TORRINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Woodbury's Peter Maki doesn't do a lot of talking in the Torrington Twister dugout. A mid-season addition from Franklin and Marshall, the 6-foot-2 lefthander has grown in the few weeks he has worn the orange and black of the Twisters. Maki earned his first NECBL victory pitching six innings of shutout ball, allowing only one hit and striking out six as Torrington captured its regular season finale with a 4-1 win over Lowell at Fuessenich Park. Third baseman Lou Ferrell, one of the few players left on the roster from opening day, had an outstanding evening with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a two-RBI triple. He also had the defensive play of the game, barehanding a bunt attempt from Lowell's Adam McCusker that died in the infield grass and gunning him out. Lowell (24-18) 000 000 010 -- 1-3-0 Torrington (22-20) 002 200 00x -- 4-5-0 Jon White, Jeff Swodberg (5), Michael Frost (7) and Tim Lahey; Peter Maki, Tyler Dabo (7), Dave Mischo (8), Ladd Hall (9) and Emory Davies; WP: Maki (1-1); LP: White (1-1); Save: Hall (T) 6; 2B: Drew Locke (L); Davies (T); 3B: Lou Ferrell (T) Game 41: North Adams 10, Twisters 6 NORTH ADAMS, Mass., July 31 -- The Twisters rapped out 13 hits but stranded 12 as North Adams handed slumping Torrington its fifth loss in the last six games. Torrington (21-20) led 4-2 after four innings but surrended eight unanswered runs. Jeff Hourigan was 3-for-5 while Lou Ferrell had a single and three RBI. North Adams' Chris Homer made NECBL history with his record-breaking 13th save. Torrington, which will finish third in the NECBL's Western Division, will be either a No. 7 or No. 8 seed when the playoffs begin on Saturday. The No. 1 seed is Keene and the No. 2 seed will be either Newport or Danbury. Torrington 020 200 002 -- 6-13-4 North Adams 001 150 03x -- 10-11-2 Joseph Shortt, John Cronin (7) and Emory Davies; Robert Martinez, Mike Ekstrom (6), Chris Homer (9) and Nick Roberts; WP: Martinez (2-5); LP: Shortt (2-2); Save: Homer (13); 2B: Ladd Hall (T), Emory Davies (T), Seth Pietsch (NA), Bobby Wilson (NA) 2; Nick Roberts (NA); Att. 823 Keene sets new win record KEENE, N.H., July 31 -- The Swamp Bats set a new single-season record for most wins with a 5-3 win over Lowell Wednesday. Keene finished the season with a record of 31-11, topping by one game the record set by Torrington in 1998 of 30-12. For the second straight year, Keene atttraced over 40,000 fans. Game 40: Manchester 5, Twisters 4 (10) MANCHESTER, July 30 -- Ouch! With North Adams throttling Danbury, the Twisters had a chance to gain ground on the Western Division leading Westerners but Torrington blew a three-run, eighth inning lead in a 5-4 loss to Manchester in 10 innings. The Twisters (21-19) lost for the fourth time in the last five games and fell a game behind North Adams (22-18) in the race for second place in the division. The Twisters could be seeded anywhere from fifth to eighth. Jim Fasano had a single and double for the Twisters, who stranded 15 runners on base. Torrington loaded the bases in the ninth with one out but Wick Udy struck out and Garrick Evans fouled out to first base. Twister starter Tim Rice allowed one run and three hits over seven innings. Twister reliever Tyler Dabo gave up four hits and three runs in the eighth, including three straight hits at point capped off by a Brian Newbold triple. Manchester loaded the bases in the 10th on two hits and an error before Zack Green's single won the game. Torrington 200 000 020 0 -- 4-10-2 Manchester 000 000 130 1 -- 5-11-1 Tim Rice, Tyler Dabo (8), Ladd Hall (9) and Wick Udy, Emory Davies (10); Daniel Davidson, Justin Bissonnette (8) and Eric Cavers; WP: Bissonnette (3-3), LP: Hall (1-1); 2B: Garrick Evans (T), Jim Fasano (T), Zack Green (M); 3B: Brian Newbold (M); Att. 604 Game 39: Danbury 10, Twisters 1 DANBURY, July 29 -- Any hopes of catching Danbury for the NECBL's Western Division championship took a big hit Monday night when the Westerners scored 10 unanswered runs in a dominating 10-1 decision over the Twisters (21-16). Danbury pitcher Mike Kelly allowed only three hits and fanned 12 as the Westerners (23-15) reduced its magic number to clinch the title to two games. Emory Davies hit a solo home run for the Twisters, who have three games remaining. Torrington 001 000 000 -- 1 3 4 Danbury 002 223 01x -- 10 9 1 Jason Jones, Peter Maki (6) Joseph Shortt (8) and Emory Davies. Mike Kelley, Scott Koffman (8) and Ron Braun. 2B: Brown (D); HR: Davies (T), Kyle Brown (D). Records: T 21-18; D 23-15. Rice is player of the week TORRINGTON, July 29 -- Twister hurler Tim Rice earned NECBL pitcher of the week honors for throwing a no-hitter last week against Manchester. Rice struck out 10 and allowed only one ball out of the infield in the seven-inning win over the Silkworms. Sometimes, if you listen hard enough, old baseball cards are like seashells. The rush of summer runs hand-in-hand with batting averages and bleacher seats. Shoestring catches and walk-off home runs are wrapped in rubber bands and saved in a shoebox, almost like a time capsule from childhood. It's no different for Moe Morhardt, manager of the Danbury Westerners. Read the profile written by Brian Koonz of the Danbury News TImes. Game 38: Twisters 7, West Warwick 1 TORRINGTON, July 27 -- The Twisters (21-17) clinched a playoff berth for the fourth time in its six-year history with a 7-1 win over West Warwick at Fuessenich Park. Hurler Jeff Hourigan (3-1) earned the win by scattering four hits in six innings and striking out seven. Six of the seven runs for the Twisters were unearned as the Royals committed six errors. Jim Fasano led the Twisters offensively going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Riverpoint 000 010 000 -- 1-7-6 Torrington 022 300 00x -- 7-10-1 Phillip Davidson, Sodre (8) and Cameron Mitchell; Jeff Hourigan, Tyler Dabo (7) , Ladd Hall (8) and Wick Udy; WP: Hourigan (3-1); LP: Davidson; 3B: Lou Ferrell (T); Att.: 2301 Game 37: Concord 5, Twisters 2 CONCORD, N.H., July 26 -- The Quarry Dogs clinched their first-ever playoff berth with a win over the Twisters. Aaron Bulkley had one hit and three RBI for Concord (22-17) while pitcher Pat Dowling pitched seven strong innings, striking out six. Mike Sokol was 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Twisters, which also received doubles from Wick Udy and Lou Ferrell. The Twisters can clinch a playoff berth with a win tonight at home against West Warwick. Torrington (20-16) 000 000 200 -- 2-5-1 Concord (22-17) 100 200 02x -- 5-6-0 Joseph Shortt, John Cronin (6) and Wick Udy; Patrick Dowling, Andy Weimer (8) and Matt Gowan; WP: Dowling (4-2); LP: Shortt (2-1); Udy (T), Mike Sokol (T), Lou Ferrell (T); Att: 2035 Game 36: Keene 10, Twisters 0 KEENE, N.H., July 26 -- The Swamp Bats clinched a second straight NECBL division championship with a dominating win over Torrington. The Bats (27-9) rapped Twister starter Dave Mischo of Stonybrook College in his NECBL debut for all 10 runs on 11 hits. Rocky Baker hit his third home run of the season in the first inning for Keene while Andy LaRoche added a three-run homer in the fourth. Keene hurler Greg Kloosterman allowed just four hits and fanned 10. Garrick Evans led Torrington with two hits. The win also clinches home field for Keene, which set a franchise record with its 27th win. With five games left in the season, Keene is 3 wins shy of the NECBL's single-season record for wins set by Torrington in 1998 when they were 30-12. Torrington (20-16) 000 000 000 -- 0-5-2 Keene (27-9) 241 300 00x -- 10-13-0 Dave Mischo, Peter Maki (4) and Emory Davies; Greg Kloosterman, David Pringle (9) and John Poppert; WP: Kloosterman (1-1); LP: Mischo (0-1); 2B: Kevin Melillo (K); HR: Rocky Baker (K), Andy LaRoche (K); Att. 805 TORRINGTON, July 25 -- Jim Fasano's RBI double in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Twisters to an improbable win over the Steeple Cats at Fuessenich Park. The Twisters (20-15) rallied for two runs with 2 outs in the 13th to move within a half game of Danbury in the NECBL's Western Division. Starter Shane Kelley, reliever Tyler Dabo and closer Ladd Hall combined to strike out a team-record 19 batters. Kelley gave up two runs and four hits in the first inning but rebounded to strike out 10 Steeple Cats and limit them to only three hits over the next six innings. He retired 12 of 13 batters in one stretch. North Adams took a 3-2 lead in the 13th on a bases-loaded walk but the Twisters rallied with two outs off closer Chris Homer. Mike Sokol doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Lee Lipschutz. Jeff Hourigan's fly ball to left field was dropped, allowing Lipschutz to score. Hourigan scored on a double by Jim Fasano for the win. North Adams (19-16) 200 000 000 000 1 -- 3-7-3 Torrington (20-15) 001 001 000 000 2 -- 4-7-0 Jeff Sues, Eckstrom (8), Jeff Homer (13) and Nick Roberts, Bobby Wilson (13); Shane Kelley, Tyler Dabo (8), Ladd Hall (11) and Wick Udy, Steve Selph (13); WP: Hall (1-0), LP: Homer (1-1); 2B: Bryan Wilson (NA), Mike Sokol (T), Jim Fasano (T), Roberto Valiente (T); 3B: Wilson (NA); Att.: 1406. Connecticut Sports Online, July 25: Pitching keeps Twisters alive until 13th when they win in dramatic fashion Gm 33 & 34: Twisters 2-1, Silkworms 0-0 MANCHESTER, July 24 -- The Twisters' Tim Rice made his first NECBL victory one to remember. The Brookfield, Conn., resident struck out 10 as he threw the second no-hitter in Twister history with a 1-0 win over Manchester Wednesday night. Rice (1-2, 3.03 ERA) walked four batters in his seven-inning performance in game 2 of a doubleheader at Northwest Park. The 6-foot-2 lefthander allowed only one ball out of in the infield. It was the first no-hitter in the NECBL since 2000. The Twisters pushed across its lone run in the second inning. Jim Fasano singled and moved to third base on Roberto Valiente's single. Fasano scored on Blake Rutkowski's two-out RBI single. In game one, the Twisters shutout the Silkworms, 2-0, behind a complete-game effort from Jason Jones, who allowed only five hits and struck out eight in seven innings. A Mike Sokol RBI single in the first inning and a Jim Fasano RBI single in the third gave Jones (3-3) enough to work with. Justin Parker had the first Twister no-hitter against Middletown on July 16, 2000. Parker walked a team-record nine batters in that nine-inning performance. Rice was 5-0 in 19 appearances with 53 strikeouts in 54 2/3 rd innings for Richmond this past spring. Game 1 Manchester (12-22) 000 000 0 0-5-0 Torrington (18-15) 101 000 0 2-8-0 Jason Jones and Wick Udy; C.J. Giampaolo and Asa Gruenwald; WP: Jones (3-3); LP: Giampoalo (2-2); 2B: Ben Ingold (M), Brian Nubold (M) Game 2 Torrington (19-15) 010 000 0 1-5-0 Manchester (12-23) 000 000 0 0-0-0 Tim Rice and Emory Davies; Daniel Davidson and Eric Cavers; WP: Rice (1-2); LP: Davidson (2-3). Att. 493 Rain costs Twisters a home game TORRINGTON, July 23 -- The rain cost the Twisters a home game Tuesday night. Thunderstorms washed out the scheduled home game with Manchester. The game will be made up Wednesday, July 24 as part of a doubleheader at Northwest Park, beginning at 5 p.m. WILLIMANTIC, July 20 -- Twister catcher Wick Udy started for the winning National Division team in Saturday's NECBL All-Star game in Willimantic. Udy played five innings, going 0-for-1 at the plate with a walk. He caught five different pitchers in five innings, including Twister closer Ladd Hall (0-0, 0.53 ERA, 6 saves). Hall pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out one. Twister starter Jason Jones also pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout for the National Division, which beat the Americans, 4-3. 3 Twisters invited to All-Star Game Three Twisters were named to the National Division All-Star team for Saturday's NECBL All-Star Game in Willimantic. Catcher Wick Udy and pitchers Jason Jones and Ladd Hall earned All-Star invitations. The distinctiveness of Twister catcher Wick Udy goes beyond his unique name. Like his teammates, Udy is chasing a possible career in professional baseball. But he is also playing for the future of his family. His wife, Kassi, is home in Utah six months pregnant with their first child, a little girl, due in October. The perspective gained during a two-year Mormon mission in Detroit from 1998-2000 has helped his baseball career, he said. |
Connecticut teams |
Twisters 2002 Wk. 1: June 8-15 (games 1-4) Wk. 2: June 16-22 (games 5-10) (games 11-16) (games 17-21) (games 22-27) (games 28-31) (games 32-38) Wk. 8: July 28-31 Playoffs 2002 NECBL finals |
Twisters 2002 results Current record: 22-20 Playoffs [NECBL quarterfinals] Aug. 3: vs. Keene at Brattleboro Aug. 4: vs. Keene at Waterbury Aug. 5: vs. Keene at Brattleboro Regular season (22-20) July 31: No. Adams 10, Twisters 6 July 30: Manch. 5, Twisters 4 (10) July 29: Danbury 10, Twisters 1 July 27: Twisters 7, W. Warwick 1 July 26: Concord 5, Twisters 2 July 26: Keene 10, Twisters 0 July 24: Twisters 2-1, Manch. 0-0 July 23: vs. Manchester, ppd., rain to July 24 at Manchester July 19: at Keene, ppd. to July 26, 1 p.m. July 18: Twisters 4, Willimantic 2 July 17: Twisters 6-0, Danbury 3-2 July 14: Twisters 4, Sanford 3 (10) July 13; Concord 6, Twisters 4 July 11: Twisters 4, Middletown 2 July 10: W. Warwick 5, Twisters 4 July 9: vs. Middletown, ppd. , rain, July 12, 5 p.m. July 7: Twisters 6, W. Warwick 0 July 4: Twisters 8, Lowell 5 July 3: Newport 8, Twisters 5 June 30: Danbury 4, Twisters 3 June 29: Twisters 9, No. Adams 6 June 26: at Danbury, ppd, July 17 June 25: Twisters 4, Danbury 3 June 24: Twisters 6, No. Adams 2 June 23: Twisters 5, Newport 3 June 22: Lowell 3, Twisters 1 June 20: Twisters 7, Willimantic 6 June 19: Twisters 4, Willimantic 2 (11) June 16: Keene 5, Twisters 3 June 15: Lowell, ppd. to August 1 June 14: Sanford 7, Twisters 5 June 12: at N. Adams, ppd. June 24 June 11: Twisters 7, Danbury 1 June 8: Twisters 2, N. Adams 0 Exhibition games July 5: Team USA 21, Twisters 2 June 17: Twisters 3, Keene 0 (7) at Cooperstown June 9: Wareham 3, Twisters 2 Click on the link for extended game coverage from Connecticut Sports Online NECBL 2002 standings Final regular season standings Western Division Team Rec. GB x-Danbury 25-16 --- y-North Adams 23-18 2.5 y-Torrington 22-20 3.5 Manchester 16-26 9.5 Central Division Team Rec. GB x-Newport 25-17 --- y-Middletown 23-19 2 West Warwick 13-29 12 Willimantic 10-32 15 Northern Division Team Rec. GB x-Keene 31-11 --- y-Concord 24-17 6.5 y-Lowell 24-18 7 Sanford 15-26 15 x-clinched division title y-clinched playoff berth Top two teams in each division plus two wild card teams with the next best two records qualify for the NECBL playoffs. Sunday, July 28 Middletown 8, Lowell 2 Danbury 6, Sanford 1 Newport 4, Keene 3 (8) Keene 13, Newport 7 Lowell 7, West Warwick 0 Manchester at No. Adams, ppd. to Monday, rain Monday, July 29 Danbury 10, Torrington 1 Concord 5, West Warwick 2 Newport 5, Lowell 4 Middletown 8, Willimantic 3 Manchester 4, North Adams 2 Tuesday, July 30 Manchester 5, Torrington 4 (10) North Adams 11, Danbury 1 Lowell 11, Sanford 0 West Warwick 5, Middletown 2 Newport 6-3, Willimantic 1-1 Wednesday, July 31 North Adams 10, Torrington 6 Danbury 7, Manchester 5 Newport 8, Middletown 2 West Warwick 4-5, Willimantic 1-4 Keene 7, Lowell 5 Thursday, Aug. 1 Concord 8, Sanford 0 Middletown 8, Newport 7 Danbury 3, North Adams 1 Torrington 4, Lowell 1 Friday, Aug. 2 Concord at Danbury, canc., rain (End regular season) 2002 playoff schedule All series are best-of-3. Division winners will be top 3 seeds , based on winning percentage. Top 4 seed will be top second-place team. Remaining teams will be seeded by winning percentage. 1. Keene. 2. Danbury; 3. Newport; 4. Concord, 5. Lowell ; 6. North Adams, 7. Middletown, 8. Torrington 1st round Game 1: Sat. Aug. 3 Torrington vs. Keene at Brattleboro, Vt. Middletown at Danbury North Adams at Newport Lowell at Concord Game 2: Sun, Aug. 4 Keene vs. Torrington at Waterbury Danbury at Middletown Newport at North Adams Concord at Lowell Game 3: Mon, Aug. 5 Torrington vs. Keene at Brattleboro, Vt. Middletown at Danbury North Adams at Newport Lowell at Concord NECBL semifinals Game 1: Tues. Aug. 6 Game 2: Wed. Aug. 7 Game 3: Thurs. Aug. 8 NECBL finals Game 1: Fri. Aug. 9 Game 2: Sat. Aug. 10 Game 3: Sun. Aug. 11 NOTE: The Connecticut American Legion state tournament will be held in Torrington from Aug. 3-10 and in Bristol from Aug. 3-6.. Twisters 2001 National Division champions |
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An assortment of stories and links to the top sports news in Connecticut and the nation. |
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Twisters 2002 results Current record: 22-20 Playoffs [NECBL quarterfinals] Aug. 3: vs. Keene at Brattleboro Aug. 4: vs. Keene at Waterbury Aug. 5: vs. Keene at Brattleboro Regular season (22-20) July 31: No. Adams 10, Twisters 6 July 30: Manch. 5, Twisters 4 (10) July 29: Danbury 10, Twisters 1 July 27: Twisters 7, W. Warwick 1 July 26: Concord 5, Twisters 2 July 26: Keene 10, Twisters 0 July 24: Twisters 2-1, Manch. 0-0 July 23: vs. Manchester, ppd., rain to July 24 at Manchester July 19: at Keene, ppd. to July 26, 1 p.m. July 18: Twisters 4, Willimantic 2 July 17: Twisters 6-0, Danbury 3-2 July 14: Twisters 4, Sanford 3 (10) July 13; Concord 6, Twisters 4 July 11: Twisters 4, Middletown 2 July 10: W. Warwick 5, Twisters 4 July 9: vs. Middletown, ppd. , rain, July 12, 5 p.m. July 7: Twisters 6, W. Warwick 0 July 4: Twisters 8, Lowell 5 July 3: Newport 8, Twisters 5 June 30: Danbury 4, Twisters 3 June 29: Twisters 9, No. Adams 6 June 26: at Danbury, ppd, July 17 June 25: Twisters 4, Danbury 3 June 24: Twisters 6, No. Adams 2 June 23: Twisters 5, Newport 3 June 22: Lowell 3, Twisters 1 June 20: Twisters 7, Willimantic 6 June 19: Twisters 4, Willimantic 2 (11) June 16: Keene 5, Twisters 3 June 15: Lowell, ppd. to August 1 June 14: Sanford 7, Twisters 5 June 12: at N. Adams, ppd. June 24 June 11: Twisters 7, Danbury 1 June 8: Twisters 2, N. Adams 0 Exhibition games July 5: Team USA 21, Twisters 2 June 17: Twisters 3, Keene 0 (7) at Cooperstown June 9: Wareham 3, Twisters 2 Click on the link for extended game coverage from Connecticut Sports Online NECBL 2002 standings Final regular season standings Western Division Team Rec. GB x-Danbury 25-16 --- y-North Adams 23-18 2.5 y-Torrington 22-20 3.5 Manchester 16-26 9.5 Central Division Team Rec. GB x-Newport 25-17 --- y-Middletown 23-19 2 West Warwick 13-29 12 Willimantic 10-32 15 Northern Division Team Rec. GB x-Keene 31-11 --- y-Concord 24-17 6.5 y-Lowell 24-18 7 Sanford 15-26 15 x-clinched division title y-clinched playoff berth Top two teams in each division plus two wild card teams with the next best two records qualify for the NECBL playoffs. Sunday, July 28 Middletown 8, Lowell 2 Danbury 6, Sanford 1 Newport 4, Keene 3 (8) Keene 13, Newport 7 Lowell 7, West Warwick 0 Manchester at No. Adams, ppd. to Monday, rain Monday, July 29 Danbury 10, Torrington 1 Concord 5, West Warwick 2 Newport 5, Lowell 4 Middletown 8, Willimantic 3 Manchester 4, North Adams 2 Tuesday, July 30 Manchester 5, Torrington 4 (10) North Adams 11, Danbury 1 Lowell 11, Sanford 0 West Warwick 5, Middletown 2 Newport 6-3, Willimantic 1-1 Wednesday, July 31 North Adams 10, Torrington 6 Danbury 7, Manchester 5 Newport 8, Middletown 2 West Warwick 4-5, Willimantic 1-4 Keene 7, Lowell 5 Thursday, Aug. 1 Concord 8, Sanford 0 Middletown 8, Newport 7 Danbury 3, North Adams 1 Torrington 4, Lowell 1 Friday, Aug. 2 Concord at Danbury, canc., rain (End regular season) 2002 playoff schedule All series are best-of-3. Division winners will be top 3 seeds , based on winning percentage. Top 4 seed will be top second-place team. Remaining teams will be seeded by winning percentage. 1. Keene. 2. Danbury; 3. Newport; 4. Concord, 5. Lowell ; 6. North Adams, 7. Middletown, 8. Torrington 1st round Game 1: Sat. Aug. 3 Torrington vs. Keene at Brattleboro, Vt. Middletown at Danbury North Adams at Newport Lowell at Concord Game 2: Sun, Aug. 4 Keene vs. Torrington at Waterbury Danbury at Middletown Newport at North Adams Concord at Lowell Game 3: Mon, Aug. 5 Torrington vs. Keene at Brattleboro, Vt. Middletown at Danbury North Adams at Newport Lowell at Concord NECBL semifinals Game 1: Tues. Aug. 6 Game 2: Wed. Aug. 7 Game 3: Thurs. Aug. 8 NECBL finals Game 1: Fri. Aug. 9 Game 2: Sat. Aug. 10 Game 3: Sun. Aug. 11 NOTE: The Connecticut American Legion state tournament will be held in Torrington from Aug. 3-10 and in Bristol from Aug. 3-6.. Twisters 2001 National Division champions |
Twisters 2002 results, NECBL news |
This page was last updated on: August 4, 2002
Twisters 2002 Wk. 1: June 8-15 (games 1-4) Wk. 2: June 16-22 (games 5-10) (games 11-16) (games 17-21) (games 22-27) (games 28-31) (games 32-38) Wk. 8: July 28-31 Playoffs 2002 NECBL finals |
Connecticut teams |
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TORRINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Woodbury's Peter Maki doesn't do a lot of talking in the Torrington Twister dugout. A mid-season addition from Franklin and Marshall, the 6-foot-2 lefthander has grown in the few weeks he has worn the orange and black of the Twisters. Maki earned his first NECBL victory pitching six innings of shutout ball, allowing only one hit and striking out six as Torrington captured its regular season finale with a 4-1 win over Lowell at Fuessenich Park. Third baseman Lou Ferrell, one of the few players left on the roster from opening day, had an outstanding evening with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a two-RBI triple. He also had the defensive play of the game, barehanding a bunt attempt from Lowell's Adam McCusker that died in the infield grass and gunning him out. Lowell (24-18) 000 000 010 -- 1-3-0 Torrington (22-20) 002 200 00x -- 4-5-0 Jon White, Jeff Swodberg (5), Michael Frost (7) and Tim Lahey; Peter Maki, Tyler Dabo (7), Dave Mischo (8), Ladd Hall (9) and Emory Davies; WP: Maki (1-1); LP: White (1-1); Save: Hall (T) 6; 2B: Drew Locke (L); Davies (T); 3B: Lou Ferrell (T) Game 41: North Adams 10, Twisters 6 NORTH ADAMS, Mass., July 31 -- The Twisters rapped out 13 hits but stranded 12 as North Adams handed slumping Torrington its fifth loss in the last six games. Torrington (21-20) led 4-2 after four innings but surrended eight unanswered runs. Jeff Hourigan was 3-for-5 while Lou Ferrell had a single and three RBI. North Adams' Chris Homer made NECBL history with his record-breaking 13th save. Torrington, which will finish third in the NECBL's Western Division, will be either a No. 7 or No. 8 seed when the playoffs begin on Saturday. The No. 1 seed is Keene and the No. 2 seed will be either Newport or Danbury. Torrington 020 200 002 -- 6-13-4 North Adams 001 150 03x -- 10-11-2 Joseph Shortt, John Cronin (7) and Emory Davies; Robert Martinez, Mike Ekstrom (6), Chris Homer (9) and Nick Roberts; WP: Martinez (2-5); LP: Shortt (2-2); Save: Homer (13); 2B: Ladd Hall (T), Emory Davies (T), Seth Pietsch (NA), Bobby Wilson (NA) 2; Nick Roberts (NA); Att. 823 Keene sets new win record KEENE, N.H., July 31 -- The Swamp Bats set a new single-season record for most wins with a 5-3 win over Lowell Wednesday. Keene finished the season with a record of 31-11, topping by one game the record set by Torrington in 1998 of 30-12. For the second straight year, Keene atttraced over 40,000 fans. Game 40: Manchester 5, Twisters 4 (10) MANCHESTER, July 30 -- Ouch! With North Adams throttling Danbury, the Twisters had a chance to gain ground on the Western Division leading Westerners but Torrington blew a three-run, eighth inning lead in a 5-4 loss to Manchester in 10 innings. The Twisters (21-19) lost for the fourth time in the last five games and fell a game behind North Adams (22-18) in the race for second place in the division. The Twisters could be seeded anywhere from fifth to eighth. Jim Fasano had a single and double for the Twisters, who stranded 15 runners on base. Torrington loaded the bases in the ninth with one out but Wick Udy struck out and Garrick Evans fouled out to first base. Twister starter Tim Rice allowed one run and three hits over seven innings. Twister reliever Tyler Dabo gave up four hits and three runs in the eighth, including three straight hits at point capped off by a Brian Newbold triple. Manchester loaded the bases in the 10th on two hits and an error before Zack Green's single won the game. Torrington 200 000 020 0 -- 4-10-2 Manchester 000 000 130 1 -- 5-11-1 Tim Rice, Tyler Dabo (8), Ladd Hall (9) and Wick Udy, Emory Davies (10); Daniel Davidson, Justin Bissonnette (8) and Eric Cavers; WP: Bissonnette (3-3), LP: Hall (1-1); 2B: Garrick Evans (T), Jim Fasano (T), Zack Green (M); 3B: Brian Newbold (M); Att. 604 Game 39: Danbury 10, Twisters 1 DANBURY, July 29 -- Any hopes of catching Danbury for the NECBL's Western Division championship took a big hit Monday night when the Westerners scored 10 unanswered runs in a dominating 10-1 decision over the Twisters (21-16). Danbury pitcher Mike Kelly allowed only three hits and fanned 12 as the Westerners (23-15) reduced its magic number to clinch the title to two games. Emory Davies hit a solo home run for the Twisters, who have three games remaining. Torrington 001 000 000 -- 1 3 4 Danbury 002 223 01x -- 10 9 1 Jason Jones, Peter Maki (6) Joseph Shortt (8) and Emory Davies. Mike Kelley, Scott Koffman (8) and Ron Braun. 2B: Brown (D); HR: Davies (T), Kyle Brown (D). Records: T 21-18; D 23-15. Rice is player of the week TORRINGTON, July 29 -- Twister hurler Tim Rice earned NECBL pitcher of the week honors for throwing a no-hitter last week against Manchester. Rice struck out 10 and allowed only one ball out of the infield in the seven-inning win over the Silkworms. Sometimes, if you listen hard enough, old baseball cards are like seashells. The rush of summer runs hand-in-hand with batting averages and bleacher seats. Shoestring catches and walk-off home runs are wrapped in rubber bands and saved in a shoebox, almost like a time capsule from childhood. It's no different for Moe Morhardt, manager of the Danbury Westerners. Read the profile written by Brian Koonz of the Danbury News TImes. Game 38: Twisters 7, West Warwick 1 TORRINGTON, July 27 -- The Twisters (21-17) clinched a playoff berth for the fourth time in its six-year history with a 7-1 win over West Warwick at Fuessenich Park. Hurler Jeff Hourigan (3-1) earned the win by scattering four hits in six innings and striking out seven. Six of the seven runs for the Twisters were unearned as the Royals committed six errors. Jim Fasano led the Twisters offensively going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Riverpoint 000 010 000 -- 1-7-6 Torrington 022 300 00x -- 7-10-1 Phillip Davidson, Sodre (8) and Cameron Mitchell; Jeff Hourigan, Tyler Dabo (7) , Ladd Hall (8) and Wick Udy; WP: Hourigan (3-1); LP: Davidson; 3B: Lou Ferrell (T); Att.: 2301 Game 37: Concord 5, Twisters 2 CONCORD, N.H., July 26 -- The Quarry Dogs clinched their first-ever playoff berth with a win over the Twisters. Aaron Bulkley had one hit and three RBI for Concord (22-17) while pitcher Pat Dowling pitched seven strong innings, striking out six. Mike Sokol was 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Twisters, which also received doubles from Wick Udy and Lou Ferrell. The Twisters can clinch a playoff berth with a win tonight at home against West Warwick. Torrington (20-16) 000 000 200 -- 2-5-1 Concord (22-17) 100 200 02x -- 5-6-0 Joseph Shortt, John Cronin (6) and Wick Udy; Patrick Dowling, Andy Weimer (8) and Matt Gowan; WP: Dowling (4-2); LP: Shortt (2-1); Udy (T), Mike Sokol (T), Lou Ferrell (T); Att: 2035 Game 36: Keene 10, Twisters 0 KEENE, N.H., July 26 -- The Swamp Bats clinched a second straight NECBL division championship with a dominating win over Torrington. The Bats (27-9) rapped Twister starter Dave Mischo of Stonybrook College in his NECBL debut for all 10 runs on 11 hits. Rocky Baker hit his third home run of the season in the first inning for Keene while Andy LaRoche added a three-run homer in the fourth. Keene hurler Greg Kloosterman allowed just four hits and fanned 10. Garrick Evans led Torrington with two hits. The win also clinches home field for Keene, which set a franchise record with its 27th win. With five games left in the season, Keene is 3 wins shy of the NECBL's single-season record for wins set by Torrington in 1998 when they were 30-12. Torrington (20-16) 000 000 000 -- 0-5-2 Keene (27-9) 241 300 00x -- 10-13-0 Dave Mischo, Peter Maki (4) and Emory Davies; Greg Kloosterman, David Pringle (9) and John Poppert; WP: Kloosterman (1-1); LP: Mischo (0-1); 2B: Kevin Melillo (K); HR: Rocky Baker (K), Andy LaRoche (K); Att. 805 TORRINGTON, July 25 -- Jim Fasano's RBI double in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Twisters to an improbable win over the Steeple Cats at Fuessenich Park. The Twisters (20-15) rallied for two runs with 2 outs in the 13th to move within a half game of Danbury in the NECBL's Western Division. Starter Shane Kelley, reliever Tyler Dabo and closer Ladd Hall combined to strike out a team-record 19 batters. Kelley gave up two runs and four hits in the first inning but rebounded to strike out 10 Steeple Cats and limit them to only three hits over the next six innings. He retired 12 of 13 batters in one stretch. North Adams took a 3-2 lead in the 13th on a bases-loaded walk but the Twisters rallied with two outs off closer Chris Homer. Mike Sokol doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Lee Lipschutz. Jeff Hourigan's fly ball to left field was dropped, allowing Lipschutz to score. Hourigan scored on a double by Jim Fasano for the win. North Adams (19-16) 200 000 000 000 1 -- 3-7-3 Torrington (20-15) 001 001 000 000 2 -- 4-7-0 Jeff Sues, Eckstrom (8), Jeff Homer (13) and Nick Roberts, Bobby Wilson (13); Shane Kelley, Tyler Dabo (8), Ladd Hall (11) and Wick Udy, Steve Selph (13); WP: Hall (1-0), LP: Homer (1-1); 2B: Bryan Wilson (NA), Mike Sokol (T), Jim Fasano (T), Roberto Valiente (T); 3B: Wilson (NA); Att.: 1406. Connecticut Sports Online, July 25: Pitching keeps Twisters alive until 13th when they win in dramatic fashion Gm 33 & 34: Twisters 2-1, Silkworms 0-0 MANCHESTER, July 24 -- The Twisters' Tim Rice made his first NECBL victory one to remember. The Brookfield, Conn., resident struck out 10 as he threw the second no-hitter in Twister history with a 1-0 win over Manchester Wednesday night. Rice (1-2, 3.03 ERA) walked four batters in his seven-inning performance in game 2 of a doubleheader at Northwest Park. The 6-foot-2 lefthander allowed only one ball out of in the infield. It was the first no-hitter in the NECBL since 2000. The Twisters pushed across its lone run in the second inning. Jim Fasano singled and moved to third base on Roberto Valiente's single. Fasano scored on Blake Rutkowski's two-out RBI single. In game one, the Twisters shutout the Silkworms, 2-0, behind a complete-game effort from Jason Jones, who allowed only five hits and struck out eight in seven innings. A Mike Sokol RBI single in the first inning and a Jim Fasano RBI single in the third gave Jones (3-3) enough to work with. Justin Parker had the first Twister no-hitter against Middletown on July 16, 2000. Parker walked a team-record nine batters in that nine-inning performance. Rice was 5-0 in 19 appearances with 53 strikeouts in 54 2/3 rd innings for Richmond this past spring. Game 1 Manchester (12-22) 000 000 0 0-5-0 Torrington (18-15) 101 000 0 2-8-0 Jason Jones and Wick Udy; C.J. Giampaolo and Asa Gruenwald; WP: Jones (3-3); LP: Giampoalo (2-2); 2B: Ben Ingold (M), Brian Nubold (M) Game 2 Torrington (19-15) 010 000 0 1-5-0 Manchester (12-23) 000 000 0 0-0-0 Tim Rice and Emory Davies; Daniel Davidson and Eric Cavers; WP: Rice (1-2); LP: Davidson (2-3). Att. 493 Rain costs Twisters a home game TORRINGTON, July 23 -- The rain cost the Twisters a home game Tuesday night. Thunderstorms washed out the scheduled home game with Manchester. The game will be made up Wednesday, July 24 as part of a doubleheader at Northwest Park, beginning at 5 p.m. WILLIMANTIC, July 20 -- Twister catcher Wick Udy started for the winning National Division team in Saturday's NECBL All-Star game in Willimantic. Udy played five innings, going 0-for-1 at the plate with a walk. He caught five different pitchers in five innings, including Twister closer Ladd Hall (0-0, 0.53 ERA, 6 saves). Hall pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out one. Twister starter Jason Jones also pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout for the National Division, which beat the Americans, 4-3. 3 Twisters invited to All-Star Game Three Twisters were named to the National Division All-Star team for Saturday's NECBL All-Star Game in Willimantic. Catcher Wick Udy and pitchers Jason Jones and Ladd Hall earned All-Star invitations. The distinctiveness of Twister catcher Wick Udy goes beyond his unique name. Like his teammates, Udy is chasing a possible career in professional baseball. But he is also playing for the future of his family. His wife, Kassi, is home in Utah six months pregnant with their first child, a little girl, due in October. The perspective gained during a two-year Mormon mission in Detroit from 1998-2000 has helped his baseball career, he said. |
Jim Fasano's home run in the 10th inning lifted the Twisters past Sanford Sunday. |
Reliever Ladd Hall has earned a trip to the NECBL All-Star game. |
Jeff Hourigan fanned 10 and allowed only three hits but dropped a 2-1 decision to Newport. |
Tim Rice pitched the second no-hitter in team history in a 1-0 win over Manchester in 7 innings Wednesday. |
Woodbury's Peter Maki earned his first NECBL victory over Lowell. |
