Bluefish Win, Bees Lose

Bridgeport starting pitcher Rainy Lara improved to 6-3 on the season,
as the Bluefish topped the York Revolution, 3-2, on Monday night.

BRIDGEPORT - It was Connecticut vs. Pennsylvania in the Atlantic League last night as the Nutmeg State’s two teams took on the two teams from the Keystone State… and it turned out to be a split decision.

In Bridgeport, the Bluefish defeated the York Revolution, 3-2, before 2,286 fans at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Monday evening in the opener of a four-game series in the Park City. Bridgeport improves to 18-11 before the Bluefish faithful, and have now won 11 of their last 14 games at home.

Bridgeport starter Rainy Lara (6-3) earned the win, allowing just two runs on eight hits in seven innings pitched. Raney walked one and struck out six batters while tossing a pair of wild pitches. The right-hander notched his seventh quality start, second-most on the team behind Cory Riordan who has eight.

York starter Jay Gause registered a no-decision. He allowed one run on two hits in five innings on the mound, walking one and striking out five. Zac Grotz retired all three batters he faced in the top half of the ninth inning for his second save of the season, striking out Jared Mitchell swinging to end the contest.

York took a 1-0 lead against Lara just three batters into the game on an RBI single by Isaias Tejeda, driving home Travis Witherspoon who led off the game with an opposite-field double to right. The Revolution opened at 2-0 advantage in the top of the fifth on Alonzo Harris’s sacrifice fly off the bat of Alonzo Harris, driving home Carlos Triunfel, who had led off the inning with a double.

Bridgeport cut the deficit in half in the home half of the fifth against on an RBI single by Jose Gil that drove home Daniel Fields, who had singled to begin the rally.

The ‘Fish took the lead for good 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out, two-run double by Jonathan Galvez down the left field line by Jonathan Galvez off losing pitcher Chase Huchingson (2-3) that scored Gil and Andrew Lambo. The two RBIs gave Galvez a team-leading 35 on the campaign. The bullpen did the rest for the ’Fish, as Drake Britton and Grotz retired all six batters they faced, giving the boys from the Park City their 12th come-from-behind victory in 2017.

With the win—the second straight for Bridgeport—the Bluefish improved to 36-28, and are four games behind the Somerset Patriots in the Liberty Division first-half race.

The ’Fish continue their four-game series with the Revs at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard tonight, with first pitch slated for 7:12 p.m. Tuesdays are Kids Eat Cheap days at the ball park. Children 12 and under can get a hot dog, chips, and a fountain drink for just $2. (Now that’s a bang for your buck!) For tickets, click HERE.

Fourth of July Specials in the Park City

After a weekend trip to New Britain where the Bluefish and Bees will go at it in a three-game series, the ’Fish return home on Monday to once again entertain York in a four-game set. On Monday night, July 3, a fireworks spectacular will immediately follow the game. First pitch is 7:12 p.m., and tickets are available at the Bluefish box office at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard or by clicking HERE.

Then, on the holiday itself, the Bluefish will offer a special All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Package, including a ticket for the game inside the Harbor Club suite behind home plate. On the menu will be potato salad, pasta salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbecue chicken, as well as water and soft drinks. Each BBQ ticket will also come with an ice cream voucher. To purchase BBQ tickets, please call the Bluefish Box Office at 203-210-BLUE (2583) or email tickets@bridgeportbluefish.com. Special $4 Box or Reserved seats are also available. First pitch is at a special 4:12 p.m. game time. For more info, click HERE.

All Bluefish games are video cast. You can watch live—or watch replays of past games—by clicking HERE.

Barnstormers Best Bees

LANCASTER, PA - Meanwhile, Anthony Marzi did his part on the mound for the New Britain Bees Monday night, the team’s offense was a different story. The Bees managed just four hits on the night off Lancaster Barnstormer starter Nate Reed and lost 3-1 before 2,215 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Monday night. Reed tossed all nine innings for Lancaster. In addition to his complete-game victory, the southpaw allowed just one run on three hits, striking out 12 Bees in the process. Marzi, meanwhile, tossed seven strong innings for the Bees, allowing just two runs on 10 hits. But in the end, the lefthander from Berlin suffered the loss.

Neither team could generate much at the plate until the sixth inning when Sean Halton smacked a solo home run for Lancaster. The Barnstomers then went on to score single runs in seventh and eighth innings to seal the deal. New Britain’s lone run came in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by Jovan Rosa.

The loss dropped the Bees’ record to 25-39—fourth (and last) place in the Liberty Division and 15 games behind first-place Somerset.

New Britain remains in Lancaster where they will challenge the Barnstormers in Game 2 of a scheduled four-game set tonight. The Bees then return home to entertain the Bluefish over the weekend followed by a three-game set vs. Somerset at New Britain Stadium.

On Saturday, the first 1,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a mini-tape measure, compliments of Stanley Tools, and a fireworks extravaganza will follow the game. Then, every Sunday is Schaller Hardware City Family Fun-Day, with a pregame autograph session from 12:40 -1 p.m., and postgame Kids Run the Bases. Monday is “Dollar Day.” Hot dogs, popcorn, chips and more are just a dollar all game at the concession stands.

Game time on July 4 is a special 2:05 start. Since the holiday falls on Tuesday, it will be a “2-fer-Tuesday” special. Fans can buy one ticket and get one free by purchasing online that day.

All 140 Bees games will be broadcast on the Bees’ official YouTube Channel, Youtube.com/NewBritainBees, as well as on Facebook Live on the Bees' official Facebook Page.

Fans are invited to join broadcaster Chris Knoblock 15 minutes prior to first pitch for the pregame show, and stick around for the post-game show after the game. A link can be found on the Bees’ Homepage.

—Staff Reports

Spieth's Bunker Shot Wins Travelers Playoff

Photos by Bill Harper

Jordan Spieth kisses his trophy after winning the
Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands
in Cromwell on Sunday.

CROMWELL –  Jordan Spieth needed an extra hole, a little bit of luck and an amazing final shot to finish off a wire-to-wire victory in the Travelers Championship played at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. The two-time major champion holed out from 60 feet for birdie from a green-side bunker on the first hole of a playoff with Daniel Berger on Sunday. With the win in Cromwell, Spieth an exclusive club with only one other member—Tiger Woods—as the players with 10 Tour victories since World War II. Woods won 15 times before he turned 24.

“That was one for the ages,” said the 23-old Dallas native after his dramatic Travelers victory. Spieth, the 2015 FedEx Cup champion, also copped the Pebble Beach championship in February.

Spieth held a one-stroke edge after each of the first three rounds. He closed with an even-par 70 to match Berger—who birdied three of the final six holes for a 67—at 12-under 268. Berger, who won in Memphis two weeks ago, just missed a 50-foot putt from off the 18th green left that would have forced a second playoff hole.

“Jordan does Jordan things,” said Berger, who rebounded with a strong performance in the Nutmeg State after missing the cut at the U.S. Open last week. “So there's not really much you can say. I'm obviously disappointed, but happy to be in the position I was in today.”

Berger began the round in third place, three shots back. He tied Spieth for a lead with a five-foot birdie putt on 15 as Spieth was making bogey on 14 and tied him again with a birdie from eight feet at 17. The pair, playing a group apart, both hit their approach shots on 18 into the same green-side bunker. Both chipped out close to the hole and both saved par to force the playoff.

Berger hit his drive on the first playoff hole left and into the crowd behind a fairway bunker. Spieth seemed to clip a tree left landing in the fairway but about 150 yards short of his normal drive and 230 yards from the hole.

Spieth celebrates with caddy Michael Greller upon winning dramatic
playoff.

Spieth's approach fell into bunker. Berger's ran off the green to the left. He had to back up after hitting his bunker shot to see the hole. When the ball rolled straight in the cup he threw his club and did a flying chest bump into caddy Michael Greller. 

“If I was in Berger's shoes, I be cursing Jordan Spieth right now for the break off the tee and then holing a 30-yard bunker shot, that's a lot of luck,” Spieth said, speaking in the third person.

Spieth survived a couple of major scares on the back nine. The first came when his drive on 13 went right but stuck on the side of a hill to stay out of the water. He missed a 7-foot birdie putt, but saved par. Two holes later, he hit his tee shot on the 15th left, just avoiding the water and the hazard line in the rough. He chipped to the middle of the green and made a 16-foot putt for birdie, which he thought he had missed.

His second shot at 17 also looked as if it might hit the course's signature lake, but landed just on the edge of the green and he made par. “That's a lot of luck, but I took advantage of the good breaks and am happy to come out on top,” said Spieth.

Charley Hoffman finished with a second-best round on Sunday with a 66. Danny Lee tied for third at 67, three strokes back.

Rory McIlroy tried to find his short game this week and used his third putter Sunday to help him shoot a 64, his lowest round on the Tour this season. He tied for 17th at 6-under. “I must say I felt a little more comfortable on the greens than I did the previous three days,” said the 28-year-old Irishman. “So, this might be one that stays [in the bag] for a few weeks,” joked the former fiancé of Connecticut Tennis Open fan favorite Caroline Wozniacki.

Defending champion Russell Knox had a poor round, with six bogeys on his first 10 holes. He shot a 73 to finish at even par. Grayson Murray had the tournament's only hole-in-one, acing the 177-yard eighth hole with an 8-iron.

Spieth becomes just the third player to go wire-to-wire alone as the leader in the Connecticut event—in its various incarnations. Gene Littler did it in 1959 when the tournament was known as the Insurance City International. In 1982, Tim Morris led start-to-finish when it was called the Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open.

—Staff Reports

Connecticut Open Tennis Family Classic Announced

By Kristine M. Phillips

NEW HAVEN – In 2001, a Connecticut Open tradition was born at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University: The Parent/Child Family Classic tennis tournament. Since then, more than 2,000 participants in the New England and New York region have battled it out each year for the chance to play the finals alongside WTA professionals during the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies.

The Connecticut Open Family Classic provides an opportunity for everyone involved in the tennis community to provide their associates the chance to engage in friendly competition—and to receive exclusive ticket offers to the Connecticut Open. Area tennis clubs, rec leagues and organizations are hereby invited to become part of the Connecticut Open family by hosting a local event as part of the Connecticut Open Family Classic.

Highlights from last year’s Family Classic include:

• LOCAL COMPETITION

      More than 80 clubs and recreation departments from all over New England and New York ran tournaments, determining the format and scoring that best suited their individual locations. Winning teams from the local competitions competed in the regional championships in New Haven in late July.

• FUN AND PRIZES

      Last year, not only did all participants receive a Family Classic T-shirt, ALL participants received an exclusive Family Classic ticket discount to the Connecticut Open tournament.

• BIG TIME EXPOSURE 

     The Family Classic Finals were played during the Connecticut Open. Family Classic winners and finalists were honored on Stadium Court before an audience of more than 3,500 tennis fans.

 

Congratulations go to the 2016 Division Winners:

* Parent/Child 10 & Under

Lukas and Liam Hovorka, Avon, Conn. (Bristol Parks and Recreation)

* Mother/Child 12 & Under

Stephanie and James Foster, Longmeadow, Mass. (Magic Lincer Tennis Academy)

* Mother/Child 14 & Under

Mary and Ian Wise, Darien, Conn. (Country Club of Darien)

* Mother/Child 18 & Under

Amy and Jack Johnson, Fairfield, Conn. (Trumbull Racquet Club)

* Father/Child 12 & Under:

Jeff and Ryan Morneau, East Longmeadow, Mass. (Enfield Tennis Club)

* Father/Child 14 & Under

Bryan and Andrew Kelley from Darien, Conn. (Wee Burn Country Club)

* Father/Child 18 & Under

Thomas and Joey Conrod, Sandy Hook, Conn. (Tennis Club of Trumbull)

* Husband/Wife:

Barbara and Victor Calaba, New Canaan, Conn. (Woodway Country Club)

* Parent/Child Open

Andy and Zack Gould. Bedford, NH (Edgewood Swim and Tennis Club

Please CLICK HERE for more information about the 2017 Connecticut Open Family Classic including competition structure, as well as complete rules and eligibility information. Organizations wishing to register for a local Family Classic event and receive marketing materials (free of charge, of course) should contact ticket sales & marketing coordinator Nate Marcus by calling 203-776-7331 x5818, or by e-mail: nmarcus@ctopen.org.

All local Family Classic events must be completed by July 24. Winners of the local events will advance to the Regional Championships, which will be held July 29-30 at the Yale University tennis courts. Finals will be played on Thurs., Aug. 24, during the Connecticut Open.

—with staff reports