Déjà vu for CT Hackers

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NAUGATUCK — Unfortunately for the Connecticut Hackers, history repeated itself.

The Naugatuck-based adult baseball team won its second straight regular season title with a 23-5 record and followed it up with a first-round playoff win on Aug. 7.

But Sunday at Rotary Field, similarly to last year, they lost in the semifinals to the Bridgeport All-Stars in the single-elimination postseason tournament.

The Hackers were unable to overcome an early five-run deficit in the 5-2 loss to Bridgeport last week. Mike Doran, who tossed a four-hit shutout against Bridgeport earlier in the season, struggled on Sunday.

Bridgeport, the reigning league champ, scored three in the second and two in the third against Doran. The Hackers never recovered.

Ricky Cool started a rally in the fourth for the Hackers with a leadoff single and advanced to third after two walks. Mike Townsend was hit by a pitch to put the Hackers on the board.

Jeff Farrell accounted for the other Hackers run with an RBI single to score Steve Webb.

Farrell also relieved Doran with one out in the third and pitched the Hackers through the eighth. Webb pitched a scoreless ninth.

Connecticut struggled to capitalize upon its chances, leaving 11 runners on base throughout the game.

On Aug. 7, the Hackers knocked off the Meriden Heat behind a complete-game two-hitter from Farrell in a 6-1 victory.

Dan Kaminiski, Mike Fox, Mike Bochino and Townsend all had run-scoring hits. Kaminski had an RBI single in the first to score Webb, while Fox singled home Webb in the seventh to make it 3-0.

Bochino singled home Cool, who led off the eighth with a walk and advanced to second on a Nick Pereira hit. Townsend plated Bochino and Pereira to cap the scoring.

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