The Tomahawks traveled to BeeHive Stadium in New Britain on Friday to take on the Hartford Courant's Area Top Ten #1 New Britain Hurricanes. The T'hawks dropped their 1st game of the year by a 3-2 score in an exciting, well-played CCC North Contest.
New Britain scored a single run in the bottom of the 1st inning to grab a quick 1-0 lead. A one out single, hit batter & double steal followed by an unusual 1-6-3 force out plated the run.
The Tomahawks bounced right back in the top of the 2nd inning to tie the score at 1-1. Kyle Richards reached 2nd base on a 2-out throwing error. Jason Sutkowski followed with a ground single up the middle on a 2-2 count to drive in Richards with the game tying run.
The game settled into a pitcher's duel between T'Hawk starter David Johnston & NB hurler Mike Bowden from that point on until the top of the 6th inning. In between, both teams had several opportunities thwarted by clutch pitching and solid defense. The Tomahawks had runner's on 1st & 3rd with 1 out in the top of the 3rd inning only to be stopped by a successful pick-off play at 1st base. Alex Hanelt rapped a 1 out triple in the top of the 5th inning. After a suicide squeeze attempt was stymied when the ball rolled just foul down the 1st base line, the T'Hawks were again stymied when the NB 2nd baseman came up with a diving play with the infield in to keep Hanelt at 3rd. With 2 out, Josh Barrett hit a slow roller to SS and was called out on an east side of 1st base "close" call by the base umpire.
The Tomahawks grabbed the lead in the top of the 6th when Johnston led off with a walk & was sacrificed to 2nd by Mike Habzda. After Johnston moved to 3rd on a passed ball, Kevin O'Connell grounded a clutch single into centerfield to score Johnston.
On this day, NB came right back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th scoring what turned out to be the game winner. A walk followed by 2 singles turned into the deciding runs.
Johnston hurled 5 2/3 innings in an excellent outing. He surrendered 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 4 while walking 2. Joe Spero came on in the bottom of the 6th and retired the only batter he faced.
Johnston, Sutkowski, Barrett, Hanelt (triple) and O'Connell had the Tomahawk hits.
The T'Hawks now stand 2-1 in CCC North play, 7-1 overall. They return to action on Saturday at 3:30pm when they visit East Catholic.
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