Rockville Stuns Tolland for Comeback Victory

Chris Watts drove in two runs with an infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday to complete a 3-2 comeback win for the Rockville High School baseball team against Tolland.

The Rams scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh with two out to pull off the stunning win on Senior Night.

Tolland dueled the Rams over five scoreless innings at Henry Park before the Eagles scored two runs in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Babcock hit a hard line drive that scored Tyler Glidden from third to make it 2-1. 

The next batter was Watts. With Babcock on second after a steal and pinch runner Evan Caine on third, Watts hit a slow dribbler the died in the infield grass just past the pitcher's mound. Watts beat the throw to first, which allowed Caine to score easily from third. While Caine crossed home plate, Babcock was hustling around third.

Babcock caught the Eagles napping and slid into home without a throw to the plate.

“This was a great win for our seniors on Senior Night,” Rockville coach Art Wheelock said.  “This was a great win no matter what night it was. I keep telling the kids to never give up. I grew up in Rockville and one thing I learned while growing up was how to never give up and keep fighting. I try to teach that to my players to always keep going and learn to bounce back.”

Tolland’s runs came in the sixth inning when it had the bases loaded and two out. Tolland starting pitcher Chris Byam hit a ground ball to Rockville shortstop Taylor Botteron, but the ball took a funny hop and bounced right between Botteron’s legs. Tolland scored two runs off of Botteron’s error.

Byam pitched six and one-third innings while striking out three batters and only allowing six hits.

Tolland third baseman Ryan Kokoszka had a solid defensive play in the bottom of the sixth inning when he scooped up a line drive that hit right in front of him and threw a hard throw to first to get the force-out and end the inning. Rockville had a man on third and had the ball gotten through, the Rams would have scored easily.

Rockville starting pitcher and senior captain Pat Witham pitched all seven innings for the Rams and struck out five batters.

Tolland (5-12) will next play at home against Rocky Hill on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. Rockville (12-7) will finish their regular season on Wednesday at Fermi at 3:45 p.m.