Albany NY eliminates Watertown to win AABC World Series

I sat in the Press Box at Municipal Stadium like “a proud papa watching his kids play” in the AABC World Series championship and couldn’t be anymore grateful for what Watertown has done for the Tri-State Baseball League and the Stan Musial level, making an amazing run in their first ever appearance in a showcase tournament against the best teams from the Northeast of America. I had so many teams, players, and fans texting me non-stop asking how Watertown and Naugy are doing -during the games!!

Stan Musial was always the forgotten level and Watertown (and Naugatuck) brought publicity and notoriety back to the public with incredible write-ups in the newspapers and truly has given a rebirth to this level of baseball. For those that attended the games; they all left stating this is the best baseball they have ever seen in the area. And every team in the tourney thanked us tremendously, loved the fields they played at, and have already committed to returning next year – if its held in Waterbury, CT again. As for Watertown, an amazing run in the tournament against teams that are built “tournament” teams from the states across the Northeast. To Watertown and Naugatuck – thank you both for such an exciting weekend of play and representing the Tri-State League with class, sportsmanship, and talent.
Results of all games and updated bracket can be found at:
http://allprosoftware.net/2016smws/
Sunday August 7
Albany Athletics NY 6 Watertown Blaze 2
Garrett DeLotto had an RBI double scoring Tony Patane and Brian Faye’s sac fly scored DeLotto for the only two runs Watertown was able to push across the plate.
Albany Athletics NY 6 Watertown Blaze 5
Brian had a two-run double in the first inning and doubled again and scored in the sixth inning on a Chris Callahan single. Conor McEvoy tripled and scored on a Tony Patane sac fly in the third inning. Matt Calzone doubled and scored on a sac bunt by Chris Ayer in the fifth inning. A four run sixth inning for Albany put them ahead 6-4 and they held on for the 6-5 final.
Saturday August 6
Watertown Blaze 1 vs Bourne Mariners MA 0
Chris Ayer single drove in Chris Callahan in the 13 inning for the only run of the game. Draft pick (Fedells) Mike DeLellis gave an iron man performance on the mound for Watertown going all 13 innings (he had a perfect game through 7 innings) and settled for a three-hitter with 16 strikeouts and only one walk, an intentional walk, in the 1-0 win over Bourne MA. After a lead off single by Bourne in the 8th inning and sacrifice to second base, Watertown catcher Matt Calzone promptly picked off the runner at second base to end the threat. Watertown remains as the lone undefeated in the tournament.
Friday August 5
North Haladon NJ 7 Naugatuck Dogs 0
Watertown Blaze 2 Nassau Yankees LI 0
Draft pick and Derby native Ray Krieger worked out of a 1st inning bases loaded jam and finished with five strikeouts allowing just three hits over six innings to pick up the victory over Long Island Nassau Yankees 2-0.
Krieger at one point retired 13 batters in a row until a Nassau player reached on an error in the sixth inning.
Brian Faye’s two-run inside the park home run at Deland Field in Watertown was all the scoring on the board as the Blaze remained undefeated in World Series play. Defensively Conor McEvoy took away and extra base hit in center field and first baseman Garrett DeLotto made a backhanded scoop of Tony Patane’s throw from the hole at shortstop.
Closer Matt Quintana arrived from work in the sixth inning, stretched out with a resistance band attached to the parking lot fence and threw five warm-up pitches and headed to the mound. The flame throwing closer struck out the side to seal the victory.
Watertown Blaze 1 Albany Athletics NY 0
Conor McEvoy belted a first inning double scoring lead off batter Chris Ayer from first base for the only run of the game as Watertown knocked off Albany NY 1-0 to remain undefeated in the tournament. McEvoy also made a diving catch in center field for the first out of the game. Dom Severino tossed the first 4 innings of the game giving way to Rob Anderson in the fifth inning, who after allowing two walks got out of the jam when shortstop Tony Patene grabbed a hard smash up the middle and stepped on second base for the force out. Third baseman Brian Faye tagged out a runner between third base and home plate in the fourth inning to end an Albany threat (following a double steal attempt).
Closer Matt Quintana pitched the final two innings striking out 4 of the 6 batters he faced. It was Quintana’s third straight relief appearance. He has recorded eight strikeouts in three inning of work and has not allowed a run in 28 innings of relief on the season. Albany’s Greg Musk allowed only two hits: the first inning double by McEvoy and a double by Tony Patene on the sixth inning.
Thursday August 4
Albany Athletics NY 2 Naugatuck Dogs 0
Chris Salamida tossed a three-hitter, Lance Stevens threw a six-hitter for Naugatuck.
Watertown Blaze 5 Bourne Mariners MA 1
Maxx Catipino allowed four hits and struck out seven in six innings for Watertown. Matt Quintana fanned the side in the seventh. Garrett DeLotto doubled, tripled and drove in a run. Mike Fabiaschi doubled and scored, Tony Patene doubled and scored and Chris Ayer added a sacrifice fly.
Watertown Blaze win Stan Musial State Championship; Naugatuck Dogs also qualify for AABC World Series
The Watertown Blaze defeated the Naugatuck Dogs on Saturday July 30 to become the 2016 Stan Musial State Champions – Congratulations!!
Recap: The Watertown Blaze won the Stan Musial State Championship game with an 8-0 victory over the Naugatuck Dogs in 6 innings at Pat Wall Field in Wallingford. The Blaze pitching staff remained on fire as Kyle Kennedy and Matt Quintana combined to allow 2 hits while striking out 8. The Blaze, who went undefeated through the tourney, staff allowed only 4 runs over the 5 game state tournament. Chris Comeau led the offense with 3 hits including a 2 run home run while Conor McEvoy added 3 hits including an RBI double.
On Friday July 29: The two teams from the Tri-State Baseball League secured their entry into the AABC World Series that begins Thursday August 4th. The Watertown Blaze eliminated the Stradford Storm 2-0 and the Naugy Dogs exploded against the Downtown Merchants 16-2 to remain as the only 2 teams standing in the Stan Musial State Tournament.
Recap: Jake Kawiecki, Charlie Benson and Kyle Kennedy allowed only one hit while striking out 6 to lead the Blaze to a 2-0 victory over the Stratford Storm. Garrett De Lotto had 2 hits while Conor McEvoy added an RBI triple. Lance Stevens picked up the win allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 5 to lead Naugy to a 16-2 victory over the Downtown Merchants at Naugatuck High School. The Dogs offense was led by Ryan Plourde who hit two home runs. Kyle Murphy and Devin Murphy each homered for Naugy.

The Tri-State Baseball League has now had the Stan Musial State Tournament winner for each of the last 6 seasons with the Naugatuck Dogs winning in 2011, 2012, 2015, Tri-Town Trojans 2013, 2014, and Watertown Blaze in 2016.