It started out as a sunny, warm day for a baseball game, but slowly turned into disaster for the Wreckers baseball team as clouds formed and the temperature plunged.
On May 24 at Bridgeport’s Harbor Yard, in one of the closest—and longest—games this season, the Wreckers lost to the Trumbull Golden Eagles 1-0, compromising what would have been their fourth trip in five years to the FCIAC title game.
Starter Chris Speer ’13 kicked off the game with a relatively uneventful first inning. The Staples crowd roared, however, in the bottom of the second inning, when Trumbull failed to get outfielder Zach Levins ’12 out at second after a single hit by Matt Reynolds ’12.
In the top of the fifth inning, pitcher Greg Salamone ’13 came in to relieve Speer, yet the scoreboard continued to rack up zeroes for both teams. From then until the seventh inning, almost every other hit seemed to be either an infield single or a bunt.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with two men on, Levins flew out to send the game into extra innings. Tensions continued to raise as each inning passed with no run; overt groans and cries could be heard on both sides of the field as another inning closed.
But in the top of the tenth inning, senior shortstop Marcus Jenkins scored for Trumbull after junior third baseman Casey Mack got a hit off of Salamone.
Ultimately, after two Staples strikeouts, Eli Andrew ’13 grounded out to third, and Trumbull emerged victorious.
“It was a tough battle against two solid teams,” pitching coach P.J. Washenko said. “We were looking for a big inning, but it just never came.”
Trumbull head coach Phil Pacelli also admitted that the game was a close battle.
“We knew Staples would be a tough team—they always are,” Pacelli said. “It was a heck of a game, but we’re looking forward to Saturday [the FCIAC championship.]”
For infielder and pitcher Bryan Terzian ’13, the only thing for the Wreckers to do is to look forward and move ahead.
“It’s nice to look forward and get ready for States,” he said. “There’s always next year for FCIACs, but now, we have to get ready for States.”
The Class LL state tournament begins next week.
