After a huge 15-1 opening day victory over Wethersfield, the South Windsor Bobcats welcomed the Bristol Central Rams for the ‘Cats home opener.
Bennet Durbois took the mound for the Bobcats and wasted no time getting to work. The South Windsor junior quickly set down the Rams and sent the game to the home side of the first.
The ‘Cats couldn’t muster much in the opening frame and went back out to the field still tied at zero. Fortunately for them, Durbois kept the visitors in check and without a hit through the fourth.
Senior Jaiden Morales notched a base hit in the bottom of the second but would be left stranded on base.
‘Cats senior Ryan Hubbard had a leadoff single of his own in the third but a double play negated the runner. Fellow senior Brayden Edwards hit a double that same inning but would be stranded there as the third came to a close.
Bristol Central had their best opportunity in the top of the fourth when they had two on with one out. Durbois had his first real pressure on him and delivered by striking out back-to-back hitters to end the frame.
Sophomore Tyler Poland got on by an error in the fourth, before senior Aiden Jackson hit a pop up that was dropped to get Poland but leave Jackson on first. Senior Daltin Harrison rolled a base hit into right field but both runners would get left on base yet again as the fourth soon came to an end.
The Rams led off the fifth with a double and followed it with a single that looked to be a real threat. Runners on the corners with no outs. Durbois needed his defense and would get the help he desired when Edwards got a fly ball in center and fired a bullet to the plate to catch the runner tagging up from third and turn a remarkable double play.
Hubbard started the home fifth with another base hit, this time to center field. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Torin Edwards. The elder Edwards stepped to bat next and launched a ball deep into right field. A touch shy of leaving the yard, Edwards cruised into third with an RBI triple.
Durbois followed with a walk, before a Poland base hit that scored Edwards and moved Durbois to second. Jackson singled to score his pitcher and leave the inning with a 3-0 lead.
A walk to the leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth would prove to be nothing as Durbois continued his smooth sailing and left the inning unharmed.
Junior Braydon Falco began the home side of the inning with a single, before moving to third when Hubbard notched his third hit of the game. Torin Edwards followed with his first career base hit, a two-RBI double to score both runners.
A passed ball sent Edwards to third, where he’d cruise in to score on a base knock from his older brother.
Durbois brought in Brayden on a single just a few pitches later. A strikeout would finally get the Rams their first out of the inning. Jackson walked to put two men on base, before a passed ball allowed both to advance another spot.
Harrison singled to bring in both runners and capped the scoring in the home sixth for the Bobcats. When all was said and done, the home squad led 9-0 entering the seventh and final inning.
Morales came in to close the game and would do just that. A groundout to second base would be the final out needed to bring the ‘Cats to 2-0 on the season and their second-consecutive blowout.
Durbois went six innings on the mound without allowing a run. He spoke to The Prowl after the game, saying “It took us a few innings to get our bats going, but once we did, we started mashing. On defense, [we] played phenomenal the entire game and it put us in a good position to win.
Brayden Edwards went 3-3 at the dish, being just a homer shy of the cycle, and made the remarkable run-saving throw in center. Following the game, Edwards praised the team play all around, saying “Great game by the boys. Really nice to see Bennett shove. [I] felt really good at the plate and was seeing the ball well today.”
Hubbard went 3-3 himself and spoke to The Prowl about the win, saying “Good first home win. There’s many more to come and the ‘Cats are going to keep on rolling.”
The Bobcats are now 2-0 and look to continue their hot start on Wednesday when they battle the Avon Falcons.
