by Kathleen Pulek

Talk about a dramatic n-

ishpeople in Rocky Hill will
be talking about how the Terri-
ers overcame a 3-1 decit to re-
cord their dramatic 4-3 Class M
state championship victory over
Haddam-Killingworth before just
shy of 2,000 people on June 14 at
Middletowns Palmer Field for a
long time.
The top-seeded Terriers ral-
lied to deadlock the game at 3-3 in
the home half of the sixth. H-Ks
Grifn Bremer fanned the rst two
batters before junior designated
hitter Brian Batalis singled up the
middle. A pair of walks loaded the
bases before a wild pitch bounced
close to the Rocky Hill dugout on
the third base side. Batalis came
home, followed by pinch runner
Nick Bogus, who looked to be out
on catcher Tyler Popps throw to
Bremer.
The ball never went into the
dugout, so I waved Nick in, said
head coach Chris Farrell as he
gripped the Class M championship
plaque. The catchers throw was
to the inside and Nick slid to the
outside. Umpire Craig Funaro
called Bogus safe.
Senior right-hander Tommy
Seaver, who pitched 10 of the 12
innings needed to defeat defend-
ing state champion St. Josephs in
Class M semi nal action, moved
from center eld to the mound
to pitch the seventh. A elders
choice and a crisply turned double
play that Seaver started kept the
Cougars in check.
The drama built when H-K
reliever Brian Moskey hit junior
outelder Dave Sevigny with an
inside pitch to open the bottom of
the seventh.
Were trying to get Dave Se-
vigny over to third base so then a
y ball or base hit wins the game.
With one out, Brandon Grover had
a good at bat with a base hit to
right eld. I wanted to send Sevi-
gny from second base but held him
up because we had our [number]
ve hitter up next. They walked
Spencer Bunting. Our next batter,
Josh Zawisa, knows the strike zone
so well and battled and fouled off
three or four pitches, Farrell said
of his rst basemans most impor-
tant scholastic at bat.
I was a little nervous, Zawi-
sa admitted. I wanted to get the
game-winning hit. With the count
3-2, I knew I had to swing if the
ball was in my zone but I saw it was
a little high. I threw my bat when I
heard Ball four. I saw my team-
mates jumping and screaming. All
I could think about was getting to
rst base and then jumping on the
big pile. I couldnt believe we had
just won the state championship.
It was the best feeling in the world.
I havent been this happy since I
was a little kid playing baseball.
Zawisa drove in Chris Bouchard,
who drew a walk in the fourth, for
Rocky Hills rst run.
The loss brought HK to 0-5
in title game appearances and an
overall record of 19-8. The #11
Cougars earned the right to meet
Rocky Hill with a 7-5 semi nal
defeat of Plaineld in 13 innings.
The Terriers (23-2) made their rst
state championship appearance
one to remember.
This feels amazing, Sevigny
said. Words cant even describe
how I feel right now. Weve talked
about it all year, about hanging a
banner and getting to this point at
Palmer. Now that were here and
now that weve won, it just feels
unreal.
After Brandon singled, Im
at third and Im thinking Spencer
has to hit it to the outeld, let me
tag up and drive me in. If not, let
him walk. When Josh is up, Im
praying for a deep y ball.
Zawisa echoed Sevignys
sentiments. This feels really
good because of how hard weve
worked. Ever since last year,
when we lost in the rst round
against Ansonia, we all knew we
had to work really hard to get here.
We sat down as a team before the
season and our two goals were to
win the conference championship
and to win the state championship.
Now that weve accomplished
those goals, it feels really great.
Were all anxious to get our
rings. We havent really talked
about it, but we know were get-
ting them. Weve worked hard
for them. I dont know when the
championship banner will be hung
at the high school, but whenever it
is, well all be there. That will be
a very special day for Rocky Hill.
A wide smile threatened to
split Seavers face as he said, This
is the best feeling in the world. Im
so happy right now. Its our rst
baseball state championship, so it
means a lot to the team, the school
and the town. They all came out
to support us and it helped us a lot.
I threw 10 innings the other
day but this is a big situation and
I wanted it so bad for my team so
I had to come through. We were
down, but we never lost hope. We
knew we could make something
happen.
After Dave gets hit in the
seventh, our next three hitters are
some of the best on our team and
in the state. I knew one of them
would come through to move the
runners over and win the game.
However we won, whatever hap-
pened, its a great feeling. This is
my best memory from Rocky Hill.
My smile probably wont wear off
for a couple of days. Maybe not
for a couple of weeks. I might
be hurting tomorrow from smil-
ing, but its worth it, according to
Seaver, who picked up the win.
Before the season, I asked
the team what they wanted to be.
Everyone, especially the seniors,
wanted to be champions, said
Farrell.
This is a very special group.
They denitely just made history.
This is the rst time weve ever
been in The Game. Weve never
been to the seminals. The seniors
are resilient. They really stuck to-
gether. And Tommy and Spencer
on the mound have been unbeliev-
able. It feels amazing to be the
rst Rocky Hill baseball team to
win a state championship. Farrell
added.
I have never felt better in
my life, said Bunting, who gave
up three runs on four hits in six in-
nings. Im thinking were going
to win this game because Tommy
Seaver is one of the best pitchers
in the state. We dont have a num-
ber one pitcher and a number two.
We have two number ones. I had
full condence that he would shut
them down and we would come
back as a team and win it, some
how, some way.
As a senior, this is very, very
special, according to the right-
hander, who accommodated a
multitude of photo requests. Its
the best moment of my life. She
might get mad, but yes, this is
better than kissing my girlfriend,
Abby Smith, he added with a
laugh. If you print that, shell be
okay with it. And now were go-
ing to celebrate.
Bunting joined his team-
mates who were already hanging
out of the bus windows. They left
Palmer Field to a cacophony of
appreciative cheers, thunderous
applause and the loud blare of car
horns. The celebration had begun.
Thank you for saying you saw it in The Rare Reminder 6/19/14 Check us out at www.RareReminder.com
Terriers Win Dramatic State Championship
Rocky Hill Youth Football is now
accepting player registrations for 13 &
14-year-old athletes who reside in Newing-
ton and Cromwell. If you would like to play
Youth Football for the Rocky Hill Terriers,
register at www.rhyfc.com.
2014 Registration Fees
Football Players: $200 registration fee.
Cheerleaders: $125 registration fee.
Please Note: There is a family maxi-
mum of $300, however, late fees will be
applied in addition to the family maximum
amount.
There is a limit of 35 participants per
team. Teams are determined on a rst come,
rst served basis.
Rocky Hill Youth Football Registration
Senior Spencer Bunting got the start in the Class M championship game and gave up
three runs on four hits through six innings.
The victorious Terriers and their fans salute each other at Palmer Field.
The jubilant Rocky Hill baseball team celebrates its historic state title.
The 13th annual charity golf tournament will be held Saturday, June 21, at Goodwin
Golf Course in Hartford to benet Mikeys Place, a wheelchair accessible playground and
for research of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The shotgun start will take place at 12 p.m. with
a scramble format. A registration fee of $120 per golfer also includes light lunch on the
course and dinner after the tournament. Singles welcome or sign up a foursome! There will
be prizes, contests and rafes! For further information and registration forms, please visit
www.mikeysplace.org or contact Paul Huffman at 860-965-8551 or the Daversas at 860-
529-2711 or ddavfamily@cox.net.
Mikeys Place Charity Golf Classic