Schools
Rockville Stuns E.O. Smith in Extra Innings
The Rockville High School baseball team makes a late-inning comeback to get the win against E.O. Smith, 6-4.
The Rockville High School baseball team mounted a late-inning comeback to stun E.O. Smith 6-4 in extra innings on Thursday at Eastern Connecticut State University.
The Rams were down by two runs going into the final inning when they received big RBI hits from Chris Watts and Kevin Babcock.
E.O. Smith had a two-run lead twice during the game, but Rockville just would not go away.
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E.O. Smith scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the pressure on the Rams when Rockville pitcher Kurt Annelli walked Anthony Duclos with the bases loaded. Annelli was then relieved by Bryan Leonard, who allowed one more run on a fielder’s choice by Ryan Ouimette before getting out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, with two out and a runner on third, Babcock hit a line-drive double to drive in Tyler Glidden to bring Rockville within one. The next batter was Watts, who hit an infield grounder but beat out the throw to first. Babcock scored from second on the play to tie up the game.
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Stellar relief pitching from Leonard kept the Panthers hitless in the final two innings of the game which set up the dramatic ending. In the top of the eighth, the Rams continued to hit in the clutch. Glidden came up with a triple to drive in Kamyno Royal from second to take the lead for the Rams. The next batter, Annelli, hit a pop fly but lack of infield communication on the part of the Panthers ended up letting the ball fall to the ground so that Glidden could score an insurance run.
In the bottom of the eighth, Leonard ended up getting a strikeout and two infield grounders to end the game. Coach Art Wheelock credited his young pitching and clutch hitting with a great performance that ultimately won the game for the Rams.
“Anytime you get a comeback win it always feels great,” Wheelock said. “Young pitching kept us in the game and at the end, we had great clutch hitting.”
E.O. Smith ended the game with a total of nine hits while Rockville finished with seven.
E.O. Smith starting pitcher Dave Keplesky drove in a run. Craig Hodgins also had an RBI for the Panthers.
Rockville’s next game is home against Bloomfield on Monday at 3:45. The Rams are 3-3. E.O. Smith’s next game is at Rocky Hill on Monday at 3:45. The Panthers are 1-5.
