May 8, 2008
State tournament is within reach
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The pitching as well as the hitting improved substantially for the Weston High varsity baseball team after a rough start to the week,
The Trojans, who fell 9-0 to Pomperaug last Wednesday, April 30, wasted no time in turning their game around in wins over Bethel (3-1) and New Milford (5-1). They are now one win away from qualifying for the state tournament.
After two days of steady rain Weston was eager to take the field. Unfortunately, the results were not pretty.
Weston pitcher Mike Berliner was rocked for the first time this season as he surrendered four runs in four innings, giving up six hits and walking three. Kyle Zembsch came in relief during the fifth and did not fare much better, giving up five runs and walking four. Offensively Weston had no answer for Pomperaug as it only got four hits all day.
“The weather delay had nothing to do with our loss today,” said Weston head coach Frank Fedeli. “We just sleepwalked through the game and you cannot do that with a team like Pomperaug. Mike Berliner’s performance was not one of his best, and he didn’t have a feel for his pitches. I believe he will make a comeback to his normal self as the season progresses.”
Two days later Weston played a rare night game at Bethel and rebounded nicely for a 3-1 win. Almost immediately the visitors took a 1-0 lead, as Michael Waterhouse doubled home Berliner in the top of the first.
Although the Wildcats tied it in the bottom half, that was all they could manage against Mike Odierna, who threw a complete game, recording 11 strikeouts and allowing only three hits.
Weston used “small ball” to score its runs. In the top of the third Odierna doubled. As Jaime Monn grounded out, Odierna broke for third, and an errant throw by Bethel’s first baseman allowed him to score for a 2-1 Weston lead. The lead was extended to 3-1 in the top of the fourth when Waterhouse reached on an error, allowing Michael McDonald to score.
Visiting New Milford on Saturday the Trojans again managed to get on the board early and stayed ahead the whole game for a 5-1 win. They took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jesse Nusbaum singled to drive in Waterhouse, who had doubled. Armstrong singled to drive home Nusbaum for a 2-0 lead.
The way McDonald was pitching would prove to be enough as he retired the first 11 batters he faced. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth as New Milford scored a run and looked like it would tie the game. But McDonald bore down and struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Weston gave him run support in the top of the fifth as Berliner singled home two runs to double Weston’s lead to 4-1. Two innings later Weston’s lead was extended as Armstrong singled home another run. The New Milford hitters did not touch McDonald. Pitching his best game of the season, he gave up two hits, striking out four and walking one.
“I felt prepared for my start today, and I really worked on hitting my spots and it worked,” McDonald said.
Coach Fedeli was impressed with his team’s pitching performances over the two days. “Odie and McDonald’s performances were just plain overpowering,” he said. “Odie struck out 11 and gave up three hits and four walks. McDonald needed just 68 pitches to throw a two-hitter, and he didn’t walk anyone. If you get performances like that, you’re going to win most of the time.”
The Trojans, now 7-7, host Newtown on Friday, visit New Fairfield on Saturday, are home against Joel Barlow on Monday, and go to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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