Canton wins first game thanks to help from Bryant on mound and at plate

Canton’s Jake Bryant hit the second home run in team history Thursday night.

CANTON, June 16 – Pitcher Jake Bryant scattered five hits, struck out five and hit his first Tri-State League home run to help the Canton Crushers win their first game of the season Thursday evening at Bowdoin Field.

The Crushers beat the Thomaston Threshers, 3-2, throwing out the potential tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the victory. With two outs, the Threshers put a runner on base thanks to a walk and he moved to second base thanks to a passed ball.

But Canton reliever Heath Cotton caught the runner leaning off second base and threw him out to end the game and secure the win for the Crushers, now 1-6.

Bryant gave Canton a 1-0 lead in the third inning with his leadoff home run. With one out, Ben Sullivan coaxed a one-out walk from Thomaston pitcher Taylor Landry. Sullivan moved to second base on a fielder’s choice. He scored on Sean Bahre’s single to give Canton a 2-0 lead.

Thomaston cut the lead to one in the top of the fourth but Canton added another run in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Taylor Riley doubled and moved to third base on an error. He scored on a RBI single from Nick Stockman.

Riley had a heck of game. He was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles for the Crushers. Bryant’s home run is the second one in team history. Shane Fusco had a homer for the Crushers in 2014.

Canton returns to the field on Friday when they travel to Waterbury to face Brass City (3-3) at Hotchkiss Field with a 5:45 p.m. start. Canton travels to Torrington to face the Rebels (6-1) on Sunday night at Fuessenich Park beginning at 6 p.m.

Canton 3, Thomaston 2
At Canton
Thomaston (2-5)              000  101  0 – 2-5-1
Canton (1-6)                    002  100  x – 3-8-1
Jake Bryant, Heath Cotton (7) and Jeff Mulhall; Taylor Landry and unknown; WP: Bryant (1-1); LP: Landry; Sv: Cotton (1); 2B: Taylor Riley (C) 2, 3B: none; HR: Bryant (C)