U10

Cubs 10, Pirates 8: The Cubs’ Ben Talbot knocked in the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth and Todd Petersen struck out six to close the game as the Cubs held off the tough Pirates. Luke Azzaritto, Jonathan Nahmias, and Petersen also had clutch RBI hits. Bradley Vadas played well defensively for the Cubs.

Giants 14, Rays 9: James Doyle hit a sixth-inning inside the park grand slam to break open the game and came in to record the last out to get the save for the Giants. Shea Talbot pitched two stellar innings, striking out 6 and had 3 hits while Eric Casagrande struck out 4 batters on the mound and made a nice catch in the outfield. Thomas Hermes had a key infield single to keep the rally going to set up Doyle’s big smash. For the Rays, who cut into an 8-1 deficit to trail 9-8 entering the last inning, Miles Ricks and Michael Cotton had 2 hits apiece, Jack Ketchum had 2 RBIs and some nice plays on defense, and James Burbank had a key hit to help the Rays rally back.

Braves 0, A’s 0: To say the pitching was dominant does not give justice to the pitchers that contributed to an astonishing 69-minute game. The A’s pitching staff, led by Luke Barrett, Patrick Hurley, Jordan Fulton, and Adam Gray amassed 14 strikeouts out of a possible 18 outs, allowed only three hits and two walks. The Braves loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs and then got a man to third with two outs in the sixth, only to be turned away with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. Not to be out dueled, the Braves’ Trevor Tyrrell, Liam Loging and Tyler Fuori retired the last 13 of 15 batters on strikeouts, with a total of 16 strikeouts, two hits and only one walk for  the game. The A’s Patrick Hurley hit a long triple to left center field in the first and Luke Barrett lined a double to left center field in the fifth inning, but both were stranded at third. The Braves also had two men stranded at third.

Rays 7, A’s 3: Joseph Pagett and James Schumacher had 3 hits each to power the Rays to victory. Charlie Asetta blasted a 2 RBI double and Jack Ketchum had 2 hits while Pagett, Miles Ricks, Schumacher, Asetta, and Michael Cotton combined on the mound to hold the A’s to 3 runs. For the Athletics, Patrick Hurley had 2 hits while Kyle Nicholson, Adam Gray, and Hurley all pitched scoreless innings.

Braves 8, Giants 4: The  Braves struck first in the second inning with singles from Trevor Tyrell, Liam Loging and a 2 RBI single from Matt Blanco. The Giants answered back in the  bottom of the second with two runs of their own, capped off by a single by Thomas Hermes. The Giants came back for another two runs in the third inning with back to back monster blasts by James Doyle and Aiden Moulder. The Braves took the lead for good on singles from James Tibolla, Tyler Fuori, and Liam Loging, a long triple by Owen Meeker, and a 2 RBI double by Andrew Tomasino. Owen Meeker and James Tibolla also notched doubles in the sixth inning. With runners on first and third with only one out in the fifth the Giants were mounting a comeback when Matt Blanco and Owen Meeker snagged hard line drives off the bats of Andrew Via and Chris Maturo to end the inning.

U11

Ferro Financial Green Machine 11, Sugar Hill Auto Sharks 3: In the season opener the Sharks were led by the strong pitching of Robert Murray and Ryan Mailloux, while Harry Lucas and Jamie Hobar were standouts in the field helping the Shark defense turn a double play in the fourth inning. Murray and Lucas also chipped in with two hits each and Connor Dinallo had an RBI single in the fourth. The Green Machine bats came alive in the second inning, paced by Kyle Roche and Matt Jewell (2 RBIs) singles. Sean Connor and Jackson Dooley each drove in a run in the frame with singles. Heads up base running and clutch pitching by Tim Shaw, Dooley and Roche combined with key lead off hits by Tyler Trede helped the Machine notch their first win.

Sal and Pepe Inferno 16, Carminuccio’s Pizza 4: Timely hitting with runners in scoring position gave the Inferno their second victory of the season. Dillon Larkin contributed with a hit and strong play at shortstop. Matt Sadowski and Jack Hannon each had two hits. Thomas Fitzgerald contributed with a shut-out inning on the mound and a single late in the game. Fitzgerald combined with Matt Sadowski and Ryan Burns to keep the Carminuccio offense in check.

Sal and Pepe Inferno 5, Ingersoll Auto 0: Steady pitching, backed by strong defense, helped lead the Inferno to their Opening Day win. Sammy Kapur, Dillon Larkin and Easton Ricks combined for the shutout, while Thomas Usher and Matt Brantl made key defensive plays to hold off Ingersoll Auto rally. The offense was lead by Jack Hannon and Robert DiSibio, each with two hits in the winning effort. The Ingersoll Auto Group was lead offensively by Ben Terry and Simon Preston. Also there were outstanding plays in the field by Bobby Morrill, Luke Loudon and Luke Sansonetti. Performing well on the mound for Ingersoll Auto Group was Bobby Ward and Shane Demers.

Carminuccio’s Pizza 5, Mobil 1 Lube Express Blue Devils 2: Carminuccio’s Pizza had two hitless innings pitched by Cole Demirjian and solid pitching by Jimmy Davies combined with tight defense to limit the Blue Devils to two runs. The Blue Devils had five scoreless innings pitched by the combination of David Kohler, Aaron Kirby and Jeremy Larkin. For the Blue Devils great defensive play by Jack Heinlein, Derrick Lewis and Jake Raiani helped keep the game close, while on offense, David Kohler and Luke Kirby each had an RBI.

U12

Spartans 9, Tigers 3: Lucas O’Brien pitched a scoreless two innings for the save and Dylan Champagne opened the season with a booming triple as the Spartans conquered the tigers. The tigers were led by Jason Hebners pitching.

Exterminators 9, Rebels 4: Nick Brown pounded out the first double of the spring that ignited a seven-run first inning. Matt Fuchs pitched three solid shut-out innings to lead the pest controllers. Ryan Kost had strong hitting and Jacob Duffy provided fine fielding.

Rebels 5, Tigers 4: In an exciting extra inning game, George Pagett, Player of the Week, smacked a long home run, then singled home the game winner that made a winner of Adam Beckett. Ethan Aug, Marc Lasorsa and Ben Harrison led a great comeback to lead the Tigers

Orangutans 7, Pizza Palace 5: Tim Cervera banged out the first home run of the spring, deep to right field, but it was not enough for the Pizza makers. The Orangutans led by Adam Bergeron and Wesley Scriven played solid for the victory.

Night Owls 12, Orangutans 1: Robert Lombardo pitched and hit for the Night Owls’ charge to victory. Josh Ketchum and Will Huegi shined in the field.

Bulldogs 6, Pizza Palace 5: Jeff Hess put one into the upper deck at Glander for his first home run. A three-run shot that propelled the Bulldogs. Colby Olson and Robert “the voice” Hutchins nailed down the win. Henry Primavera and Owen McInerney starred for the Pizza Palace.

Player of the week nominees: George Pagett, Rebels, homer, 5 RBI; Dylan Champagne, Spartans, 8 hits; Matt Fuchs, Exterminators, 5 shutout innings; Jeff Hess, Bulldogs, home run; Tim Cervera, Pizza Palace, home run; Robert Lombardo, Night Owls, pitching; Adam Bergeron, Orangutans, hitting; Jason Hebner, Tigers, hitting

U14

Newtown’s Rich’s Keys And Locks 14, New Milford 2: Newtown slugged its way to an opening day win at New Milford’s Volunteer field on Saturday. Newtown pounded out 13 hits, led by Connor Roche’s 4 for 4 day, which included two doubles, four runs scored, and five RBIs. Roche also picked up the win on the mound tossing two scoreless innings. Colten Moroney went 2 for 2 with a double and three runs scored, and Michael Doyle chipped in two hits and three runs scored. Jake Simonson added a single and two RBIs and Justin Appley smacked an RBI double as well. Sam Czel, Alex Rushmore, and Brandon O’Sullivan each contributed hits to round out the offensive attack.

Newtown’s Rich’s Keys and Locks 13, Newtown Teamsters Local Union 1150 2: Newtown Rich’s Keys And Locks continued its hot hitting by banging out 15 hits in the victory over in-town rival, Newtown 1. Jack Procaccini had a stellar day at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Connor Roche continued his offensive onslaught, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Roche also picked up his second straight victory on the mound, pitching another two scoreless innings. Sam Czel had an all-around great game, going 3 for 3 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Czel also pitched a hitless fifth inning to close out the victory. Michael Doyle contributed a 2 for 4 game and played solid defense, while Colten Moroney, Jake Simonson, Brandon O’Sullivan and Justin Appley each added hits in the win.

U15

Law Offices of Gail Matthews 9, RCW Communications 2: For Law Offices of Gail Matthews, Tony Venezia, Mike Davenport and Austin Martinez all pitched well. Jared Brady had two hits, including a triple; Venezia had a triple; and Davenport and Martinez had two hits. For RCW Communications Matt Maturo pitched two scoreless innings and drove in the first run of the game on a deep double in the gap. Maturo’s heads-up base running also plated the second RCW run. Nick Randle also pitched well, giving up one unearned run in two innings of work.

Teamsters Local Union 1150 4, Rich’s Keys And Locks 2: For the Teamsters Local Union 1150, pitchers pitched well on the hill: Stephen Brittin, Mathew Elias, Mason Melillo and the closer of the game Jack Lago. Hits in the games came from Andrew Braun, Greg Grasso and Tim Vanderhave. Hits for Rich’s Keys And Locks were Dillon Palumbo and Conner Roche.

16-19

Shelton 4, Newtown Lightning 3: Shelton’s Alex Shumacher blasted a walk-off, solo home run over the left field fence in the seventh inning to win the game Sunday in Shelton. Playing without its leadoff and No. 2 hitter in the lineup, Newtown battled back from a 3-1 deficit with two sixth-inning runs to tie the game. Eric Sutton crushed a long double over the right fielder’s head and moved to third when the ball was not picked up cleanly. Wyatt Depuy followed with an RBI double over the center fielder’s head, capping a perfect 3-for-3 day. John Lebinski grounded an infield single to deep short, moving Depuy to third. With Lebinski running, Austin Ekstrom popped out in foul ground behind first base. Lebinski hustled back toward first, and the umpire called him safe, though the attempted double-play throw appeared to beat him. As a cloud of dust rose from the field after Lebinski slid into the first base and Shelton looked to dispute the call, Depuy tagged up from third base and raced home with the tying run. Ekstrom pitched well, hurling six innings, yielding just one earned run and five hits. He struck out eight. Sutton relieved in the seventh inning. He had explosive stuff, striking out the first two batters before Shumacher hit his deciding homer. Depuy made the defensive play of the day in left center with one out, Shumacher on third and the score tied 1-1 in the fourth inning. He stumbled as he caught a fly ball in left center, fell to the ground, jumped up and threw a strike to catcher Scott Cunningham to nail Shumacher trying to score after tagging up.