Berlin High School Sports Roundup: Wednesday, May 15

Coming off a two-game losing streak, the Berlin Redcoats baseball team had a big obstacle: No. 1 ranked, undefeated Bristol Central. An even bigger obstacle was on the mound in the form of Rams' ace right-hander Matt Blandino.

Although Berlin outhit the Rams, Blandino was too much for the visiting Redcoats as he fired a ten-strikeout, four-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory. Pitching in front of at least one scout with a radar gun, Blandino kept his 90-plus mph fastball low in the strike zone, without walking a batter, to set up an effective breaking pitch.

Berlin left-hander Connor Bennett provided his usual strong game, matching zeros on the Muzzy Field scoreboard, while allowing the Rams only one infield hit through four innings.

The game's decisive run came in the fifth. Bristol Central senior Justen Jakubiak worked a walk off Bennett on a close pitch, stole second and scored on Elijah Minella 's ground ball single to centerfield. Bennett (5-2) closed out six inning of strong pitching, allowing only three hits and facing only two batters over the minimum.

Berlin's most serious threat came in the 2nd when singles by Jeff Sylvester and Anthony Sisti and a Minella error put runners on second and third. But Blandino got Kyle Naples and Alec Norton to end the threat. The Redcoats lost for the second consecutive day by one run.

Combined with Monday’s loss at Platt, Berlin’s loss dropped its 2013 record to 9-7.

Bristol Central (16-0) has four regular season games remaining in its quest for an undefeated campaign. Xavier, Amity, Southington and Greenwich will the join Rams as favorites for a Class LL state title.

Among the schools in Berlin’s path to a Class L title are Cheney Tech, Maloney, Avon, New Canaan and Fitch.

The Redcoats faced Bulkeley High(3-12) in a doubleheader Wednesday at Sage Park, then end the week at Maloney High in Meriden on Friday.

Berlin

• Daren Grabowski cf 3-0-0
  
• Mitch Williams 3b 3-0-1
  
• Dante Vasi lb 3-0-0
  
• Dave Condon rf 3-0-0
  
• Jordan Zima c 3-0-0
  
• Jeff Sylvester eh 3-0-1
  
• Anthony Sisti lf 3-0-1
  
• Kyle Naples ss 3-0-1
  
• Alec Norton 2b 2-0-0 
  
• P Connor Bennett(L, 5-2) 6IP, 3H, 1R, IER, 1BB, 1K 
  

• Matt Blandino p 3-0-2
  
• Andrew Martin dh 3-0-0
  
• Mitch Guilmette 3b 2-0-0
  
• Kyle Pileski rf 2-0-0
  
• Jacob Martel cf 2-0-0
  
• Justen Jakubiak lb 1-1-0
  
• Andrew Laviero c 2-0-0
  
• Elijah Minella ss 2-0-1
  
• Joe DeFillippi 2b 2-0-0
  
• Ron St. Dennis lf 0-0-0 
  
• BB: Jakubiak
  
• RBI: Minella
  
• SB: Jakubiak 
  
• P Blandino (W) 7IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 10K