The St. Paul Falcons easily defeated the North Branford Thunderbirds 18-2 Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal match-up in Bristol.
Joey Tonnotti picked up his 11th win of the season for the Falcons, going 4 innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out six. Starter Caleb Allen took the loss for North Branford.
Tonnotti set the tone for the game right away by striking out the side in the top of the 1st on 12 pitches. Then in the bottom of the frame, Tonnotti blasted a 3-run homer to give St. Paul an early 3-0 lead.
Neither team was able to score in the 2nd inning.
In the top of the 3rd, the Thunderbirds got their first run on consecutive singles by Ryan Michonski, Dom Scalia, and Johnny Onofrio to cut the Falcon’s lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the 3rd, St. Paul broke the game wide open. Mario Izzo led off with a single. Casey Cerruto followed with a double, putting two men in scoring position. Tonnotti was again up to the task and drove both of them in with a 2 run single. Steve Morelli was up next and walked to put 2 on. Jonathan Remillard hit an RBI single driving in Tonnotti, and Cal Chance had an RBI single driving in Morelli. Devin Kulas reached on an infield error to load the bases. After a wild pitch allowed Remillard to score, Ryan Daniels walked to reload the bases. Izzo was hit by a pitch forcing in a run, and Cerruto walked forcing in another. Then Tonnotti reached on an infield error that allowed another run to score. Morelli had the final RBI on a fielder’s choice, and the Falcons had removed any doubt about the afternoon’s outcome. The nine run inning stretched the lead to 12-1.
Tonnotti retired the side in order in the top of the 4th. Michael Virginelli came on in relief in the bottom of the frame, and retired the first 2 batters to face him. But a double by Kulas, an RBI single by Daniels, an RBI double by Izzo, and a 2 run homer by Cerruto added 4 more for the Falcons who now led 16-1.
North Branford scored their final run off relief pitcher Tyler Kiluk in the top of the 5th. Victor Castillo singled to open the inning, and advanced to second on a throwing error. Ben Stegina singled to put men on 1st and 3rd, and Michonski singled driving in Castillo. Kiluk then bore down to get a strikeout, and a double play ended the Thunderbird threat.
St Paul added 2 final runs in the bottom of the 5th on a walk to Kulas, a double by Daniels, a SAC fly by Izzo, and an RBI double by Cerruto.
Of Note:
For North Branford
Ryan Michonski was 2 for 4 with 1 run scored
For St. Paul
Casey Cerruto was 4 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs scored.
Joey Tonnotti was 3 for 5 with a home run, 6 RBIs, and 1 run scored.
Mario Izzo was 2 for 2 with a double, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored.
Ryan Daniels was 2 for 4 with a double, 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored.
Steve Morelli was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.
Jamie Leggett was 2 for 4.