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In game six, junior Heath Cotton struck out 12 and allowed only one hit for his seventh career victory in a 3-2 win over Somers.
"We've had solid pitching all year," Canton coach Brian Roy said. "We've come up with the clutch hit at the key time. I hope we can keep that going."
Canton (8-2, 8-2 NCCC) has a nice mix of players. There are only four seniors on the team, but Wilcox (4-0, 12-8 career) and third baseman Dan O'Flaherty are four-year starters. Rightfielder John Kulik has settled in nicely to the No. 5 spot in the lineup, while second baseman Conor McAlindin is hitting well in the leadoff spot.
Wilcox was an All-NCCC pick a year ago while O'Flaherty earned a spot on the All-NCCC team as a sophomore.
Among the juniors are pitcher Cotton, 5-0 a year ago on the mound for CHS and 1-2 thus far in 2004. Cotton scattered five hits in a 4-3 loss to Tolland on May 6. Leftfielder Joe McGuigan has shaken off an early season finger injury and is hitting well as the No. 3 hitter in the lineup. Catcher Jeff Rose and shortstop Bahre are doing well in new positions.
Along with the game-winning hit in the Granby game, Bahre also had a double and three RBI in a second game with Granby.
Sophomore centerfielder Mike Connon is playing well.
He went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI in a big 25-0 win over Stafford earlier this season. Sophomore pitcher Matt Valley has pitched well as a starter and relief.
Sophomores Dan Podesla (1B), Ian Bossert (C), Hal Scheidel (3B/P) and freshman Jared Balavander (of) are providing solid contributions off the bench.
"These kids have worked hard," Roy said. "They played some summer baseball and that helps, too."
Whether Canton can finish atop the NCCC remains to be seen.
Defending champion Enfield and Tolland are both larger schools and present formidable challenges. But the Warriors would like to finish among the top four and earn another berth in the NCCC Tournament, a one-day, doubleheader on Friday, May 28 at Eastern Connecticut State University. Last year, Canton fell to Enfield 3-2 in the NCCC semifinals.
The Class S tournament begins on Tuesday, June 1.
title and set a school record for most wins in a season.
Tom Spirito, a 6-3 foot senior righthander at Eastern Connecticut State, is working out the Bullpen for the Cats (31-9, 13-1 Little East), who were ranked No. 3
in Division III at the end of the regular season. He has made 10 appearances this spring. As a sophomore, he was an All-Little East reliever winning a regional final and the opening game in the 2002 NCAA Division III national tournament that ECSU eventually won.
