Stratford Battles East Catholic In Penders Memorial Scholarship Game

STRATFORD, CT — (Contributed): The return of the Penders Memorial Scholarship Game after two years off due to COVID-19 concerns was worth the wait.

East Catholic and Stratford High, two programs linked with Penders Family ties, had played 37 straight times between 1982 and 2019. But coming through after the COVID two-year interruption, the 2022 edition of the game surely brought some exciting baseball to Penders Field.

East Catholic won 5-3 in eight innings.

East Catholic recorded only four hits but took advantage of five walks and three errors by Stratford.

Senior Brady Knorr started for Stratford and completed five full innings, striking out six, walking three and giving up three hits and three runs. Senior J.J. Romatzick took over for Knorr in the sixth and went 2 2/3 innings striking out three, walking two, and giving up one hit and two runs.

Stratford was led at the plate by Romatzick, who had three solid hits in four at-bats. He also drove in two runs and scored a run. Junior Ben Petrie added two hits junior Jake Kszywanos had one.

Senior Ron Kerkes scored two runs and stole two bases. Senior Aidan Orsbee also added an RBI with an opposite-field sacrifice fly.

Stratford (2-2) returns to action on Monday with a road game at Bethel at 4:15 p.m.

Stratford 24, Bridgeport Central 1: Stratford bounced back from a loss to Brookfield on Tuesday with a 24-1 victory over Bridgeport Central on Friday.

Ben Petrie and Dylan McCain combined on a one-hitter, with Petrie going the first three innings and McClain working the last two in a game that was stopped by the Mercy rule.

Stratford finished with 18 hits and played errorless ball in the field.

The highlights of the day came in the form of sophomore Ty Owen, sophomore Damon Weller, and junior Conor Lesczczynski recording their first varsity hits.

Four of Stratford starters – senior J.J. Romatzick, junior Ben Petrie, senior Aidan Ormsbee, and junior Joe Booska – all finished with multi-hit games.