RCP's Season is Over After Losing to Stamford in the State Tournament

The Rocky Hill-Cromwell-Portland American Legion baseball team knew they would have a tough road in the postseason, but they did not see the 2011 season ending like this.

Taking advantage of eight RCP errors, Stamford banged out 15 hits and ended RCP’s season in the opening round of the American Legion postseason on Wednesday night, 13-7.

“This was a tough one for us,” said RCP Head Coach Jay Hickey. “The team was prepared for this game. We just played our worst game of the year at the worst possible time. The team couldn’t do anything right, especially on defense. I can’t remember a game as bad as this.”

RCP was heavily favored and ranked 14th among state teams that had qualified for postseason play. Stamford was ranked 30th and had to beat a higher-ranked Enfield team 13-5 Tuesday just to earn a road matchup versus RCP.

Number one pitcher Paul Francis was on the mound for RCP and hope reigned supreme at the beginning of the matchup. But, that hope was quickly tempered.

After two quick outs in the first inning, Francis allowed five consecutive hits and four runs, punctuated by a three-run double by R.J. Calo.  

RCP got two runs back in the first and tied the game in the second. With two outs in the second inning, right fielder Dave Grande and catcher Steve Radziewicz executed a double steal. First baseman Kevin Post then followed with a ground ball to deep short that was thrown away by the shortstop, allowing both runners to score.

Stamford scored two runs and retook the lead in the third inning. In the fifth, Stamford broke the game open with four more runs.

Leadoff hitter Eric Joyner had arguably the biggest hit of the day with a two-run triple over the head of left fielder Corey Armstrong. John McMahon would continue RCP’s parade of errors by throwing away a ground ball, allowing Joyner to score.

By the time the inning was over, Francis had been pulled and RCP was down 10-4. RCP continued to struggle as Stamford scored three runs in the seventh on RCP errors by Bouchard, second baseman Rob Aresti and McMahon. At the end of the seventh, RCP was down 13-4.

In a game that was nine innings instead the regular seven, RCP picked up a few runs against shaky reliever Frank Spoto on doubles by Mike Mancuso and Armstrong.

Even with the porous defense behind him, Francis’s line was particularly ugly as he gave up eight earned runs and 11 hits in just five innings of work.

Francis, who had been excellent in every start for RCP in 2011, struggled to locate his fastball.

 “I kept leaving the ball up,” Francis said. “I couldn’t put the ball anywhere where it needed to go. It wasn’t my day, and it came at a bad time.”

RCP's offense picked up just five hits and two earned runs against Stamford’s two pitchers. No player had multiple hits.

As has been the norm in recent years, RCP is ending its season early. 

“This is a disappointing loss because of the expectations we had as a team,” Hickey said. “RCP has been one of the top teams in the zone for the last six years, and yet we haven’t had the postseason results we’ve wanted. That’s the next step, is just to break through next year.”

RCP ends the year with a 17-8 record and as the regular season runner-up in Zone 7.