SPLITSVILLE
Cannons Salvage Split As Yanosy, Clark Spin Three-Hitter In Game Two

Torrington, CT (AP)—Some splits are good (banana, cheerleader). Some splits are bad (pants, parents). On Sunday, the Connecticut Cannons earned a solid split, taking the nightcap against the Torr-Winchester Rifles 8-6 after dropping the first decision 12-2 via the mercy rule following just five frames. A disappointing end to the 2008 campaign at the hands of these very Rifles led to a busy off-season upgrading a Cannons roster that was only one strike away from advancing to the league finals. Free agents Juan Checo, Drew Clarke, Rob DePalma, Josh Svoboda, and Jim Yanosy joined a solid core of fifteen battle-tested baseballers for another season of spring and summer Sundays in the sun, establishing realistic Connecticut North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL) title aspirations for the team and its fervent fans. Although the Cannons played below expectations in the first game and on defense as a whole, winning the second game was a salve for any stinging that loss may have caused. “Opening Day is always exciting and it’s extremely encouraging to come away with a win,” said oft-optimistic Manager Matt Celio in his post-game press conference. “We had another big off-season and it became immediately apparent we’ve added some impact players to an already talented roster. This was our first opportunity to see the team as a whole, and we now have a better idea of our strengths, of which there are many. To be honest, I don’t really see any weaknesses that a few practices won’t take care of: We shook off some rust defensively out on the diamond today but that’s to be expected in April, and with additional repetitions guys will make plays like their capable of. Many of the bats were in mid-season form, our pitchers performed admirably, and it’s obvious we have more depth at this important position than we have in the past. We are without question a much tougher team in 2009, and we’ll be difficult to beat not only next weekend [against the Hartford Nationals] but right on through the post-season. It’s a great time to be a citizen of Cannon Nation.”

Game One found Rifles ace Danny “Taxi” DiVita on his familiar perch atop the mound and he set the big bats atop the Cannons line-up down in order in the top of the first. Checo, off of recent knee surgery, was given the ball for the Cannons but he struggled with his control from the outset as Torr-Winchester was able to push two runs across in the home half of the first frame without the benefit of a single hit (Jeff Weber look-alike Jim Cooke was hit by a pitch after Checo walked the bases loaded and Don Armatino followed with a base on balls before Howie Longhi flied out to Steve Markie in right to end the inning). Unable to generate any offense in the second, the Cannons once again took the field where Checo was touched for three additional runs on a two-out two run single by DiVita and a RBI base knock by Rifles Manager Paul “Have You Ever Seen a Grown Man Naked?” Graves. Connecticut cut into the lead in the third as Drew McDowell led off with a double, Kevin Quinn walked, and Chris Barsa drove in the team’s first run of the season, but Celio’s boneheaded base running blunder, sending pinch runner Svoboda to second where he was cut down by Derek Jeter doppelganger Dick DeVanney, ruined a potential rally. Jason Maule worked a walk and Bill Balcerzak smoked a run scoring single later in the inning but the two tallies were the only runs the Cannons could muster against DiVita. Quinn (2 IP, 7 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 3 BB) relieved Checo (2 IP, 5 ER, 2 H, 7 BB, 2 HBP) after a sixty-six pitch performance and though he was effective, the soon-to-be thirty year old right-hander was betrayed by porous play in the field as the Rifles racked up seven runs—six of them unearned—to build a ten-run bulge, leading to the enforcement of the mercy rule as DiVita closed out the Cannons after only two turns through the order. Celio stated succinctly, “We came out a little flat in the Opener. However, we’ve put together a contender so you simply put it behind you and move on to the next game, a contest we will undoubtedly win.”

Game Two saw Connecticut jump out to an early lead against Torr-Winchester’s newest acquisition, Woody Mayger. Maule led off with a double to left and moved to third on a sharply rapped single by Balcerzak. The speedy shortstop subsequently swiped second and the late throw bounced away from Al “The Godfather” Boucino, allowing Maule to score (Balcerzak moved up another ninety feet on the error). Tom Luby’s run producing ground out to short pushed the Cannons in front by a score of 2-0, providing a cushion for first year pitcher Yanosy. Yet the fielding once again faltered as Cannons infielders committed four foibles in the first frame, in combination with a pair of singles and a free pass, leading to four Rifles runs. Yanosy settled down in the second, allowing only a single base on balls before retiring the hard hitting DeVanney for the third out of the inning. In the third, the Cannons reclaimed the lead as Jason Maule beat out a bobbled ball at short, Balcerzak singed a single and Tom Clark scored both with a one-out double. Checo’s RBI single with two down pushed Connecticut ahead, 5-4, and Balcerzak’s solo blast off of reliever Artie Lange in the fifth gave the visitors a two-run lead again. Yanosy made the advantage hold up, setting down thirteen of the fifteen batters he faced from the first through the fifth. However, the righty rookie started to show signs of fatigue in the fifth frame as he hit the eighty-pitch plateau, allowing a lead off walk to Ronald Burger and a double to DeVanney off the left-center fence to pull the Rifles within one. After a four-pitch walk to DiVita, Celio lifted Yanosy (4.2 IP, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 4 BB) for Clark. A wild pitch, a patented pick-off that skipped by McDowell at first, and a throw back to the mound that bounded into the visitors dugout allowed the tying run to cross the plate and the go-ahead run to move up to third. But in this big situation Clark, the reigning Cannons Patenaude Pitching Award recipient, struck out Billy Dee Williams swinging to preserve the tie, setting up sixth inning heroics from a pair of new recruits. Checo worked a walk, one of only three allowed by Rifles pitchers over twelve innings, and moved into scoring position on McDowell’s base hit. Markie hit a ground ball to third but instead of erasing the lead runner, Longhi opted to throw to second, allowing Checo to reach third safely. DePalma stepped to the plate and played possum with Lange, swinging late on a pair of fastballs, setting up the pitcher to throw a two-strike heater that “Palm Sunday” stroked back up the middle just over the glove of a diving Boucino scoring Checo with the eventual game winner (DePalma humbly said afterwards, “I was just glad I could contribute. I think we have a really good shot with the team we have assembled here.”). Clark walked Graves to lead off the sixth but escaped with a strike out, a fielder’s choice to short, and a pop out to Dionicio at second (“That’s a Blanquito’s ball with a lead late in the game,” joked Celio after the catch). Connecticut tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Balcerzak and Luby singled and Clark followed with a base hit to left as Celio waved Balcerzak home against Graves. Clark (2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 2 BB) again issued a free pass to the lead-off batter but another strike out and a tailor-made double play from Luby to Dionicio to McDowell preserved the 8-6 victory. Celio gushed over his newest pitching prospect: “Jimmy did a great job of keeping us in the ball game against the big boppers in the Rifles line-up. He pitched with the poise of a veteran and deserves all the accolades afforded him. He is the perfect compliment to our other arms and will really give us a boost on a weekly basis. I’m excited about adding an impact player of his strength and stature before the beginning of the season. Cannons Rookie of the Year is going to be hotly contested in 2009.”

A split decision between the Cannons and Rifles on Sunday in a classic confrontation and the CNMSBL’s nationally televised games of the week. But championships will not be won or lost on warm April afternoons but rather under the sultry, sunny skies of August. The Connecticut Cannons remain positive—as always—and Assistant Manager Weber added: “We made a few mistakes early as a team and the Rifles made them hurt but we bounced back and that shows the kind of character that we expect to define this edition of Connecticut Cannons Baseball. We’re right where we want to be and know we’ll be there when it really counts in ’09.” Dionicio chipped in, “The chemistry is better than ever and that’s important because I like to have fun and win.” There is quite a long way to go before CNMSBL season supremacy can be decided in 2009 but once again the Cannons have used free agency to a greater advantage than any team in the league and the assembled talent that has been stockpiled gives this team a fighting chance against any and all rivals. These moves have positioned the Cannons perfectly as the 2009 A Division campaign got underway this weekend. There is still plenty of baseball to be played at Connecticut takes on Hartford this Sunday at Conard High School in West Hartford…standing room only seating are available via phone (1 800-CANNONS) or the internet (ctcannons.blogspot.com). Splits can be good but sweeps are always great. The Connecticut Cannons expect greatness this season. The chase for the Clarke/Clinton Trophy is under way.

Cannons News and Notes: The Cannons are 2-6 on Opening Day since joining the A Division (there was never any doubt that Game Two would be a win…Bella Celio asked her Magic 8 Ball about the weekend’s outcomes and the telltale tool told her a split was imminent); Connecticut out-hit Torr-Winchester 16 to 11 (Balcerzak, Checo, Clark, and McDowell all had multi-hit days)…the Cannons are hitting .302 after two games, the team’s best batting average this early in a campaign since the 2005 championship season; Balcerzak hit the team’s first home run of the season for the second straight year (he hit two against the Marlins/G-Men in Glastonbury on 6/1/08…when asked about his prediction for the team in 2009, “BB Gun” responded. “Besides a championship? That’s all you need to know.”; Clark wore #0, Rick Weber’s memorial jersey, on Sunday making him the first player to do so since Mike Calabrese in 2007…Clark’s chipper post-game comments about the ’09 edition of the Cannons: “I’m having fun. I think the guys are great. I think the coaches are cute. I think the beer tastes good. Everything is terrific.”; Maule and Quinn played with Yanosy’s light throwing younger brother at CCSU…when asked about his own velocity in comparison, the elder Yanosy stated, “I don’t throw quite that hard.” (if Sunday was any indication, the Cannons could always use another arm!); Luby returned after a one-year layoff due to back surgery: “I’m thrilled to be back. I think we’re going to win it all.”; Borst, Celio, Clarke, and Weber did not see action on Opening Day; Mike McGann, Adam Pallone, and Mike Patenaude were not in attendance…on Friday, McGann was hit in the forehead with a ball off the bat of DePalma (oops, Celio suggested an L screen was unnecessary) but it was car trouble that kept #2 away; Cannons pitchers sawed off two Rifles sticks, including the brilliant breaking of Thunderboy, the bat Williams used to hit his three-run homer in last season’s playoff game, sending Connecticut home for ’08 season; Celio gave Dionicio a pair of Old Hickory batting gloves before the season began…when trying them on, the “Latin Lothario” stated, “These fit just like an extra large Trojan condom.” to which Weber responded, “Really? They’re that loose?”; careful CNMSBL Managers, Dionicio wants to grab your balls!…Dionicio’s Horsehide for Hispaniola campaign is underway: new baseballs can be donated to the “Dominican Dreamboat” and will be delivered to less fortunate Cannon fans in the Caribbean this summer; much to the dismay of the Presidente-drinking Checo and Dionicio, Miller High Life—the Champagne of Beers and Graves’ favorite—was once again named Official Brew of Cannon Nation…Dionicio was pleased with an Opening Day win: “I told Juan [Checo] that it’s always taken us three months to get our first ‘W’[this actually occurred in Week Two in ‘08].”…Dionicio said the Dominican duo drank alone because “we had a special island treat that we didn’t want to share with the white guys.”…the second baseman also wanted his middle infield mate and Buffalo Bills fan Balcerzak to know that, “T.O. is gay!”; Weber went shot for shot with Graves (who then informed any interested bystanders that his team refers to their first base coach, # ½, as “Wee Man” of Jackass fame), though the Cannons Assistant Manager spilled several ounces of Sambuca on his red team pullover, producing a satiny sheen; Graves was asked by reporters before the game how he felt on Opening Day: His four word response, “Fat. No more questions.”; the Graves family once again supplied a post-game spread for members of both teams…“Digger” was heard harping about his hardships: “Yeah, she cooks all this stuff. But then I have to go home and bang her.”…sounds like somebody got the short end of the proverbial stick out in Winsted (yes, short and stick are together in this sentence on purpose); DeVanney and Graves called Maule “the most dangerous and feared hitter in the league”; the Cannons hope to unveil the new navy tops in their triumphant return to West Hartford, the town they called home for three-plus seasons in the middle of this decade, this Sunday; Manager Graves is looking for players—specifically Cannons—to participate in an “All Star Game” on Friday, May 8 at Fuessenich (7:00 p.m.), a seven inning contest pitting A Division stars against an assembled 40+ team from the northwest corner of the state (Glastonbury’s John Skinner has already committed…but let’s not let this stop the Cannons!); the third annual Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon is scheduled for the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (Opening Ceremonies will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Glastonbury’s Riverfront Park on May 22).

4/19 Studs: Balcerzak (4 for 5, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 2 RBI); Clark (2 for 6, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI; 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H); DePalma (I for 1, 1 Game Winning RBI); Yanosy (4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H)

4/19 Duds: Celio for sending Svoboda to second with a four-run deficit (after replacing Barsa with a 1-0 count to Markie…I never thought DeVanney would throw through with a runner on third!); Checo for seven walks and two hit batters in two innings; Clarke for failing to have the new uniforms ready for Opening Day; Dionicio for arriving at Fuessenich Field at 10:01 a.m. (this after Checo offered a ride at 8:25); McGann for allowing his broken down car to keep him away from the first Sunday