Season Ends For Staples Baseball After Stunning Loss

The Wreckers were in disbelief.

The second-seeded Staples High School baseball team suffered a stunning 7-3 loss to No. 31 Hamden in a CIAC Class LL first-round game on Wednesday.

The contest was resumed on Wednesday after it was suspended in the fourth inning Tuesday with Staples (18-4) trailing, 5-1.

Hamden (10-12) needed to win a qualifying game on Saturday just to get into the main draw.

"They just played a better game than us, there's not much more to it than that," reflected Staples lefty ace David Speer, a hangdog look on his face. "We had the best record in Staples history this year, so it was disappointing to come away with nothing."

The Wreckers finished the regular season with an 18-2 record, but had little to show for it, as they also lost to Westhill, 7-4, in the first round of the FCIAC playoffs.

Speer pitched 3 1/3 innings Tuesday, giving up eight hits and five runs, including a two-run homer. 

"They beat me on a few fastballs and they came ready to play," he said. 

The contest was suspended following a 90-minute delay Tuesday due to thunderstorms, and Speer did not return to the mound Wednesday.

Staples freshman Brian Terzian, who recorded two RBI, put it succinctly:  "They made the plays, and they got the hits."

On Tuesday, Staples found out Hamden was the real deal.  The Green Dragons collected five runs on eight hits and had runners on base in three of the four innings.

Hamden almost added two more runs on Tuesday when left fielder Jordan Teague blasted a shot to deep left,  only to be robbed of a homer when Staples left fielder Brendan Bernstein reached over the fence to make the out.

Hamden's pitcher Don Pfeiffer held the potent Wreckers' offense at bay on Tuesday,  giving up just two hits, although one of those was a solo homer by Staples senior captain Jimmy Sikorski, who went 2-for-3 in the game.

By the time the umpire suspended Tuesday's game, Staples had dug itself into a four-run hole.

When the game resumed Wednesday,  Staples' Ryan Burke drew a walk.

Two batters later, shortstop Tyler Jacobs singled to left, and then Terzian, who had just been slotted in as designated hitter, pounded out a two-run double to deep left, pulling Staples within 5-3.

Wreckers southpaw Rob Gau, who  Speer on the mound from the outset on Wednesday, retired Hamden in order in the top of the fifth, fanning two.

Finally, the Wreckers were back in the saddle – or so it seemed.

In the bottom of the fifth,  the Wreckers tallied two more singles by Jack Hennessy and Ben Lipper, but that proved to be their high-water mark 

Hennessy was thrown at third on a surprising double steal attempt, and then Grant Moss struck out to end the inning.

"Jack had a great jump, and they just made the play on us," Staples coach Jack McFarland said

Gau's command was erratic in the sixth, as he threw three wild pitches and surrendered  two more runs.

In the top of the seventh, Gau was back on top of his game,  retiring the Green Dragons in order, but the Wrecker bats were silent in the bottom half of the frame,  allowing the Green Dragons to claim victory.

All told, the Wreckers collected three runs on eight hits and the Green Dragons seven runs on nine hits.

Despite the loss, McFarland put a positive spin on the season.

"I am really proud of this group," he said. "We had the best record in Staples history.  These senior have left the program in a very good spot."