Stratford Falls To Pomperaug In Third Straight Loss

STRATFORD, CT — The Stratford High School baseball team dropped its third straight decision with a 7-4 non-league loss to Pomperaug on Saturday in Southbury.

Stratford also lost to New Milford and Masuk earlier in the week.

Pomperaug came out swinging on Saturday, finishing with 15 hits off two Stratford pitchers and the Panthers also took advantage of four Stratford errors.

Stratford scored its four runs on two wild pitches (scoring senior J.J. Romatzick and senior Ron Kerkes) and two sacrifice flies by senior Josh McDowell and senior Brady Knorr (scoring junior Jake Kszywanos and Kerkes).

Stratford was led by Romatzick, who went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two stolen bases, and Kerkes, who went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks.

Stratford returns to action with a South-West Conference game against Joel Barlow on Monday at 4:15 p.m. at Penders Field.

New Milford 5, Stratford 1: Stratford returned to SWC league action on Monday (April 18) against New Milford on a cold, blustery afternoon at Penders Field. After senior Brady Knorr got the start and cruised through the top of the first, senior J.J. Romatzick continued his hot ways with the bat driving an opposite field blast over New Milford’s right fielder for a triple and scored on an errant relay back into the infield.

But that proved to be Stratford’s only run of the game.

New Milford responded with four runs in the third inning, capitalizing on some bad throws and miscues by Stratford, and held on for the victory.

Romatzick finished with three hits and junior Joe Booska added two hits.

Senior Josh McDowell came in and relieved Knorr late and pitched two solid innings.

Stratford 10, Darien 2: Stratford trailed early by two runs but responded with one run and then had big innings of six runs and three runs, respectively, to cruise to a 10-2 victory on April 16.

Junior Joe Booska got the start on the mound, went six full innings, and was splendid, allowing only one hits and two runs, both of which were unearned. He was relieved by senior J.J. Romatzick in the seventh as the Stratford closer got some tune-up work to stay fresh.

Romatzick also not only had a stellar day defensively out at shortstop, but he continued his consistent ways with the bat and getting on base.

Stratford received offensive contributions from senior Ron Kerkes, senior Brady Knorr, senior Josh McDowell, junior Jake Kszywanos, and junior Conor Lesczczynski.