Torrington hurts playoffs chances with doubleheader loss

In another bizarre twist to the regular season, the Torrington Twisters were a game behind the Manchester Silkworms entering a doubleheader Tuesday.
Shaky defense, one swing from Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) and solid pitching from Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) helped put Torrington’s playoff hopes behind the eight-ball as the Twisters dropped a pair of games, 3-2 and 7-0, to the Pittsfield Dukes at Fuessenich Park. Adams’ solo shot off of hard-luck complete game loser Josh Smith (Lipscomb) gave Pittsfield a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Dukes were the home team in the first game as the teams finished making up a July 18 doubleheader that had been postponed.
"Even if we got a split today, we’ve got life," Torrington coach Gregg Hunt said. "We got to help ourselves and we need a lot of help."
Manchester split its own doubleheader with Danbury Tuesday, meaning the Silkworms gained a game on Torrington. Manchester now has a two-game lead on the Twisters with opportunities to gain ground fading fast. Torrington’s doubleheader loss means that this year’s team (13-25) will have the worst record in the team’s history (the previous worst record was 19-23, done twice).
The Twisters scored two runs in the first inning and got out to an early lead, something that had not happened in the two previous doubleheaders, where Torrington lost three of four games. Corey Shimada (Utah) led off with a walk, but Joe De Pinto (USC) grounded into a double play. Catcher Jimmy Rivas (New Haven) started up a new rally when he was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Jaren Mathews (Rutgers) scalded a grounder to first that ricocheted off of Adams for a double, putting runners on second and third. Pittsfield starter Jake Sabol (Central Michigan) appeared to be out of the inning when Chase Austin (Elon) lifted a fly ball to left, but Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptiste) lost it in the sun and dropped the ball, allowing Rivas and Mathews to score.
Smith made that margin hold up through the first four innings, striking out five while yielding three hits.
The problem was, Smith was snake bitten in the fifth inning. After Smith struck out the first batter, Jason Martin (San Jose State) lifted a fly ball to left. De Pinto went out after the ball on a play normally made by a left fielder and dropped the ball and Martin hustled into second. Leadoff batter Craig Hertler (San Jose State) grounded the next pitch he saw through the right side for single. Martin scored easily, but Mathews threw home from right. His throw got away from Rivas, allowing Hertler to take second. Hertler advanced to third on a fly out to center by Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) and scored the tying run when Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne) singled on a 2-2 pitch from Smith.
In the fifth, Austin Christiansen (Chandler Gilbert) led off with an infield single for Torrington, but Shimada fouled off two bunts before striking out. Making matters worse, Christiansen was picked off of first with De Pinto at the plate and one down in the inning.
In the sixth, Adams, one of the league’s most dangerous batters, got a 2-1 pitch he liked and hammered it over the right field wall to give the Dukes a 3-2 lead.
The Twisters had a chance in the top of the seventh against Pittsfield closer Zack Anderson (Buffalo). After a strikeout for the first out, Alejandro Crisostomo (St. Augustine College) reached on an infield single. Josh Chasse (San Diego State) came in to run for Crisostomo, but the Dukes called a pitch out on a 1-1 count to Christiansen, leaving Chasse dead to rights at second base for the second out. Christiansen, however, worked a walk and Shimada reached first when Hertler’s throw from second pulled Adams off the base. Anderson killed the rally, getting De Pinto to fly out to right to end the game.
The second game was anticlimatic for Torrington. The Twisters managed just three hits off of Vazquez (6 innings, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). Even three straight walks from reliever Jack Bender (Georgetown) with two outs in the seventh could not get Torrington going as Bryson Rahier (San Jose State) struck out to end the game.
The Dukes moved back into a tie for first with Newport, who also won Tuesday. Pittsfield was a half-game out entering Tuesday’s action.
On defense, the Twisters made five errors, leading to three unearned runs for the Dukes. Starter Andrew Triggs (USC) gave up four runs in five innings to take the loss while reliever Josh Zeid (Tulane) gave up three runs—one earned—as his defense made three errors behind him in the final two innings.
Torrington has three scheduled games left while the Silkworms have one scheduled game left. If the Twisters are a game behind Manchester after those games have been played, Torrington and Manchester would make up Sunday’s rainout on Friday’s league-wide makeup date.

Torrington at Manchester - July 27

Torrington travels to Manchester Sunday night to play a pivotal game against the Silkworms.
The Twisters (12-23) trail the Silkworms (15-22) by 2 games for the final playoff spot in the Southern Division. Getting the start for Torrington is Josh Smith (Lipscomb). Smith is 2-1 in 6 games (all starts) this season with a 4.15 ERA, according to the NECBL's Web site. In 36 innings this season, Smith has given up 23 runs (17 earned) on 36 hits, striking out 43 while walking 25. Batters are hitting .259 against him this season.
Manchester is projected to pitch Jamil Acosta (Rio Hondo College). Acosta is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 4 games (2 starts) this season. In 13 innings pitched, Acosta has given up 8 runs (6 earned) on 16 hits, striking out 9 while walking 4. Opponents are batting .291 against him this season.
The Twisters are 3-2 against the Silkworms this season.

Twisters take early 7-0 lead, but fall to Newport

The Torrington Twisters would cross the plate seven times in the first two innings, just to see their seven-run lead slip away to the Newport Gulls, who prevailed 9-7 on Monday night in New England Collegiate Baseball League play at Cardines Field.
The Twisters (10-19) plated two runs in the first inning and five more in the second, chasing Gulls starter Kevin Moran. Newport (19-15) would peck away at the seven-run deficit the rest of the game, scoring a run in the third, three in the fifth, one in the sixth and four in the seventh when the Gulls went ahead for good. Torrington starting pitcher Josh Smith (Lipscomb) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and five walks. Reliever Danny Beck (USC) didn't fare much better, going 2 2-3 innings. He surrendered five runs on eight hits, while fanning three and walking one, to take the loss. Chase Austin (Elon) had a big day at the plate for the Twisters, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Jaren Mathews (Rutgers) had two hits and an RBI and Jimmy Rivas (New Haven) drove in two runs.
Torrington is eight games back of the first-place Pittsfield Dukes (19-12) in the Southern Division. Torrington is 11/2 games behind the fourth-place Manchester Silkworms (14-20). The top four teams in each division make the NECBL playoffs.
The Twisters host North Adams tonight at 7.

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 at Manchester - June 30

Torrington plays its second game of three in a row against Manchester tonight at 7 in Manchester.
The Twisters are scheduled to start Josh Smith (Lipscomb). Smith is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 2 starts this season, according to the NECBL's Web site. In 15 innings, Smith has given up 4 runs on 10 hits, striking out 20 while walking 3. Opponents are hitting just .200 against him this season.
The Silkworms are projected to start Tyler Hyde (Middle Tennessee State). Hyde is 0-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 3 starts this season. In 17.2 innings, Hyde has given up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, striking out 12. Hyde has issued 15 walks this season. Opponents are batting just .138 against him this season.

Torrington beats Keene

After being rained out for the sixth time this season Monday night, the Twisters got back into the swing of things with a 3-1 win over the Northern Division-leading Keene Swamps Bats in Keene, N.H., Tuesday night, according to the NECBL's Web site.
The win puts Torrington back at .500 at 5-5. The Twisters were rained out Monday night in Lynn, Mass., where they were scheduled to play the North Shore Navigators.
Jonathan Cluff (BYU) got the night started for Torrington with a solo homer to right center in the top of the third. Three batters later, Corey Shimada (Utah) made it 2-0 with a solo shot of his own to right center.
The Twisters extended their lead to 3-0 in the seventh on an RBI single by Brian Baudinet (UMass-Amherst). Keene scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Josh Chester (St. Petersburg). Chester was thrown out by Cluff (the right fielder) attempting to stretch his single into a double.
Josh Smith (Lipscomb) picked up his second win of the year with another strong performance. Smith went 8 innings, allowing a single run on five hits, striking out 12 while walking just 2. Robert Chimpky (Utah) pitching the final inning, giving up no runs on two hits while striking out three, picking up his first save of the season.
James Wise (Washington State), the NECBL's co-pitcher of the week with Josh Zeid of Torrington in Week One, suffered the loss. Wise pitched 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 2 while walking one.
Baudinet and Chase Austin (Elon) each had 2 hits.

Torrington at North Shore - June 23

The Twisters take to the road tonight to play the North Shore Navigators in Lynn, Mass.
Torrington is scheduled to start Josh Smith (Lipscomb). Smith is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA. In 7 innings pitched at Danbury June 11, Smith has allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, striking out 8 while walking one. Opponents are hitting just .200 against Smith.
North Shore is projected to send Mike Adams (Franklin Pierce) to the hill. Adams is 0-2 in two starts this season. Adams has an ERA of 6.00 and has given up 8 runs on 13 hits in 12 innings. Opponents are hitting .295 against him this season.

Josh Smith to be part of Lipscomb's first NCAA team

Junior pitcher Josh Smith of Lipscomb University will be part of the first NCAA tournament team in school history for baseball, according to cbs.sportsline.com, which ran a story about the seedings announced for this year's tournament.
Lipscomb faces the University of Georgia, who is the No. 1 seed in the Athens, Ga. regional. The Bisons recently captured the Atlantic Sun tournament championship, according to the Bison Web site. Lipscomb defeated Gardner-Webb twice en route to the title. In the first matchup, Smith clinched a berth in the championship game for the Bisons in an 8-2 win, going seven innings. Smith gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits, striking out three and walking four.