On Saturday, July 30, the Hamden Miners defeated the Wallingford Silver Storm twice to win the 2022 CCBL title:
Game 1 Summary
Hamden’s Mike Gajda (Post Univ.) hit a solo HR to open the scoring for the Miners. Later, Tanner Santos (Babson) scored on Jake Pisano's (SCSU) double, which made it 2-0 Hamden in the top of the 3rd.
Wallingford got its only run in the seventh, as Derek Angell (Salem St.) led off the bottom of the inning with a walk, followed by a Luke DiMauro (Springfield) single. Then, Johnny Brucato (St. Vincent’s) singled home Angell for the sole Silver Storm run. The game ended on a game saving catch by Hamden CF Mason Balmer (ECSU).
Hamden starting pitcher Tre Rivera (Franklin Pierce) got the win; he threw 6.1 innings, allowed 1 earned run, 2 hits and 5 walks and struck out 10.
Pete Gianquinto (Johnson & Wales) picked up the save, getting the last two outs in the 7th with men on second and third.
Wallingford’s Alec Erskine (SCSU) pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 hits, 1 earned run while striking out 7.
Game 2 Summary
Hamden started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning. Tanner Santos singled and stole 2nd. Hank Bielen (Delaware) singled home Santos, giving the Miners a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the 2nd inning, Wallingford's Matt Costello (Post Univ.) singled home Jack Clancy (CCSU), making it 1-1. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Chris Scanlon (Merrimack) doubled and Mike Gajda followed with an RBI single for a 2-1 Hamden lead.
In the top of the 3rd, Johnny Brucato led off with a single, and with one out, Josh McDonald (St. Rose) hit a 2 run home run to give Wallingford a 3-2 lead.
In the Miners' 5th inning, Paul Vilecco (WNEU) led off with a bunt single and Jake Pisano walked, followed by Hank Bielen’s single. With the bases loaded, Mason Balmer singled, which scored Vilecco. With the score tied 3 - 3, Hunter Keller (Post Univ.) singled and drove in 2 runs before Tanner Santos struck again with a 2 run single. Hamden led 7-3 and the Miners would not surrender the lead, as the final score was 9-6.
Hamden's winning pitcher Pete Gianquinto pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 earned runs. Henry Rondon (Elms) pitched 2 clean innings of relief for the Miners to get the save. Wallingford’s starter Steve Phillips (SCSU) pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 9 hits and 4 earned runs.
