Manchester American Legion Falls to Zone 8's Top Team

Playing it's first game after three nights off, Manchester's Senior American Legion team allowed one big inning allowing Zone 8's top team, Windsor Locks to leave Manchester late Friday night with a 12-2 win.

With two outs in the Windsor Locks top of the second, Windsor Locks scored six times. With the bases loaded, Windsor Locks' Mike Chemlowski hit a bases clearing double. Windsor Locks had runners on base, after two fly balls in foul territory were dropped allowing the inning to continue. Singles by Aaron Civale and Mike Gentile plated the other three runs for Windsor Locks.

Manchester answered in the bottom of the second, when Manchester starting pitcher Dave Grance singled and Mike Pelligrimelli walked. With two outs, Patrick Fisher was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Manchester. Catcher Chris Dibble hit the first pitch he saw scoring Grande and Pelligrinelli.

Pelligrinelli started a potentially big fourth inning for Manchester, with a leadoff single. A walk by Nolan Cardwell, and a single by Sean Corcoran loaded the bases with no outs. The next three batters for Manchester couldn't get a run across the plate ending the chance for their own big inning.

Windsor Locks would go on to score runs in each of the remaining innings. Manchester's next best chance came in the bottom of the fourth inning but stranded three runners.

Manchester's Senior team goes on the road for a game Saturday in Rockville and a night game in Middletown on Sunday.

Manchester Junior Legion Scores Late in Early Game to Win

In the early game, Manchester's Junior American Legion team snuck by the Tolland team 4-3.

With Tolland ahead by two runs, Manchester Junior Legion pushed three runners across the plate to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
Manchester's Johhny Bollash came in to relieve starter Sean Keller with Tolland runners on base, with one out in the in the top of the third inning. Bollash stopped the bleeding and held Tolland scoreless for Manchester to score three runs in their half of the fourth inning.

Tolland and Manchester traded scoreless innings, until the seventh inning. Manchester closer Anthony Chirico took the ball for the top of the seventh but was charged with one unearned run to tie the game.

With an already thin bullpen, Manchester was forced to score or go to extra innings leaving it up to Chirico. Manchester's lead off batter reached base on an infield error. Chirico made up for allowing the game to be tied by reaching base on what would be scored as a Tolland fielder's choice, which didn't produce an out. Ian Raymond walked on four consecutive balls to load the bases. With one Manchester out, Ken Bruno struck out, leaving it up to Alex Fortes. With a silent crowd watching, Fortes brought the count full and stayed alive by fouling off Tolland pitches. With the Manchester bases full, Fortes took a called fourth ball walking in the winning run.

Manchester's Junior Legion team travels to Windsor Locks on Saturday for an early game, before taking two days off for high school graduations, returning to action Tuesday against Windsor at Windsor High School.

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