Tomahawks Open Division Play With Win

The Tomahawks made the short trip to McKenna Field to take on East Hartford to open CCC North play. After opening up a 6-1 lead after 4 innings, the Tomahawks held on to grab an 8-6 win.

After East Hartford parlayed a walk, single & fielder's choice in the bottom of the 2nd into the 1st run of the game, the Tomahawks responded with 6 runs of their own in the top of the 3rd. Anthony Longo lead off with a walk & Josh Barrett followed with a single to left field. After a force out, David Johnston reached base on an error, Longo scoring to tie the score at 1's. Mike Habzda was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kevin O'Connell followed with a line drive single into left-center field, driving in Spencer Haymond & Johnston. Aggressive base running let Habzda & O'Connell advance to 2nd & 3rd base. Kyle Richards blasted a triple to deep right-center field, driving in Habzda & O'Connell. Richards completed the scoring when the East Hartford hurler uncorked a wild pitch.

Gbury posted a single run in the top of the 5th to open a 7-1 lead. Johnston legged out a grounder to lead off the inning. Habzda lined a double over the 1st baseman's head down the righfield line setting up 2nd & 3rd with nobody out. Johnston scored on O'Connell's ground out.

East Hartford plated 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th & 1 run in the bottom of the 6th to cut the score to 7-4 Tomahawks after 6 innings.

The Tomahawks tacked on an important insurance run in the top of the 7th inning. Johnston led off the inning with a walk & moved to 2nd on a ground out. After stealing 3rd base, Johnston scored on Richards looping single into right-center field.

East Hartford rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to cut the score to 8-6 Tomahawks before falling short.

Emmett Ravis made his 1st start of the year, hurling 5 solid innings to earn the win. Ravis surrendered 3 runs on 4 hits, striking out 2 & walking 2. Jimmy Hill pitched the 6th inning & into the 7th before being relieved by left-hander Joe Spero. Spero retired 3 of the 4 batters he faced to earn a save.

Barrett & Richards each had 2 hits, one of Richards being a triple. Habzda had the other extra base hit with a double. O'Connell drove home 3 runs; Johnston scored 3 runs.

Longo & Spencer Haymond each turned in a web gem defensively.

The Tomahawks now stand 6-0 overall, 1-0 in CCC North play. The Tomahawks next host division rival Manchester in another CCC North game at Riverfront Park on Wednesday at 3:45pm.