Rally hats didn’t help in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Tolland that eliminated Simsbury from the state tournament.
BRISTOL – The glow still hasn’t worn off for the Tolland American Legion baseball team.
On Sunday, Tolland saw Waterford tie its elimination game in the 2014 Connecticut state tournament at Muzzy Field with two runs in the top of the ninth inning. The game went deep into extra innings before Tolland’s Ben Clough won it with a solo home run in the 15th inning.
“That game drained us,” Tolland manager Steve Paasch admitted Tuesday. “But we still had a little more hop in our step. I could tell the difference in their attitude.”
Tolland scored three runs in the second inning and limited Simsbury to just six hits, eliminating the Zone 1 champions with a 3-1 decision. Simsbury (21-8) left nine runners on base. They had the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth inning but couldn’t push a run across.
Clough, the hero on Sunday, kept Simsbury off balance. He went the distance on the mound, scattered six hits and striking out eight.
“It was hit best outing of the year,” Paasch said. “He kept his velocity throughout the game and he maintained his control.”
In the fourth inning, Clough stood tall. Simsbury’s Jake Cassano led off with a walk and moved to third on Andrew Girard’s double. A walk to Ryan Gothers loaded the bases.
But Clough got Dakota Hunter to strike out looking and Brendan Reilly followed with a second strikeout. Josh Figueroa hit a line drive to Tolland second baseman Tyler Lechman and the rally was snuffed out.
“That was all him when the bases were loaded,” Paasch said of Clough. “He bore down. The defense didn’t do a thing.”
“It was a tough day all the way around,” Simsbury coach Tom Vincent said. “We had that pitcher on the ropes and then they caught that second wind and kept us off balance. You have to tip your hat to him (Clough).”
After scoring 23 runs in its first three state tournament games, Simsbury scored just three runs and had 11 hits in losses to RCP (Rocky Hill/Cromwell/Portland) and Tolland. Post 84 batters struck out 18 times in the two games.
Tolland took a 3-0 lead in the second inning off Simsbury starter Jamie Coen. Zach Rollins doubled and moved to third base on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Salina. Rollins scored on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Lechman to centerfield.
Tolland’s Jake Kalette reached on a two-out single and stole second base. After Alex Hoss was hit by a pitch, Luke Broadhurst ripped a two-RBI double for a three-run lead.
Simsbury cut the lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Chris VandeBogart singled with two outs and scored on a RBI double from Jake King.
In the eighth, Girard doubled with one out. But Clough got Gothers to strike out and Hunter flied to right field. In the ninth, VandeBogart walked with two outs but King flew out to deep left field to end the game.
“It was a successful season,” Vincent said. “We didn’t reach our goal of winning a state championship but we won a zone title which is tough to do. We’re proud of that.”
Simsbury won its first Zone 1 championship since 2008 and earned a state tournament berth for the eighth time in the last 10 years. It’s the deepest run for Post 84 in the tournament since 2007. Simsbury swept a pair from Hartford, 7-0 and 10-0 in seven to qualify for the Northern Division Super Regional and beat Tolland in its opener, 6-1.
Girard had two doubles or Simsbury while VandeBogart was 2-for-3. King also had a double for Simsbury. Coen took the loss on the mound for Simsbury, scattering six hits in five innings of work. He struck out four and walked just one. Martin Cayne-Yachel didn’t give up a hit and struck out three in three innings of work.
For Tolland, Broadhurst was 2-for-4 with a single, double and two RBI. Zach Rollins also had two hits.
STAYING ALIVE: Tolland forced a decisive game for the Northern Division championship on Tuesday night with a 6-2 win over RCP. The title game will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Muzzy Field. The winner earns a berth in the best-of-3 state championship series in Stamford against Cheshire but also grabs an automatic berth in the upcoming Northeast Regional in Middletown.
Post 105 took a quick 2-0 lead after two innings but Tolland refused to wilt, scoring one run in the third inning and breaking open the game with five runs in the fourth inning. Kevin Salina had a RBI single, Jake Kalette had a two-RBI single and Luke Broadhurst had a two-out, two-RBI single for Tolland.
It was the third straight elimination game victory for Tolland, now 23-7.
Tolland 3, Simsbury 1
At Bristol
Simsbury (21-8) 000 000 100 – 1-6-2
Tolland (22-7) 030 000 00x – 3-6-0
Jamie Coen, Martin Cayne-Yackel (6) and Andrew Girard; Ben Clough and Dallon Asnes; WP: Clough; LP: Coen (3-1); 2B: Andrew Girard (S) 2, Jake King (S), Luke Broadhurst (T), Zach Rollins (T)
Northern Division Super Regional
At Bristol
Saturday’s results
Simsbury 6, Tolland 1
RCP 4, Waterford 1
Sunday’s games
Tolland 5, Waterford 4 (15)
RCP 7, Simsbury 2
Tuesday’s games
Tolland 3, Simsbury 1
Tolland 6, RCP 2
Wednesday’s game
Final: Tolland vs. RCP, 6:30 p.m.
Southern Division Super Regional
At Stamford
Saturday’s results
Branford 7, Berlin 1
Cheshire 5, Stamford 4
Sunday’s games
Stamford 5, Berlin 1
Cheshire 2, Branford 0
Tuesday’s games
Stamford 2, Branford 0
Final: Cheshire 7, Stamford 5
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