Twisters 2003
Final record: 34-12
June 7: @ N. Adams, ppd. to July 7
June 8: Ex: Wareham 8, Twisters 1
June 9: Twisters 3, Manchester 1
June 10: Twisters 5, Danbury 4
June 11: @at W. Warwick, ppd. 7/8
June 12: Newport 4, Twisters 0 (6)
June 14: Twisters 6, Keene 5
June 15: Newport 3, Twisters 1
June 16: Willimantic 7, Twisters 1
June 17: Twisters 5, W. Warwick 0
June 19: Newport 5, Torrington 2
June 21: @Danbury, ppd. July 17
June 22: @Lowell, ppd. to Aug. 2
June 23: Twisters 10, Willimantic 2
June 24: Twisters 2, Willimantic 1
June 28: Twisters 1, North Adams 0
June 29: Sanford 3, Twisters 2 (15)
June 30: Twisters 4, Danbury 0
July 2: Twisters 4, West Warwickc 2
July 3: @Newport, rain, TBA
July 5: Twisters 6, Sanford 2
July 6: Manchester 14, Twisters 1
July 7: Twisters 2, North Adams 0
July 8: Twisters 7, W. Warwick 2 (7)
July 8: Torr. 16, W. Warwick 2  (7)
July 9: MIDDLETWN, ppd. July 12
July 10: EX: Team USA 5, Torr. 0
July 11: Twsters 2, Manchester 1
July 12: Twisters 7, Middletown 1
July 12: Twisters 1, Middletown 0
July 13: Twisters 9, Middletown 5
July 14: Twisters 6, Manchester 4
July 16: Twisters 6, Danbury 2
July 17: Danbury 4, Twisters 2
July 18: Concord 4, Twisters 0
July 19: Vermont 4, Twisters 3
July 20: Twisters 1, Keene 0
July 21: Twisters 7, Willimantic 5
July 22: DANBURY, ppd. Aug. 4
July 24: Twisters 4, Middletown 2
July 25: Twisters 9, Willimantic 5
July 26: Twisters 5, Vermont 0
July 28: Newport 12, Twisters 1
July 30: Twisters 1, Concord 0
July 31: Twisters 2, W. Warwick 1
Aug. 2: Twisters 4-3, Lowell 1-0
Aug. 4: DANBURY, cancelled
Aug. 4: @Newport, cancelled
Regular season record 30-10

Playoffs
Divisional semifinal
Aug. 6: Twisters 2, Middletown 1
Aug. 6: Twisters 2, Middletown 0
Division championship
Aug. 9: at Newport, ppd. rain
NECBL championship
Aug. 11: Keene 2, Twisters 0
Aug. 12: Keene 7, Twisters 1

NECBL playoffs
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Divisional semifinal, game 1
Middletown at Torrington, rain
Danbury 5, Newport 3
Sanford 3, North Adams 1
Concord at Keene, game suspended by rain in 8th with Keene leading 9-0
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Divisional semis, game 2
Torrington 2-2, Middletown 1-0
Newport 2, Danbury 1
Sanford 9, North Adams 0
keene 9-5, Concord 0-4
Thursday, Aug. 7
Game 3, if necessary
Newport 16, Danbury (7, rain)
Divisional finals
Friday, Aug. 8
Keene 12, Sanford 2
Torrington 2, Newport 0
Saturday, Aug. 9
Keene 7, Sanford 6
Torrington at Newport, ppd., rain
Sunday Aug. 10
Torrington 6, Newport 4
NECBL finals
Mon. Aug. 11
Keene 2, Torrington 0
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Keene 7, Torrington 1


Four Twisters named All-NECBL
The Twisters had three players named to the All-NECBL team in balloting conducted by the league coaches. Shortstop Armand Gaerlan, DH Jeff Natale and pitcher Dennis Robinson were named to the first team with pitcher Matt Torra named to the All-NECBL second team. Natale also won the NECBL's 10th player of the year award.

All-Star Game: North 6, South 0
CONCORD, N.H., July 27 -- The Northern Division shutout the Southern Division, 6-0, in the 10th annual NECBL All-Star Game Sunday. Twister hurler Dennis Robinson got the start for the South, pitching an inning of shutout ball with one strikeout. Twister shortstop Armand Gaerlan (0-for-2) and outfielder Jeff Hourigan (0-2) also started for the South. Jeff Natale (0-1) also saw action at second base. Pitcher's Matt Torra and Bobby Garza each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Garza gave up one hit and fanned one. Robinson and Torra did not allow a hit.

Six Twisters on All-Star team
TORRINGTON, July 20 -- Six Twisters were named to the 2003 NECBL Southern Division All-Star team and three will start. Right-handed pitcher Dennis Robinson, shortstop Armand Gaerlan and outfielder Jeff Hourigan were selected to start while Jeff Natale (DH), Matt Torra (RHP) and Bobby Garza (RHP) were named as Southern Division reserves. The 10th NECBL All-Star game is Sunday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Concord, N.H. Hourigan will also participate in the home run derby. Manchester and Willimantic had four selections each to the Southern Division team while Newport had three.

Exhibition: Team USA 5, Twisters 0
TORRINGTON, July 10 -- Team USA's Justin Verlander (Old Dominion) took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Marvin Lowrance's one-out single to left field as the U.S. national team prevailed before a crowd of 1,460. Team USA scored five runs in the first inning off Twister starter Matt Torra thanks to a three errors and several hits. Team USA improved to 14-0 against NECBL competition since 2000.

Twister pitcher Matt Brunnig can do something no other NECBL pitcher has ever done -- pitch with both arms and do it effectively. ."He is still free and easy throwing with both arms. If he ever switches sides during a game, it will certainly disturb the other bench," Twister coach Gregg Hunt said.

Twister debut was a record
NORTH ADAMS, June 7, 2003 -- The NECBL said 2,471 fans that saw Vermont play its debut contest was a record for a first-year team. Not so. Over 3,000 fans saw Torrington debut at Fuessenich Park on May 31, 1997 against Danbury. Other recent debut crowds included 2,347 in Keene (1998), 1,850 in Concord (2001), 2,042 in North Adams (2002) and  1,105 at Sanford (2002).

TORRINGTON, June 6, 2003 -- Fifteen players listened intently to Twister coach Gregg Hunt at practice less than 24 hours before the season-opening contest at North Adams.  "Last year we were always waiting for players," Hunt said. "This year we have competition for spots from day one." Seven players return from last year's team and a solid core of players have been brought in to fill out the roster.

First baseman Jim Fasano (Richmond), the Atlantic 10 player of the year, returns along with pitcher/infielder Jeff Hourigan (Clemson) and outfielder Brandon Roberts (Michigan). Jacksonville's Lawrence Best-Berfet, Logan catcher Emory Davies, Richmond's John Cronin and Woodbury pitcher Peter Maki of Franklin & Marshall also returned.

"This team looks real solid," Hunt said. "We're not banking on any one player to do it for us. It looks like we will have good depth. Some of the players had phenomenal springs."

WAPJ-FM (89.9), which has been broadcasting Twister games since the inception of the team, won't carry the team this summer. However, fans can listen to the Twisters over the internet at NECBL.com.

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Four Twisters named All-NECBL
The Twisters had three players named to the All-NECBL team in balloting conducted by the league coaches. Shortstop Armand Gaerlan, DH Jeff Natale and pitcher Dennis Robinson were named to the first team with pitcher Matt Torra named to the All-NECBL second team. Natale also won the NECBL's 10th player of the year award.

All-Star Game: North 6, South 0
CONCORD, N.H., July 27 -- The Northern Division shutout the Southern Division, 6-0, in the 10th annual NECBL All-Star Game Sunday. Twister hurler Dennis Robinson got the start for the South, pitching an inning of shutout ball with one strikeout. Twister shortstop Armand Gaerlan (0-for-2) and outfielder Jeff Hourigan (0-2) also started for the South. Jeff Natale (0-1) also saw action at second base. Pitcher's Matt Torra and Bobby Garza each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Garza gave up one hit and fanned one. Robinson and Torra did not allow a hit.

Six Twisters on All-Star team
TORRINGTON, July 20 -- Six Twisters were named to the 2003 NECBL Southern Division All-Star team and three will start. Right-handed pitcher Dennis Robinson, shortstop Armand Gaerlan and outfielder Jeff Hourigan were selected to start while Jeff Natale (DH), Matt Torra (RHP) and Bobby Garza (RHP) were named as Southern Division reserves. The 10th NECBL All-Star game is Sunday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Concord, N.H. Hourigan will also participate in the home run derby. Manchester and Willimantic had four selections each to the Southern Division team while Newport had three.

Exhibition: Team USA 5, Twisters 0
TORRINGTON, July 10 -- Team USA's Justin Verlander (Old Dominion) took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Marvin Lowrance's one-out single to left field as the U.S. national team prevailed before a crowd of 1,460. Team USA scored five runs in the first inning off Twister starter Matt Torra thanks to a three errors and several hits. Team USA improved to 14-0 against NECBL competition since 2000.

Twister pitcher Matt Brunnig can do something no other NECBL pitcher has ever done -- pitch with both arms and do it effectively. ."He is still free and easy throwing with both arms. If he ever switches sides during a game, it will certainly disturb the other bench," Twister coach Gregg Hunt said.

Twister debut was a record
NORTH ADAMS, June 7, 2003 -- The NECBL said 2,471 fans that saw Vermont play its debut contest was a record for a first-year team. Not so. Over 3,000 fans saw Torrington debut at Fuessenich Park on May 31, 1997 against Danbury. Other recent debut crowds included 2,347 in Keene (1998), 1,850 in Concord (2001), 2,042 in North Adams (2002) and  1,105 at Sanford (2002).

TORRINGTON, June 6, 2003 -- Fifteen players listened intently to Twister coach Gregg Hunt at practice less than 24 hours before the season-opening contest at North Adams.  "Last year we were always waiting for players," Hunt said. "This year we have competition for spots from day one." Seven players return from last year's team and a solid core of players have been brought in to fill out the roster.

First baseman Jim Fasano (Richmond), the Atlantic 10 player of the year, returns along with pitcher/infielder Jeff Hourigan (Clemson) and outfielder Brandon Roberts (Michigan). Jacksonville's Lawrence Best-Berfet, Logan catcher Emory Davies, Richmond's John Cronin and Woodbury pitcher Peter Maki of Franklin & Marshall also returned.

"This team looks real solid," Hunt said. "We're not banking on any one player to do it for us. It looks like we will have good depth. Some of the players had phenomenal springs."

WAPJ-FM (89.9), which has been broadcasting Twister games since the inception of the team, won't carry the team this summer. However, fans can listen to the Twisters over the internet at NECBL.com.


Twister pennants
2003: Southern Division champions
2001: National Division champions
1997: Regular season champions
1998: Regular season champions
Twisters 2003
Final record: 34-12
June 7: @ N. Adams, ppd. to July 7
June 8: Ex: Wareham 8, Twisters 1
June 9: Twisters 3, Manchester 1
June 10: Twisters 5, Danbury 4
June 11: @at W. Warwick, ppd. 7/8
June 12: Newport 4, Twisters 0 (6)
June 14: Twisters 6, Keene 5
June 15: Newport 3, Twisters 1
June 16: Willimantic 7, Twisters 1
June 17: Twisters 5, W. Warwick 0
June 19: Newport 5, Torrington 2
June 21: @Danbury, ppd. July 17
June 22: @Lowell, ppd. to Aug. 2
June 23: Twisters 10, Willimantic 2
June 24: Twisters 2, Willimantic 1
June 28: Twisters 1, North Adams 0
June 29: Sanford 3, Twisters 2 (15)
June 30: Twisters 4, Danbury 0
July 2: Twisters 4, West Warwickc 2
July 3: @Newport, rain, TBA
July 5: Twisters 6, Sanford 2
July 6: Manchester 14, Twisters 1
July 7: Twisters 2, North Adams 0
July 8: Twisters 7, W. Warwick 2 (7)
July 8: Torr. 16, W. Warwick 2  (7)
July 9: MIDDLETWN, ppd. July 12
July 10: EX: Team USA 5, Torr. 0
July 11: Twsters 2, Manchester 1
July 12: Twisters 7, Middletown 1
July 12: Twisters 1, Middletown 0
July 13: Twisters 9, Middletown 5
July 14: Twisters 6, Manchester 4
July 16: Twisters 6, Danbury 2
July 17: Danbury 4, Twisters 2
July 18: Concord 4, Twisters 0
July 19: Vermont 4, Twisters 3
July 20: Twisters 1, Keene 0
July 21: Twisters 7, Willimantic 5
July 22: DANBURY, ppd. Aug. 4
July 24: Twisters 4, Middletown 2
July 25: Twisters 9, Willimantic 5
July 26: Twisters 5, Vermont 0
July 28: Newport 12, Twisters 1
July 30: Twisters 1, Concord 0
July 31: Twisters 2, W. Warwick 1
Aug. 2: Twisters 4-3, Lowell 1-0
Aug. 4: DANBURY, cancelled
Aug. 4: @Newport, cancelled
Regular season record 30-10

Playoffs
Divisional semifinal
Aug. 6: Twisters 2, Middletown 1
Aug. 6: Twisters 2, Middletown 0
Division championship
Aug. 9: at Newport, ppd. rain
NECBL championship
Aug. 11: Keene 2, Twisters 0
Aug. 12: Keene 7, Twisters 1

NECBL playoffs
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Divisional semifinal, game 1
Middletown at Torrington, rain
Danbury 5, Newport 3
Sanford 3, North Adams 1
Concord at Keene, game suspended by rain in 8th with Keene leading 9-0
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Divisional semis, game 2
Torrington 2-2, Middletown 1-0
Newport 2, Danbury 1
Sanford 9, North Adams 0
keene 9-5, Concord 0-4
Thursday, Aug. 7
Game 3, if necessary
Newport 16, Danbury (7, rain)
Divisional finals
Friday, Aug. 8
Keene 12, Sanford 2
Torrington 2, Newport 0
Saturday, Aug. 9
Keene 7, Sanford 6
Torrington at Newport, ppd., rain
Sunday Aug. 10
Torrington 6, Newport 4
NECBL finals
Mon. Aug. 11
Keene 2, Torrington 0
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Keene 7, Torrington 1

2003 standings
Final regular season
Northern Division
Team          W-L    Pct.    GB
x-Sanford     28-13   .667
y-Keene       27-14   .659  1
y-Concord    20-20   .500   7.5
y-N. Adams   17-24   .415  11
Vermont       15-26   .366  13
Lowell          13-28   .317  15
Southern Division
Team          W-L    Pct.    GB
x-Torrington  30-10  .750
y-Newport     25-15  .625  5
y-Danbury     22-17  .564  7.5
y-Middletown 18-23 .439  12.5
W. Warwick   16-24  .400  14
Manchester  16-24   .400  14
Willimantic   16-25  .390  14.5
x-clinched division title
y-clinched playoff berth
Top 4 teams in each division qualify for the playoffs


By GERRY deSIMAS, JR.
Connecticut Sports Online
TORRINGTON -- Even with the best pitching staff in the team's history, the Twisters found that the path to a New England Collegiate Baseball League championship requires some offense, too.

In its two-game sweep of Middletown in the quarterfinals of the NECBL playoffs, the Twisters combined for 13 hits and four runs in the series but they allowed only one run. Torrington scored all four of its runs with two-out rallies, including a one-out single in the ninth from pinch hitter John Ingram to win game one.

Torrington eliminated two-time defending league champion Newport in the semifinals to earn its first return trip to the NECBL championship series since 1998. But Keene limited Torrington to only nine hits and rapped out eight runs and 14 hits to sweep the Twisters, 2-0 and 7-1 to capture the league title.
A third loss in three trips to the NECBL finals dampened a strong season for the Twisters but it can't hide a successful campaign.

Torrington (30-10) won 26 of its final 30 regular season games and claimed its fourth division title in seven years. The Twisters had the league's lowest ERA (2.18), hits allowed (298), runs allowed (113), earned runs allowed (84) and walks allowed (95).

"Pitching wise, this is the strongest staff we've ever had," Twister manager Gregg Hunt said. "The starting pitching has been outstanding."

Dennis Robinson (6-1, 1.60 ERA) won a team-record six straight decisions and led the team in strikeouts (62). Matt Torra (5-1, 1.37), Bobby Garza (5-1, 1.87), Ben Rowe (3-1, 1.54) and Jason Bolinski (3-2, 2.38) rounded out the starting rotation.

"There are so many of them. I have six starters that probably would've been our No. 1 most years," he said. "Our No. 1 starter at the end of last year (2002) isn't even pitching anymore (Jeff Hourigan). He has become a long reliever."

Hourigan still earned a spot in the NECBL All-Star Game, hitting .245 with 13 RBI as an outfielder.
Torrington had a team-record nine shutouts in the regular season and added two more in the playoffs.

"We knew right away this team would be something special," Hunt said. "One of the big things that has driven this team is the competition within the team. We have so many good players that you have to produce day after day to stay in the lineup."

The best example is Trinity College's Jeff Natale. Originally signed to be a temporary player to fill in until other players arrived, Natale got into the lineup and never left.

Natale led the NECBL in doubles (12) and led the Twisters in hitting (.322), slugging percentage (.483), walks (25) and on-base percentage (.492). He was second on the team with six stolen bases and struck out only 10 times.

"Jeff pushed everyone," Hunt said. "The players knew if they didn't come and do what they were supposed to do, they would be picking splinters out of their tails."

Natale earned a spot on the All-NECBL team as a DH, was named the NECBL's 10th player of the year and was a Southern Division All-Star. Shortstop Armand Gaerlan (.243, 9 doubles, 18 RBI) and Robinson were all named to the All-NECBL team while Torra earned a spot on the All-NECBL second team.

The signs were there from the beginning.

The Twisters won its home opener with five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to beat Danbury, 5-4. Torrington had four unearned runs and Chris Kelly had a solo home run in the eighth to win it.

On June 28, Torra struck out a team-record 15 batters and scattered five hits as the Twisters beat North Adams, 1-0.

Torrington tied a team record set back in 1997 with nine straight wins from July 7-16 before losing three in a row. But the Twisters got back on the winning track when Robinson allowed just five hits as the Twisters nipped Keene, 1-0 at Fuessenich Park on July 20. In the seventh, Chris Kelly doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a RBI single by Brian Cavanaugh. Torrington lost only one more regular season game.

"This team has played on an even keel all year. There have been no real ups or downs," Hunt said. "It has been a very business-like team. They've come to the park all year and done the job."

On July 30, Garza outdueled Concord pitcher Pat Dowling in a 1-0 Twister victory in Concord. Garza fanned 11 and scattered seven hits. Dowling allowed only six hits. But Lawrence Best-Berfet led off the game with a ground-rule double over the left field wall, took third on a passed ball and scored on a groundout by Garelan.

"We play like it is another day at the park," Gaerlan said. "We always expect to play our best each night. We've learned to stay with it."

Timely hitting continued in the playoffs. Ingram's one-out single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Twisters past Middletown in game one of the quarterfinals, 2-1. A two-out single from Brian Cavanaugh in the fifth lifted Torrington past Newport, 2-0, in game one of the semifinals.

"(Timely hitting) is something that comes from being confident and pitching helps that," Hunt said. "Great pitching takes a lot of pressure off the hitters."

However, in the finals, pitching wasn't enough. The Swamp Bats managed two runs off Robinson in a 2-0 victory in game one. He struck out nine but three walks came back to haunt him. In game two, the Twisters had only four hits while the Bats stormed the castle with 14 hits off Garza.

It was a great season but it just didn't have the ending that the Twisters ordered.
Superb pitching carried Twisters to brink of NECBL title
'03 highlights
Torrington tied a team record with nine straight wins.

Set a new team record with 9 shutouts in the regular season with 2 more in the postseason.

The Twister pitching staff had the league's lowest ERA (2.18), hits allowed (298), runs allowed (113), earned runs allowed (84) and walked allowed 95.

The Twisters .... .
-- won the Southern Division title.
-- earned a spot in the finals for the third time in team history.
-- posted the best winning percentage in a single season (30-10. 750).
-- beat Newport, 2-0, in semifinals on Aug. 8 with two-RBI single from Brian Cavanaugh.
-- beat Middletown, 2-1, in quarterfinals on Aug. 6 on pinch-hit single from John Ingram in the bottom of the ninth.
-- In the bullpen, John Cronin had 8 saves while Randy Newsom had 4. Lefthander Peter Maki allowed just two earned runs in 14 innings.
-- First baseman Jim Fasano led the team in RBI (22).
-- Chris Kelly led the team in HR (3).
-- Lawrence Best-Berfet arrived in late June but still led the team with 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts.
-- The Twisters had one of the best double play combinations in the league with 2B Zak Farkas and SS Armand Gaerlan.