Despite rapping out 17 hits, Crushers fall to Torrington in Tri-State season opener

Canton pitcher Taylor Riley struck out eight and gave up just four hits in the first six innings. But the Torrington Rebels rallied with seven runs in the seventh inning to beat Canton Sunday.

TORRINGTON, May 20 – The Canton Crushers had 17 hits and led by five runs after 6½ innings of Sunday’s Tri-State League opener with the Torrington Rebels at Fuessenich Park.

But the Rebels scored seven runs on six hits and two walks in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull away from the Crushers and earn a 12-8 victory on opening day.

Jake Narvesen was 3-for-4 with a two RBI single while Roberto Santiago was 2-for-4 with a double to lead the host Rebels.

Canton was led by pitcher Taylor Riley, Heath Cotton and Jon Scippa, who each had three hits. Cotton was 3-for-5 with a home run while Riley was 3-for-5 and Scippa was 3-for-4. Jake Bryant was 2-for-5 with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Chris VandeBogart had a two-RBI double in the third inning.

The Crushers left eight runners on base and struck out 10 times. Riley struck out eight on the mound before the Rebels caught up with him in the seventh inning.

Canton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back RBI singles from Sean Bahre and Bryant. The Rebels tied the game on a RBI single and an error.

The Crushers took a 4-2 lead in the third inning on a two-run double from Chris VandeBogart. Torrington cut the lead to one run on a RBI double from catcher Greg Bodnar.

Canton extended their lead to 7-3 in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single from Bryant and a run scoring on a passed ball. The Crushers took an 8-3 lead in the seventh on a solo home run from Cotton.

Canton returns to action Thursday when they travel to Wolcott (1-0) to take on the Scrappers with a 5:45 p.m. start. This is the fifth season for the Crushers in the Tri-State League.

Torrington 12, Canton 8
At Torrington
Canton (0-1)                   202  300  100 – 8-17-2
Torrington (1-0)            201  000  72x – 12-11-1
Taylor Riley, Jamie Coen (7), Jake Bryant (7), Finley (8) and Jeff Mulhall; Unknown, Ian Pierce (3) and Greg Bodnar, Marzella (5); WP: Pierce (1-0); LP: Coen (0-1); 2B: Greg Bodnar (T), Roberto Santiago (T), Chris VandeBogart (C); HR: Heath Cotton (Ca)