 hits, striking out 32 while walking 9. Opponents are batting .306 against Peterson this season.
Game 2's starter is scheduled to be Geoff Brown (University of Washington). Brown is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 games (0 starts) this season. In 21.1 innings pitched, Brown gave up 12 runs (8 earned) on 20 hits, striking out 22 while walking 11. Opponents are hitting .241 against him this season.

Torrington loses to Pittsfield

Pitching and a lack of timely hits continued to haunt the Torrington Twisters Friday night as they lost 8-2 to the Pittsfield Dukes at Fuessenich Park.
Pittsfield (13-11) got four runs in the first inning off of USC's Andrew Triggs (6 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts) and did not look back behind the strong pitching of Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce). Vazquez went seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits, striking out five while walking one.
The Twisters had their chances to get back into the game, but could not put runs across. Torrington left 11 runners on base, including three innings where they left two runners on base, including big chances in the seventh and eighth..
In the seventh, second baseman Corey Shimada (Utah) served a double down the left field line with one out. Shortstop Joe De Pinto (USC) was hit by a pitch, setting up runners at first and second with one out. Vazquez got out of the jam, though he could have been in trouble thanks to his own defense. Chase Austin (Elon) grounded to Craig Hertler (San Jose State) at second base. Hertler, thinking there were two outs, threw to first, bypassing a chance at an inning-ending double play. Vazquez persevered, striking out first baseman Jaren Mathews (Rutgers) with runners on second and third to end the threat.
In the eighth, Torrington got another chance, this time against reliever Adam Knight (Georgia State). After back-to-back strikeouts by Josh Chasse (San Diego State) and Jonathan Cluff (BYU), Brian Baudinet wakled (UMass-Amherst) and Corey Huffine (Post University) singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. Knight wiggled his way out of the jam by striking out Alejandro Crisostomo (St. Augustine) looking. It was the third time in the inning that a Twister batter struck out looking.
With a limited pitching staff due to injuries, Torrington must score runs when the chances present themselves.
Twisters coach Gregg Hunt said the Twisters will look to add a couple arms to the staff before the rosters are frozen Tuesday. The rosters are frozen for the playoffs, meaning players can play after the deadline, but they will not be eligible for the postseason.
The Dukes struck first in the top of the opening inning on a run-scoring triple by Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne). Pittsfield scored its next three runs in the inning with two outs on a single by Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) and a two-run double by Kevin Clements (Manchester Community College).
Torrington got to within 4-1 on a bizarre play in the third. Mathews singled to right with Austin on first. Austin went to third, and the throw from Hertler was wild, going into the dugout, allowing Austin to score and Mathews to take third. Vazquez got out of the inning by getting Chasse to pop up to second on a 3-1 pitch.
The Dukes again added to their lead with two outs, this time in the fourth. With Hertler on first with two outs, Edmondson ripped a hit-and-run single to center. Chasse overran the ball, allowing Hertler to score to make it 5-1. A single by Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptiste) made it 6-1.
Chasse got one back in the sixth when he blasted a solo homer off of a light tower in left field to make it 6-2. After the Twisters could not take advantage of their opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings, the Dukes added two in the ninth off of reliever Craig Schneider (Alderson-Broaddus) on run-scoring singles by Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) and Hertler.
Pittsfield is a half game back of Southern Division-leading Newport (14-11), which lost 3-1 to Sanford Friday. Torrington hosts the Gulls tonight at 7. The Twisters trail Newport by 3.5 games.

Twisters stun Silkworms

The Torrington Twisters rallied from a 6-0 deficit entering the eighth inning to beat the Manchester Silkworms 7-6 Monday night.
Craig Schneider's three near-perfect innings of relief kept Torrington in the game long enough to make a comeback. Schneider (Alderson Broaddus) gave up one hit, striking out two in relief of Josh Smith (Lipscomb), who was roughed up for 6 runs on 8 hits. Smith walked 6, but was also hurt by Twister errors.
Torrington could not get it going against Manchester starter Tyler Hyde (Middle Tennessee State), despite Hyde's 5 walks. The Twisters struck for 3 runs in 1.2 innings against reliever James Kukucka (Eastern Connecticut State), thanks in part to 4 walks from Kukucka. Torrington also beat up on reliever Brandon Otto (Le Moyne), getting 4 runs (3 earned) on 2 hits in a third of an inning. Otto helped the Twisters by walking 2 batters.
Five Silkworm pitchers combined to walk 12 Twisters Monday. Robert Chimpky (Utah) surrendered only a walk in the ninth while picking up his third save of the season.
Sixth different Torrington batters drove in one run, led by Southern California's Joe De Pinto (4-for-5, double, 2 runs scored, stolen base). Utah's Corey Shimada (2-for-6, run scored), San Diego State's Josh Chasse (0-for-4, 2 walks), Rutger's Jaren Mathews (2-for-4, 2 walks), Brian Baudinet (0-for-3, 3 walks) and Chandler Gilbert's Rick Wilson (1-for-3, run scored, 2 walks) each drove in a run for the Twisters.
Torrington, back at .500 at 8-8, also got a strong day from Goshen native Andrew Rocco (UConn-Avery Point). Rocco went 2-for-4 and scored 2 runs. Pitcher Danny Beck (USC) scored a run as a pinch runner for the Twisters.
Torrington was rained out Tuesday night. The Twisters were due to play their third game in a row against Manchester.

Torrington wins third straight

The Torrington Twisters collected their third straight win with a 7-3 triumph over the Holyoke Blue Sox Wednesday night.
Aaron Barrows (Eastern Kentucky) went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in while Watertown native Brian Baudinet (UMass-Amherst) went 2-for-4 with a triple, run batted in and run scored for Torrington, now 6-5. Goshen native Andrew Rocco (UConn-Avery Point) went 1-for-2 with a double, run batted in and run scored while Jonathan Cluff (BYU) went 1-for-5 with two runs scored for the Twisters.
Danny Beck (USC) was strong on the hill for Torrington. Beck went six innings, giving up no runs on three hits while striking out five and walking two. Eric Jokisch (Northwestern) and Craig Schneider (Alderson-Broaddus) finished the game for the Twisters out of the bullpen.
Torrington got a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead. Corey Shimada (Utah) opened the scoring by walking to lead off the game. Shimada came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Chase Austin (Elon). The Twisters got their second run when Joe De Pinto (USC) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second inning. In the third, Rocco drove in Cluff with a double. Cluff had reached on an error with two outs in the inning. Cluff then stole second.
Torrington broke the game open with two runs in the fifth inning. After Rocco walked with two outs, Baudinet tripled to right to score Rocco. Shimada struck out swinging for what should have been the final out of the inning, but the ball got past Holyoke catcher Craig Turner (Southern Wesleyan), allowing Baudinet to score to make it 5-0 Twisters.
Torrington added to its lead in the sixth on smart baserunning by Chasse. Chasse singled to lead off the inning. With Austin at the plate and one out, Chasse stole second. Chasse advanced to third on a fly out to center field by Austin. A single by Barrows brought home Chasse for a 6-0 advantage.
The Twisters scored their final run in the eighth. Austin doubled to left center with two outs. Barrows doubled, scoring Austin for a 7-0 lead.
Holyoke scored its first run on a fielder’s choice by Alex Wyche (Alexander Baldwin Agricultural College) in the bottom of the seventh. A bases loaded walk to Turner in the seventh made the score 7-2. The Blue Sox got their final run in the ninth. Shevis Shima (Cal State Fullerton) had an infield single with two outs. A Sean Killeen (Trinity College) single score Shima to make the score 7-3.
Torrington hosts Vermont tonight at 7 at Fuessenich Park.

Schneider on Torrington roster

Craig Schneider, a junior left-handed pitcher from Alderson-Broaddus College (Philippi, W.V.) has been added to the Torrington roster. Schneider made an appearance in the game against Newport Monday, going 2 innings (2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk).
Schneider is from Marcy, N.Y.