After a solid effort, Windham can’t hold off GNG

By Matt Pascarella

CJ McDonald of the Windham Maroon team
crushes the ball during a Windham Little League
game against GNG at Ciccarone Field at Lowell
Farm in Windham on Sept. 20.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Although Windham Little League’s major division fall baseball team, the Windham Maroon, put in a great effort to turn things around, they weren’t able to hold off GNG and fell 7-3 on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Ciccarone Field at Lowell Farm in Windham.

In the first inning, Ronin Rotaru singled; in the second inning, Brayden Dunn got a base hit and in the third inning, CJ McDonald singled for Windham.

In the fourth inning, Rotaru got on base, stole second and just kept going until he landed at home plate and scored Windham’s first run of the game.

Windham rallied in the fifth inning as Liam Kalakowsky doubled and scored. Alex Pastore hit a double to left field and later scored. Ethan Clapp also doubled.

“We’ve been mixing up pitchers and positions, pushing boys out of their comfort zone,” said Windham coach Dustin Bartz. “Our team has a really good vibe and that will strengthen throughout this short season. They are having fun, which is a big key to their progress, and we’ll see some amazing moments. Obviously, improvements always need to be made but that doesn’t overshadow how amazing these boys are right now; they impress me constantly.”

Although GNG pulled ahead, Windham had strong defense from the start. In the first inning, Windham threw a runner out at home and catcher Kalakowsky tagged a runner out on his way to home.

“I really wanted to pitch,” said Windham pitcher Clapp, who pitched the sixth inning and helped Windham as they let only one run by in GNG’s final at-bat. In regard to pitching, Clapp said he gave his pitches some variation, but also wanted to throw heat.

“We did good, we were all having fun and were trying,” he said. <