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Sports

Montville Wins State Title!

Gonzalez Hurls 4-Hitter, Indians Play 'Small Ball' To Nip Seymour, 1-0

Back-to-back champions. It's a phrase not many scholastic teams can call themselves, considering how difficult it is to win one title, let alone two straight.

But today, the Montville High baseball team entered the rarest of company, winning its second straight Class M state title in a 1-0 victory over Seymour at Bristol's Muzzy Field.

Unlike last year, when a powerhouse Montville team rolled to the championship, this year's team turned its season around from a .500 record in early May and the indignity of not even qualifying for its conference tournament to produce a magical June run of five Class M victories as the No. 20 seed.

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And unlike the 2010 title game, which took six hours to complete because of two rain delays, today's repeat title was over in 96 minutes. Montville is the ultimate tough guy town, but the Indians did what they had to do, playing "small ball" to win the program's third state crown.

The way Montville lefty Tre Gonzalez and Seymour ace righty Adam Merritt were pitching, it appeared as though one run might be enough.

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Outfielder Ken Strecker, who popped into a double play two innings earlier on a sacrifice bunt attempt, hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Tyler Contillo for the game's only run. It was more than enough for Gonzalez, who retired 22nd-seed Seymour in the seventh to finish with a four-hit shutout.

"With Gonzalez on the mound with the way our defense plays, I thought one run was going to be enough," Strecker said. "I'm more comfortable hitting sacrifice flies. I hadn't been asked to sacrifice bunt all year."

Montville scored its sixth inning run without a hit out of the infield as Contillo reached on a scratch single and Casey Zalagens was hit by pitch. Max Hart followed with an infield grounder, which resulted in a questionable forceout as second, in which Zalagens appeared to beat the throw. With runners on first and third, Montville coach Phil Orbe let Strecker hit away. The junior outfielder answered with a medium-range fly to center, allowing Contillo to score easily.

Gonzalez (6-2) allowed just four hits and did not walk a batter, striking out five and enducing 11 groundball outs. Seymour (15-10) only advanced two runners to second base. The lone Seymour threat occurred in the third inning when Gabe Cretella doubled to right-center with two outs and a runner on first. Corey Wilcox, Montville's All-State center fielder, made a nice play to cut the ball off from slipping up the power alley and threw the ball back into the infield to keep the runner on third. Gonzalez got a groundball to end the inning.

"I felt very confident with the defense behind me," Gonzalez said. "I just wanted them to hit the ball on the ground and we'd make plays. It was a very fast game. Both pitchers were out there giving it their all, and I was going on adrenaline, so I could have gone a few more innings."

Orbe couldn't say enough about Gonzalez, who won three games in the states. He relied on a good fastball and accurate curve, looking sharp with his full compliment of seven days rest. Merritt, his counterpart, looked nearly as impressive, throwing his third game in a week.

"Tre was a little bit unlucky during the regular season," Orbe said. "He pitched very well this season. He's come a long way from his freshman year, and he's got a great future. He and catcher Jason Volpe had extraordinary games. Tre started throwing his curveball instead of babying it early.

"It was more than Tre,  it was everybody. I don't think I can do [putting the title in perspective] justice by putting it into words. It is very hard to describe. The kids believed in the coaching staff and the coaching staff believed in the kids. This is very satisfying because we've put a lot of time into it."

Considering the Indians started just two seniors, Montville looks to remain a state contender. Gonzalez and Wilcox will be seniors and will form a stout 1-2 pitching combo. Outfielders Max Hart, fresh off a pair of 30-hit, 30 RBI seasons as an underclassman, and Strecker, owner of the game-winning RBI in the title game, are back as well to join returning starters Nick Kinder at third, Tyler Guetens at first, Jason Volpe at catcher and Jordan Volpe at designated hitter.

Orbe made sure to thank a variety of contributors aside from the players: his coaching staff, a large throng of fans who attended the game, the Montville school system and community, whose support of MHS baseball includes fundraisers, feeder programs in the form of Montville Little League and American Legion, and local baseball training centers.

He urged Montville's players to thank fans by trotting up into the stands to slap hands and exchange hugs. It was a celebration cut short by the CIAC, the state's governing body that had a schedule to keep because of three title games at Muzzy. The awards ceremony could not be delayed, although the game was over well ahead of schedule. It was about the only aspect of the day that did not go Montville's way.

It won't be long before thoughts of a third straight championship, or "Tre-peat" echo around the practice fields, gyms and batting cages in Montville.

 

 

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