'Canes beat MAU to end title drought
Toolbox
Chuck Clarino Staff Writer - Published: June 14, 2009
BURLINGTON — The Hurricanes have come close before but Hartford finally ended 36 years of futility by defeating the Mount Anthony Patriots 3-1 to claim the Division I baseball championship Saturday at Centennial Field.
Pat Riley spun a seven-hitter and the 'Canes manufactured a couple of runs in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie, and then relied on their defense to salt away the big victory.
Riley, the 18-year-old senior right-hander, earned the distinction of being the first player in Hartford High School history to win three major championships. Riley's trifecta included the Division I football title, the Division II hockey crown and, of course, the baseball championship.
"It's just an awesome feeling and I can't explain it but if you come back in a week maybe I can," said Riley, sporting a big smile and a blonde playoff beard. "But to be a part of this team and part of this program, it's just an awesome feeling.
"They are all great and a trophy's a trophy," he said declining to rank one title over another. "I'm just glad that I had the opportunity to share them with my teammates."
While the Hurricanes were celebrating on the field, a group from the 1973 title team – Hartford's only other baseball championship – stood and cheered. They were wearing commemorative shirts that listed their complete schedule including the 5-1 victory over South Burlington that won the title.
"Ernie Gore came and talked to us yesterday at practice about how much it meant," said Hartford first baseman AJ Hamel, referring to a member of the '73 team. "It was just an extra kick that had us going. This is something you work for the whole season and it's an indescribable feeling that BAM! happens so quick."
The Hurricanes, who lost to Essex in last year's Division I championship, broke up a 1-1 game by plating a pair of runs in the fourth inning off MAU starter Corey Armstrong. Logan Scelza's one-out single got the rally going and Mike Avery's bad-hop single set the table with runners at first and second.
DH John Rhoades then dunked a soft liner just over the head of the third baseman, plating Scelza. On the play, Avery got trapped between second and third and when the throw came into second base, he headed straight to third. But the throw glanced off him and into foul territory allowing him to score and build the lead to 3-1.
That was all the run support Riley needed. He looked shaky in the first inning when Jesse Crosier led with a solid single and Dylan Parmenter slammed a drive deep to center field that was reeled in by Scelza, Willie Mays style, with his back to the plate.
"That turned the game around, that catch," said Hartford coach Jarrod Grassi. "It really gave us a lift."
In the second inning, Riley morphed into a different pitcher. He seemed more settled and more in command of all of his pitches.
"I was overthrowing a little bit, kind of pushing my breaking ball," said Riley, who struck out eight and didn't walk a batter in going the distance. "I just settled in and started focusing on my batters, working the ball inside, outside. My curveball came around and so it was a good day."
MAU coach Al Plante lauded Riley's effort and the fact that he was able to shut down what had been hot and productive bats. Plante also credited his pitcher Armstrong, who went six innings, yielding seven hits, two earned runs with four strikeouts and no walks, as a player who deserved a better fate.
MAU scored first, picking up a run in the second inning on two hits and one Hartford error. But Plante said that a lot about winning high school baseball games is how things break and what didn't happen or could have happened.
"Maybe I went for too many early," said Plante, who guided MAU to its last finals appearance in 2002 and last D-I crown was in 1996. "But that ball that Parmenter hit in the first inning, if that goes over his head … or the throw into third base that hit the runner, come on, it's one of those things that happens.
"We just couldn't get the key hit. We had the chances and had the right people up and they made the plays. If the shortstop doesn't make those three plays in the seventh inning we're going to score a lot of runs."
Hartford shortstop Aaron Miller proved to be the final key to the Hurricane title, making three solid fielding plays in the seventh inning, the final with runners on first and second on a ball deep in the hole that he snared and tossed off-balance to second baseman Ryan Wetzel to force the final out.
The Hurricanes celebrated with a massive hog pile on the pitcher's mound with Riley on the bottom. They hooted and hollered while their fans stood and cheered for Hartford wrapped up one spectacular sports year and ended a prolonged drought.
"They put the time in and they work hard," said Grassi, while changing out of his soaked game jersey into a Hartford T-shirt. "They battled and showed their character. We executed and Mount Anthony put some pressure on but we were able to handle it.
"This is a great group of kids who will be missed and let me tell you something there's a lot of titles out there among those guys and I couldn't be any prouder than I am right now."
chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com
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