Connecticut Hackers Baseball: Welcome

By Ken Morse, Citizen’s News

WEST HAVEN -- There’s an old adage in sports that states, ‘it ain’t over till it’s over.’ The Connecticut Hackers proved that theory on Sunday at Quigley Stadium in West Haven as they stunned the Bridgeport All-Stars in the championship game of the NABA playoffs.

The Hackers were down to their final at bat when they erupted for two runs leaving Bridgeport on the field after Ryan Strout delivered the game winning walk-off hit in the 3-2 victory.

After Naugatuck Mayor Bob Mezzo threw out the first pitch, it was the way a championship game was supposed to look like. A masterful pitching performance by both sides. Defensive gems that stalled rallies. Key hits in crucial situations. And in the end, players streaming out of the dugout to chase the game winning hero for a well deserved back pounding.

Tyler Brett, the Bridgeport pitcher and Quinnipiac Bobcat, seemed to be getting the better of the outcome as the All-Stars took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning. Brett had scattered just six hits with eight strikeouts to that point and his counterpart Mike Fox of the Hackers had surrendered six hits striking out nine.

“I can’t say enough about our defense and the way these guys have picked me up,” said Fox. “We managed to get the hits when we had to and there was never a doubt that we would get it done.”

The Hackers broke out on top in the third when Jeff Pugliese (two hits) ripped a two out double into the right field corner. Bridgeport aided the cause when a strike three to end the inning ended up against the backstop.

Strout raced up the first base line as Pugliese pulled into third base. Steve Webb (two hits) fell behind 0-2 in the count before unleashing a line drive single up the middle to put the Hackers on top 1-0.

Fox recorded a strikeout in every inning except the fifth and ninth dodged a bullet in the fourth. A throwing error and a single that landed inches from the foul line in right field had the All-Stars poised for a rally.

With runners at second and third Fox hauled in a fly ball in the infield for the second out before Jeff Farrell raced into the corner in left to put away the final out and leave the runners stranded.

Bridgeport finally cashed in one inning later when Rob Pressian and Ryan Antonio led off with back-to-back singles. Centerfielder Jim Gomperts threw a strike to the plate to hold the runner at third.

Jacin Perez chased down a foul ball just in front of the Bridgeport dugout but the next batter launched a fly ball to left to send home the tying run on the sacrifice fly. Mike Lucas followed with a run scoring single to give the All-Stars a 2-1 advantage.

It remained a 2-1 game as Fox went on to retire nine of the next eleven batters with the Hackers coming to bat in the bottom of the eighth. Pugliese belted his second hit of the game and Strout laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to send the tying run to second base.

Fox and Dan Kaminski worked out walks to load the bases before Brett pulled the plug recording a strikeout to end the threat.

In the top of the ninth Bridgeport was looking for an insurance run. For only the second time in the game, Fox surrendered back-to-back singles with one out. Then came the rally killing play when Kaminski broke behind the runner at second as Fox whirled around and picked off the lead runner.

It was on to the bottom of the ninth with the game still hanging in the balance. Perez was hit by a pitch to lead it off and was replaced by Farrell as a pinch runner. Nick Pereira squared to bunt but the pitcher elected to go to second base. The throw pulled the short stop off the bag and all hands were safe.

Craig Vincelette missed the first two bunt attempts and settled for a game tying single as Farrell scored all the way from second. The Hackers had new life and when Gomperts drew an intentional walk the bases were loaded with no outs.

That set the stage for Strout who took a deep breath to settle his nerves before he got into the batters’ box. Strout lashed out and connected with the second pitch in the delivery as it fell just out of the reach of the second baseman into right field.

Pereira raced down the line with the winning run as the players charged out of the dugout chasing Strout up the first base line to give him a well deserved back pounding.

“I’ve been struggling at the plate,” said Strout wearing the smile of a champion. “It was an unbelievable feeling when I saw that ball go into right field. I was just trying to make contact and put the ball in play.”

“That’s Hackers baseball at its finest,” beamed team manager Mike Doran. “These guys never give up. In spite of being swept during the season by Bridgeport we had the final say and to win three titles in a row… it’s amazing.”