Just one year ago, the South Windsor Bobcats could do nothing but watch as the Southington Blue Knights celebrated their victory in the inaugural CCC baseball championship. Since then, both teams have gone down similar paths, leading to a monumental showdown early in the 2025 season.
The 6-1, 5th ranked Blue Knights traveled to Rotary Field for the highly anticipated rematch with the 5-2 Bobcats in a rare night game in South Windsor. Senior Robert Wunsch took the mound for the home squad and knew he’d have his work cut out for him. A leadoff single and a ball lost in the bright sun would score two in the top of the first.
Fortunately for Wunsch, his lineup had his back early on. A walk to junior Brayden Edwards, then a double from senior Sam Balducci, and another walk to Wunsch would load the bases for senior Jake Palombizio, who capitalized with a sacrifice fly.
Freshman Tyler Poland came through with a base hit to score Balducci and advance Wunsch to third. Senior catcher Jake Gombotz hit what should’ve been an out but got a huge break on a Southington error and brought in Wunsch, giving the ‘Cats a 3-2 lead.
The Blue Knights would get their leadoff man on and all the way over to third base in the top of the second but he’d get no further. Wunsch retired the side with a called strike three to keep the score as is.
Edwards doubled and got to third on a single from Balducci, but both runners would be stranded after an inning ending double play.
Wunsch sailed through the third inning, setting Southington down 1-2-3, much thanks to a spectacular diving catch by senior shortstop Justin Dittmar on the third out.
Palombizio and Dittmar hit back-to-back singles to kickoff the home half of the third, before a Poland sacrifice that would advance both runners. Gombotz stepped up to bat and laid down a beautiful bunt that not only scored Palombizio but gave the Blue Knights no play and everyone would be safe.
Two runners would get on base for Southington in the top of the fourth and looked to be their best opportunity to shave off some of the Bobcat lead. Unfortunately for the Blue Knights, Wunsch blew by a hitter for the second out and Gombotz threw out the runner stealing third to retire the side.
Needing some more insurance runs to combat the constant Southington threats, Palombizio would provide one on an RBI triple to score Balducci and make it a 5-2 lead.
Through the first four innings, Southington seemed a shell of their usual selves, something bound to eventually crack, and the fifth innings was the time. After getting two runners on, the Black Knights found their break with a two run double that was soon after followed with a two run single that gave them their first lead since the top of the first.
Just when it seemed the momentum had switched sides, Gombotz and sophomore Bennett Durbois both walked to put the pressure on the Black Knights pitcher. As junior Aiden Jackson stepped to bat, he’d see a pitch get spiked in the dirt and bring Gombotz to score and tie the game at 6 apiece.
Wunsch mowed down the Blue Knights in the top of the sixth to keep it tied. The home frame of the inning saw the heart of the Bobcats lineup come to bat, and after a leadoff single by Balducci, Wunsch came to bat.
With a 2-2 count, Wunsch got his pitch and demolished the ball into the gap and rolled to the fence for a triple, bringing in Balducci and sending the crowd into pure pandemonium as the Bobcats led 7-6.
South Windsor head coach Michael McDermott stuck with Wunsch for the top of the seventh. The inning kicked off with a pop-up caught by junior first baseman Jaiden Morales. Wunsch would set down the following batter with a massive strikeout.
With a pitch count over 100, the batter coming to the plate was guaranteed to be the last batter of the night for Wunsch. After getting ahead with a two-strike count, Wunsch fired the payoff pitch that would be swung on and missed to end the game.
The script from that game just one year prior was completely switched, seeing the ‘Cats celebrate while the Blue Knights held their heads down as they looked on.
Despite being a regular season game, the win is significant for the Bobcats beyond just getting revenge for the CCC championship. No South Windsor baseball team had beaten Southington since the 2012 state semifinals, snapping the 13 year drought.
Following the game, Wunsch spoke to The Prowl, saying “It was such a battle. Two [of] the top teams in the state battled it out in a thriller but the ‘Cats stayed together and rallied to get the win.”
While the win is a surreal feeling, Edwards knows this is just a start. “I think it’s a program changing win and we still have a lot more in store. I’m just proud of the guys right now,” Edwards said.
South Windsor now sits at 6-2 and ride a five game win streak into their contest against Tolland on Friday. In a true make-or-break week for the ‘Cats that started off with three straight games, the team has done anything but break and are now steamrolling down the momentum tracks.
