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Pomperaug High School junior left-hander Ryan Dunfee, shown here pitching in an earlier game, turned in a strong performance in the SWC semifinal game against New Fairfield Monday at Penders Field in Stratford. (Ken Morse photo)
By KEN MORSE Special to the Middlebury Bee-Intelligencer
The Pomperaug High School baseball team came up short of its goal to bring home the South West Conference (SWC) title. The Panthers, 13-9 and No. 4 in the league tournament, dropped a tough 5-1 decision on Monday to 13-9 No. 8 New Fairfield in the semifinals at Penders Field in Stratford.
In the first game of the semifinals at Penders Field, 18-4 No. 3 New Milford shut out 15-7 No. 2 Masuk in a 5-0 final score. The Green Wave will play in its first SWC title game since 2004 and will take on the Rebels of New Fairfield in the finals tonight, Wednesday, at Bethel High School in a 7 p.m. showdown.
This marks the second year in a row that Pomperaug was upended in the semifinals. The team lost to Masuk last year after a string of five straight conference title appearances and winning the SWC in 2010 and 2011.
“After playing so well last Saturday against Weston in the quarterfinals,” said Pomperaug head coach Mike Eisenbach. “We just didn’t come out and play at our best against New Fairfield. We didn’t make a lot of mistakes, but the ones we made they took advantage of. They scored five unearned runs and we hurt ourselves. Now we need to go back to work and get ready for the state tournament.”
Pomperaug got on the board early, plating a run in the first inning against New Fairfield pitcher Greg Radovic. Leadoff hitter Zach McGettigan singled and came around to score on a hit to right field from Josh McGettigan.
Ryan Dunfee went five and two-thirds innings on the hill, scattering eight hits and striking out six. The Pomperaug defense opened the door in the third when Jackson Lathrop reached on an error.
Brandon Barile sent the tying run home on a ground out, and Pat Martucci singled to continue the uprising. Jenner Stunkard singled to score the run and put the Rebels on top 2-1.
“Ryan gave us five-plus innings,” said Eisenbach. “He kept his composure when things didn’t go well and gave us a good outing. We just were not able to string anything together offensively to help him out.”
The Panthers had a shot at getting something going in the fourth when Nick Hebert singled and Brian Dagostino worked out a walk. Radovic quickly closed the door, getting a strikeout and a pop out to end the threat.
The Rebels added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Brian MaGee and Rudy Sarro got base hits, and a throwing error on Sarro’s sent a run across the plate.
Matt Brophy and Andrew Minchella managed hits for the Panthers but the timely run-scoring hit never came as Radovic went the distance, surrendering just five hits and striking out six.
New Fairfield put together the clincher, scoring two runs in the sixth. Sean King singled and Lathrop doubled. Both runners scored on a two-out infield hit to make it a 5-1 game.
Jake Coviello came on in relief and struck out two and walked a batter. Pomperaug came up empty in the final turn at the plate and will now prepare for the Class L state tournament next week.
Stay tuned to the Middlebury Bee-Intelligencer website for state tournament results beginning Tuesday, May 31.
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