Saturday June 25

Torrington Rebels  2    Bristol Greeners   1
While Torrington ace Dan Livingston and Bristol’s Mitch Buonafede (5 innings) and Brandon Hayes (4 innings) held each other off for nine hits by each team, Nick Ross turned a career day with the Rebels into a 2-1 winning effort in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday afternoon at Fuessenich Park.
The game was originally scheduled for seven innings as a makeup for a mid-week rain-out.
“Whenever we have Dan on the mound, we know we only have to score a few runs to win,” said Torrington player/coach Curtis Anthony. Unintentionally testing that premise, the Rebels scored a single run in the first inning, then stayed there for the next seven innings. “A one-run lead was a little scary,” said Anthony. Nevertheless, Livingston was at his sharpest. “I’m feeling better,” he said, after reporting shoulder and stomach problems earlier in the summer. Saturday, he scattered four Bristol hits through the first six innings, with six strikeouts and no walks.
Meanwhile, the Rebels (6-4) gave it plenty of effort. “We’re aggressive,” said lead-off hitter Ross. “Today, we were a little too aggressive at times.” The aggression was just right in the first inning, as Ross (4-for-5, 2 doubles, RBI) led off with a single through the left side, then got to third on a walk and a double-steal with No. 2 batter Cody Santore (walk). Jerry Colon hit a one-out pop foul down the first base line. Ross, a two-year team captain at Western Connecticut State University, tagged up on the catch, steaming home from third. He scored when the throw home from first went high.
“Too aggressive” came in the second inning. Jay Lovato (2-for-3, double) and Austin Poucher led off with singles. Lovato tried to make it to third on Poucher’s hit to center. The Greener throw beat him for one out. Poucher scrambled toward second on the throw to third. The throw back to second beat him to the base for a double play on his hit. “That’s okay; that’s exactly what we tell them to do — go for the extra bases,” said Anthony. By the top of the seventh inning, Torrington’s one run looked good. Then Bristol player/coach Shawn Mirmina led off with a single. Jared Lincoln (2-for-3) singled him to second. Brandon Hayes sacrificed him to third. Mike Zammett came through with the tying hit, beating out an infield chopper while Mirmina scored from third.
Livingston and left-handed reliever Hayes (4 innings, 1 earned run, 5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks) dueled. Three Torrington hits in the bottom of the eighth, including a leadoff double by Ross, couldn’t break the 1-1 knot. In the top of the ninth, Bristol loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Livingston walked off unscathed. Lovato started the bottom of the ninth with a double down the third base line. Two outs later, Ross skied a blast deep into center field for the winning run. Dan Livingston and a career day for Nick Ross ruled the day.