Hackers win consecutive titles

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The Connecticut Hackers (top row from left) Mike Townsend, Nick Pereira, Mike Fox, Wes Dutton, Jeff Farrell, Mike Doran, Mike Bochino, (bottom row from left) Dan Kaminski, Ryan Mazurkivich, Mat Jaronko, RJ Shaw, Steve Webb, Ricky Cool, Jeff Pugliese. –CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — The Connecticut Hackers have gone back-to-back in the regular season.

The Naugatuck-based adult baseball team won its second straight regular season title. They are the top seed in the Connecticut Adult Baseball Association single-elimination tournament that begins Sunday.

The Hackers, who are 22-4 overall, will host the Meriden Heat at Naugatuck High School on Sunday at 11 a.m.

And like with most successful teams, pitching has been a strength for The Hackers.  The team boasts a 2.29 ERA with a righty-lefty, one-two punch of Mike Doran and Jeff Farrell.

Doran, a right-hander, finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and a 2.33 ERA in 60 innings. Farrell, a former minor-league prospect, is 6-2 with 2.68 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.  Both played in the league’s all-star game.

In addition, Matt Jaronko (1.48 ERA in 14.2 innings) and Steve Webb (2-0, 1.00 ERA in 14 innings) have provided some key appearances to help offset the loss of starter Mike Fox. Before his injury, Fox was 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 32 innings.

Shortstop Dan Kaminiski put together another stellar season and hit .472 to lead the team. Kaminiski added 26 RBIs.

Not far behind Kaminiski was Webb, who struck for a .433 average and scored 27 runs. Also in the lineup were three players who participated in the league all star game: third baseman Ricky Cool, outfielder Nick Pereira, and catcher Mike Bochino.

Bochino has caught all 26 games, hit .388 and has only allowed just two passed balls.  Other key contributors include Wes Dutton, R.J. Shaw, Mike Townsend, Jeff Pugliese and Ryan Mazurkivich.

Despite finishing 19-1 last season, the Hackers didn’t reach the title game.

Now in their 12th season, the Hackers have won three league championships — in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Hackers have earned a playoff spot for eight straight seasons.