A two-run single by Ricky Gallucci and back-to-back line drive hits by Dan Spencer and Mike Notaro fueled a four-run fourth inning and sent BASE Technologies on to the Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball Prep 13 division championship with an 11-4 win over Brautigam Land Surveyors.

BASE had taken an early lead in the first inning on a two-run single by Notaro, but Brautigam rallied back over the next three innings with hits from Kevin Bonacci and Dan Cody to take a 4-2 lead. Matt Narel also pitched well, keeping the game close.

But BASE woke up in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead. That lead expanded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings on doubles from Kurt Nacewicz and Tommy Merrifield.

Brautigam never gave up, scratching out runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but for the most part BASE’s pitching shut down their offense. Ian Mason, Dan Spencer, Nacewicz, and Gallucci combining to strike out 13 batters.

BASE went 4-0 in the playoffs after finishing the regular season slightly over .500. Their prospects in the playoffs seemed slim when Nacewicz, a key member of the pitching staff, broke a thumb on his glove hand. But Nacewicz rose to the occasion and surprised everyone with some big defensive plays during the playoffs.

BASE’s offense throughout the playoffs made the difference, powered by Gallucci, Jason Kostecki, Spencer and Notaro. Mason’s pitching was spectacular and there were key defensive plays by Ian Cooper and Jake Woolf. In the end, it was a true team effort that led BASE Technologies to the championship.

Other members included Ian Cooper, Anthony Corleto and Brian Murphy. Coaching the team were Warren Spencer, Chip Mason, John Merrifield, and Neil Nacewicz.

In other playoff results:

Prep 13

Brautigam Land Surveyors 5, Walsh Mulch 4 – Jake DeVellis pitched three solid innings and went 2-for-3 with an RBI double to lead Brautigam to the win. Joe Selezan drove in a pair of runs and scored the winning run on an errant throw. Robert Brautigam drove in a run to aid the offense. For Walsh, Mike Rodriguez, Chris Marks, Mike Iorfino and Steve Osmolik fueled a third-inning hit spree to score four runs.

After rallying to send the game into extra innings, Church Hill Physical Therapy scored four times in the top of the seventh and defeated Gruce Tile, 7-3, to capture the American League championship.

Kevin O’Connell led off the frame with a single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeff DiNicola. Ralph Sergiovanni followed with a double in the gap to score O’Connell. Free passes issued to Anthony Lucia and Rob Phillips loaded the bases for Oskar Dean, who blew the whole thing wide open with a three-run single to right field.

In the bottom of the frame, DiNicola was reached for a pair of singles before settling down and striking out the final three batters to close out of the game.

Gruce Tile had taken a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Kyle Kormberg singles, Anthony Gruce walked and Nic Nazer clubbed a three-run homer. Down 3-1 in the fourth, Church Hill tied the score on a two-run homer by Lucia.

For Gruce, Kromberg finished with a pair of hits while Trevor Todd doubled and singled to pace the offense. Adam Shankman and Kromberg pitched well. For Church Hill, Nick Tarantino singled and – with CJ Portolese – made some fine defensive plays in the field. Sergiovanni pitched well, striking out nine batters in four innings of work.

In other divisions:

16-19

 

Newtown (#1) 2, Newtown (#2) 0 – Mark Fracker fired a seven-inning, complete-game shutout to lead #1 to the win. Ryan Chapin doubled and Joe Coates singled in a run. Sean Reilly and Charlie Coates both scored. For #2, Matt Myslewski pitched well with relief help from David Modzelewski.

Newtown (#1) 6, Danbury (#2) 5 – Jeremy Currier knocked in the winning run with a bases-loaded hit down the third base line, leading Newtown to the win. Tony Willie had a pair of hits, including a double, while Bill Beatty had a hit and scored two runs. Colin Cieniawa, Graham Philbrick, Mark Fracker and Joe Coates all had hits.

Newtown (#1) 6, Southbury 1 – Brennan Coakley doubled and scored two runs and Ryan Chapin singled and scored two runs to lead Newtown to the win. Graham Philbrick, Mark Fracker and Tony Willie had hits.

Minors

BASE Technologies 14, Ferris Acres Creamery 6 – Mike Scharfenberg collected a pair of hits and drove in four runs to lead BASE to the win. Wyatt Depuy and Colton Sposta also had two hits apiece while Ben Stoller tripled. Joe Davis made two great defensive stops. For Ferris Acres, Stephen Conway doubled twice while Daniel Gustafson and Patrick Thornberg had three hits apiece. Alex Lampel also provided a hit.

TR Paul 6, Newtown Bee 3 – Joe Blanco doubled and scored twice to lead TR Paul past the Newtown Bee. Danny Poeltl was 3-for-3 and drove in two runs while Stefan Hennssey pitched two scoreless innings.

Onex 6, TR Paul 2 – Christopher Erikson had two hits while Kevin LeBlanc and Dylan O’Connor pitched a strong game to lead Onex to the win. For TR Paul, Danny Poeltl went 2-for-2 with two RBI.  Austin Quinn pitched a scoreless inning and Colin Dutt was great behind the plate, throwing out a runner trying to steal.

Onex 5, B&K Septic 1 – Dylan O’Connor hit a long two-run homer and Kevin LeBlanc, Christopher Erikson and O’Connor led the pitching effort to lift Onex to the win.