MONROE, CT — It was an exciting couple of games for Coach Brian Hourigan’s Masuk High baseball team. On Monday, the Panthers went to New Canaan and battled to the finish and then some in a 4-3 walk-off, extra-inning defeat. Then came a 15-5 slugging of visiting Kaynor Tech on Wednesday.
The New Canaan game was tied at three in the bottom of the eighth when Connor Fulchino induced New Canaan’s batter into a fielder’s choice, but the winning run scored.
New Canaan took a 1-0 first-inning lead. Masuk battled back to go ahead in the third. Nico Convertito doubled and Fulchino doubled down the left field line to produce runs. The Rams answered to tie the score.
Justin Fanning started for Masuk and allowed six hits and three runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one.
Chris Cascella, the eighth hitter in the order, led Masuk with two hits in three at bats.
In the Kaynor Tech game, Chris Welch was 3-for-3. Welch singled in the first inning, doubled in the third inning and singled in the fourth inning. Welch drove in two runs in the opening inning.
Masuk scored six runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Jackson Zylick tripled, scoring two runs, an error scored one run, Convertito doubled to score two runs, and Fulchino was struck by a pitch, driving in a run.
The Panthers added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning when Welch doubled home a run, an error scored two runs, and another scored on a Ryan Cubelli ground out.
Jacob Mondo earned the win. The starter did not allow a hit over three innings, striking out six and walking none. Henry Barba appeared in relief for Masuk.
The Panthers piled up 12 hits in the game. Steven Curtin and Convertito each collected multiple hits. Fulchino led Masuk with two of the teams eight walks. Welch and Fulchino each stole multiple bases among 10 Masuk steals in the contest.
Masuk visits Southington Saturday at 1 p.m.
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