CHESHIRE — The high school and local college baseball seasons are over, but there is still more of “America’s Pastime” to be played.
In the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League, the Wallingford Silver Storm are having a solid season. They’re off to a 6-3-1 start and sit atop the league standings.
Head coach Dennis Boucher is thrilled with the experience of coaching summer ball.
“The experience for me is really rewarding,” Boucher said. “It’s just a fun summer and the kids know what they are doing. We have a great, tight-knit group of kids here and they have become very good friends. Everyone is having a good time, so winning just comes off of that.”
Wallingford started the season 3-0 and won five of its first seven games. However, the Silver Storm went into Tuesday’s game on a two-game losing streak, so they were looking to right the ship.
They did just that, defeating the Hamden Miners 5-1 at Cheshire High School in a game that was defined by solid pitching and quality hitting.
Boucher credited his pitching staff for recovering after an early home run.
“Our pitching dominated the game pretty good,” Boucher said. “We gave up one run on the home run, but other than that we threw strikes, got ahead of batters and we did a wonderful job. That is what dictated the game.”
Wallingford never trailing, jumping out to a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly.
Following the home run by Hamden, the Silver Storm responded with two runs on a singe and wild pitch to retake the lead, 3-1.
“They are an aggressive hitting team, so I just told them to go out there, see strikes and swing the bat,” Boucher said.
One of the hits was by Anthony Acampora of North Haven. It was the first hit of the CCBL season for the Albertus Magnus College freshman.
“He didn’t play a lot this season in college, so he came to us to get some reps,” Boucher said. “He is getting in the groove a little bit. He swung well tonight.”
The Silver Storm added more runs in the bottom of the fourth and held on to win 5-1. It was Wallingford’s second win this season against Hamden, the defending CCBL champ.
Boucher expects this team to go far in the season.
“Last year, we were in the championship,” Boucher said. “This year, we are right where we want to be, so we are looking for the same thing.”
The Silver Storm hit the road on Friday to play the Western Mass Pioneers. After another road game Monday in Bridgeport, they return to Cheshire High on Tuesday to host the Glastonbury Arrows at 5:30 p.m.
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