The Shelton Gaels battled back from a 4 – 0 deficit, only to fall short in extra innings Friday to the Cheshire Rams, 6 – 5.
Shelton pitcher Scott Cataudella, a sophomore, started his first varsity game for the Gaels.
“Scott did an admirable job. He only gave up three runs,” coach Scott Gura said.
The Rams exploded for an early 4 – 0 lead. Shelton clawed their way back in the late innings. They tied things up in the sixth inning.
“It stings after you tie it up,” Gura said of the loss. “You have a good feeling that you’re going to win that game. When you leave seven guys on base in the seventh, eight, and ninth inning – it’s tough to win.”
The Rams scored a run in the first frame of extra innings, putting the Gaels were down by one run.
Mike Pjura stepped to the plate to lead off the eighth and went to first after being hit by a pitch — for the third time in the game.
Dan Guerrera sacrificed Pjura to second base, bringing leadoff hitter, Eric Christensen, to the plate with the tying run in scoring position.
Christensen laced a triple to the right-centerfield gap that scored Pjura and tied the game at 5.
The Rams manager intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with only one out, but the Gaels failed to capitalize as the next two batters struck out.
Cheshire led off the top of the ninth inning with a single by Dom Severino.
The Gaels managed to get the next batter out, but walked the following batter, putting Severino in scoring position. Greg Leonetti stepped to the plate and hit what looked to be an inning-ending double play, but a fielding miscue led Severino to score and gave the Rams a 6 – 5 lead.
The Gaels had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but failed to drive in the run, giving the Rams a 6 – 5 victory,
“Hats off to Eric for tying the game with the huge triple. I thought we were good to go at that point,” Gura said. “They battle and battle. They feel like they are in every single game. You never think a game is over with this team. They go as far as they can.”
