Aspen Re Baseball Team Wins Junior Division Championship

Aspen Re of Rocky Hill trailed the entire game heading into the top of the seventh inning in the Jaycee-TD Bank Junior Division baseball league championship Thursday night. The resiliency that had personified the team throughout the 2011 season and especially during its playoff run was again on display.  As Aspen Re rallied for four runs in the seventh and a 6-4 championship victory over Pro Courier of West Hartford.

West Hartford scored three runs in the first inning against Tom Seaver, who struggled to locate his pitches early on. As the game went on, Seaver, who struck out nine in his complete game effort, attacked opposing batters and located his pitchers more effectively.

Aspen Re struggled to get going against Pro Courier’s Jordan Muchin and only picked up two measly runs in the fourth with the help of poor defense. Much of Aspen Re’s night at the plate was highlighted by failed opportunities.

Pro Courier picked up what was seemingly an insurance run in the sixth on a Walter Hansen RBI single. Heading into the seventh, there was a definite air of desperation surrounding the Aspen Re dugout.

With runners on first and second base, Muchin threw away catcher Kyle Whalen’s sacrifice bunt and with the error created a one-run game.  Suddenly Aspen Re had all the momentum, and shortstop Chris Bouchard seized the opportunity.

Bouchard zeroed in on a Muchin fastball and ripped it to left field for a double, scoring two and giving his team a lead they would never relinquish. Third baseman David Sevigny added an RBI single for the 6-4 lead.

“This championship shows we never gave up no matter what,” Seaver said. “This win shows all the hard work we put into the season.”

For Rocky Hill Head Coach Mike Pollard, whose team beat a number of higher ranked teams during its tournament run, this group of players was special.

“I’m so proud of these kids. They worked very hard all summer and it came together in the last few weeks. This wasn’t a season defined by one player. It was defined by a team working together.”

The JCTD Bank baseball league, which was established in 1946, is considered to be one of the largest independent baseball programs in the country, according to the league’s website.