Inferno Sluggers Play On In New England Regionals

The Newtown Inferno, state champions in the in the 46/60 Cal Ripken Baseball Tournament, won the opening game of the New England Regional Tournament in Marlborough, knocking off  East Falmouth, Mass. 9-2 on August 6.

The Inferno scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Henry Primavera singled to right center, home run derby runner-up Joe Palanzo walked, and Eugene Citrano blasted the first pitch he saw from East Falmouth starting pitcher Nick Crocker well over the left field fence for a long three-run home run.

Newtown added a run in the second inning after Ethan Aug walked and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Primavera. In the bottom of the second inning, Brian Estes of East Falmouth cut the Newtown lead in half with a two-run home run off Newtown starter Patrick Godino who settled down, allowing only a harmless two-out double in the third inning, and retiring the last ten batters of the game for a complete-game three-hit effort. Godino got stronger as the game went on, striking out four of the last six batters he faced.

In the fourth, Primavera singled and then, on a 1-0 count, Palanzo hit a screaming line drive home run to deep center for a 6-2 lead. The boys from Connecticut scored three insurance runs in the sixth when Peter Debona led off with a double and Rob Lombardo hit a double of his own, of the pinch-hit variety.

Primavera finished 3-for-3 with a double, walk, and two runs scored. The player of the game for Newtown (awarded by the tournament officials), Citrano went 3-for-4, including his home run, and scored twice. Fine defensive plays in the field by Aug, Citrano, Primavera, and Jacob Steinebrey supported Godino, who pitched his very first complete game.

In the second game of the tournament Newtown took on Cranston, RI which won its first game. The game was played Monday night after Sunday’s entire schedule was rained out. Owen McInerney pitched another complete game for Newtown, the first of his career, and Newtown prevailed 3-1.

McInerney scattered four hits, walked one, and struck out 11 Rhode Islanders earning him the official player of the game. He was dominant right out of the gate, striking out the side in the first and again in the third. He also got stronger as the game went on, striking out four of the last eight hitters.

Cranston got on the board first in the 2nd inning, but Newtown’s defense prevented more damage. After a hit, Citrano came up throwing from center field and made a perfect toss to Palanzo who relayed to Debona at the plate to nail a runner. Debona came up throwing and fired a strike to second base where Primavera made an acrobatic play tagging out the runner who had over-slid the base, ending the inning.

Newtown tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to center field by Palanzo. The Inferno threatened to score more runs in the inning when Peter Debona walked, Citrano reached on a fielder’s choice and, with two outs, Lombardo hit a line double into the gap in right center field but Citrano stumbled rounding third and had to scamper back to the bag. Citrano and Lombardo were left stranded on a come-backer to the pitcher.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, with the scored tied 1-1, Steinebrey hit a single over the third baseman’s head to lead off the inning. Aug then put down a perfect bunt that hugged the third base line and he easily beat the throw to first. CJ Shambelan was hit by the next pitch while trying to move the runners over on a bunt. That loaded the bases for Primavera who hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Steinebrey. The runners moved up on the throw and Palanzo worked a four-pitch walk to reload the bases. Debona followed with a tough at bat, fouling off several pitches, before driving in the final run of the game with a walk. McInerney allowed a one-out double in the sixth but escaped trouble to close out the win.

After being rained out again on Tuesday, Newtown was scheduled to face Turners Falls, Mass. On Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press).