The Rocky Hill American Legion baseball team was only able to muster one hit against Middletown in 4-2 loss Saturday.
The Rocky Hill American Legion team or RCP consists of players from Portland, Cromwell and Rocky Hill. After losing to them in their first matchup, RCP met the Middletown American Legion team on June 25.
RCP grabbed an early two-run lead. Left fielder Corey Armstrong and catcher Kevin Radziewicz drew consecutive walks in the top of the second inning. Second baseman Rob Aresti had RCP's only good plate appearance of the night when he had a hard-hit double to center, which scored two runs.
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RCP consistently struggled to find rhythm and Middletown took advantage. In the third inning, Middletown's Jeff Grum drove in the first run with a single following a one-out triple. Later on in the inning, James Aronne hit a booming double to left to tie the game.
When RCP’s third hurler, Rocky Hill’s own Dan Bouchard, entered in the fifth, the opposition benefited immensely from his lack of control. Bouchard walked the leadoff hitter and also struggled to locate his pitches with Aronne at the plate.
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When he finally got a fastball over, it was right down the middle and placed in the left-center field gap for a run-scoring triple. Middletown subsequently scored an insurance run on a wild pitch by Bouchard.
“We’re expected to win, and we expect ourselves to win," RCP Head Coach Jay Hickey said. "We just need to realize that it’s never going to be easy, and that every game is going to be a close, hard-fought effort. The team needs to be prepared at all times.”
The Middletown pitchers were able to baffle RCP’s lineup with a variety of speeds and styles. Following the game, Hickey recognized the shortcomings of the RCP offense, which has scored no more than six runs in any game this season.
"Our hitters need to have a different attitude when they come to the plate. The team’s going to have extra batting practice in the next few days," Hickey said. "Hopefully, we can get the guys a little more confident and on the right track.”
RCP's next game is against West Hartford at Cromwell High School Monday at 5:45 p.m.
