Baseball is back. It has been a while, but it's finally back. What better way to start the 2020 Summer season off with a little pregame lightning followed by a walk-off rocket.
The night started with a beaming sun that came out of nowhere, after hours of showers. Right-handed pitcher, Ryan Micari, named starting pitcher for the 15u Moose on opening day against the CT Riptide, came to play. Cooking up a perfect outing, Micari struck out four, bringing the heat for four innings. Despite losing a batter to base on balls, Micari didn't allow a single hit in his four innings of dealing.
The Moose took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning after Jack Gold walked with the bases loaded to send home Jacob Henretta. A thin one-run lead quickly erased after the CT Riptide capitalized in the top of the fifth. An error-filled inning by the Connecticut Moose put relief pitcher Jacob Taylor in trouble.
After struggling early in his first outing of the season, Jacob Taylor was able to dial it back in late to keep the Riptide lead within striking distance. Taylor went three innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out two.
An insurance run late in the top of the seventh put the CT Riptide up 3-1. The Riptide were only able to record three team hits, compared to the Moose's 11 base knocks. Evan Dougherty, Sean Tessman, and Jacob Henretta each stirred up two hits to lead the way for the Connecticut Moose.
The Moose trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh and would need a classic Moose miracle to start the season with a win. Indeed they did. Walk after walk, the Connecticut Moose 15u squad was able to walk in runs two and three. The game was all knotted up at three, the sun was gone, the momentum was with the home team, and Sean Tessman ended it in style. A rope liner to left field sent home the CT Riptide, and the Connecticut Moose started the summer off with a bang.
Stand out players, Ryan Micari and seventh inning hero Sean Tessman carried the 15u Moose to its first win. The 15u Connecticut Moose face the CT Capitals on Thursday, July 2nd, at Northwest Catholic High School. First pitch at 6 pm. Can the Moose roll to 2-0? Tune in at 6 pm on the Connecticut Moose Facebook and Instagram page for live updates. Welcome back baseball, the Moose are rolling...
