Starting Pitcher McDonald Ejected in Wilton Legion Loss

With his team struggling to score runs, Wilton Post 86 Senior American Legion pitcher Mike McDonald let his emotions get the best of him Thursday night.

McDonald was ejected after throwing his fourth wild pitch in the sixth inning of Wilton's 8-0 Zone Four loss to Trumbull at Wilton High School.

Post 86, which was shut out for the second time in as many days, dropped to 7-9 while Trumbull improved to 7-9.

"We've been struggling the past couple games," said Wilton coach Ian Thoesen, whose team lost at Norwalk, 11-0, on Wednesday. "I think emotions were taking over. I think we have to stay positive and go back to the basics offensively and defensively."

McDonald, who earlier this season tossed a one-hitter against Bridgeport, was working on a solid outing. He tossed three consecutive scoreless innings after giving up two runs in the top of the second, one on a solo home run by Kurt Sierer.

But things unraveled in the sixth, when Trumbull scored five runs to break open a tight game.  Three of those runs scored on wild pitches.

After loading the bases with no outs on an infield hit, a hit batsman and a fielder's choice, the visitors grabbed a 4-0 lead on Mitch Valenti's two-run single.

After Anthony Matera grounded to second, Gene Ormsbee scored on McDonald's first wild pitch. However, Ormsbee slid in hard at the plate, nearly precipitating an altercation. The play appeared to unnerve McDonald, who was covering at the plate.

"I think it was a little bit of a malicious slide," Thoesen said. "I think it pumped (McDonald) up a little bit."

The former Weston High School pitcher proceeded to throw ten straight balls and three more wild pitches. After his fourth one, he cursed the plate umpire, who had no choice but to throw him out. The ejection carries an automatic one-game suspension.

Thoesen admitted that McDonald used a profanity, and the umpires confirmed it as well.

"He just lost it," Thoesen said. "He lost his cool."

McDonald gave up eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Playing without five injured starters, Wilton got back one member of its walking wounded Thursday. Right fielder Ben Jaffee, who had been day-to-day since rolling his ankle in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, returned to the lineup.

Jaffee batted over .400 the last two seasons at Weston and will try to walk on to the baseball team at Trinity College in Hartford.

But Wilton's offense remained quiet. Trumbull starter P.J. Santilli scattered seven hits in a complete-game effort. He walked three and fanned six.

For the second straight day, Chris Holt had two hits for Wilton.

Post 86 appeared to get something going in the fifth, as Jaffee followed Kevin O'Connell's one-out single with a double into the gap in right-center field. However, O'Connell was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay from shortstop Chris Alberto.

Trumbull tacked on an unearned run in the seventh against Wilton reliever Jon Como.

The injuries have forced some Wilton players to play out of position. Austin Gambee, normally a pitcher or third baseman, played right field for the first time in his career against Norwalk.

After having only one reserve available Wednesday, Wilton had a few more players on the bench Thursday, but they were up from the junior Legion squad.

The senior team is back in Saturday at Trumbull at 10 a.m.