West Hartford’s Hall High School baseball team hosted crosstown rival Conard in the annual ‘First Responders’ game.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Ronni Newton

In a crosstown battle of high school baseball teams, Hall – representing the West Hartford Police Department – defeated Conard – as the West Hartford Fire Department, 11-3, with the team in blue racking up seven of their runs in the third inning.

The police and fire department honor guard presented the colors before the game began, and on- and off-duty members of both organizations treated fans to hot dogs and hamburgers grilled on the sidelines. The players had a chance to eat as well, after the game.

Hall played as the West Hartford Police because the school’s color is blue – but it was also appropriate because first-year coach Nick Sanford, a Hall alum, is a member of the police department. Since Conard’s school color is red, it makes sense for the team to play as the West Hartford Fire Department.

Conard pitcher, junior Nolan Wusterbarth, loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, and Hall earned its first run when a batter was hit by a pitch and pushed senior Simon Levy home. Senior Jack Kearney scored on a passed ball, and the inning ended with the Titans up 2-0.

On the mound for Hall, senior Owen Ludgin loaded the bases in the top of the third, but struck out Wusterbarth at the plate, leaving everyone stranded and keeping Conard from scoring.

In the bottom of the third, the Titans’ bats came alive, starting with senior captain Chase Hanawalt smacking a triple. Senior captain Mason Hebert, up next, hit a double to left field sending Hanawalt home, and Hebert then scored on a double by Ludgin, putting Hall up 4-0.

Wusterbarth remained on the mound after a brief conference with the coaches, but Hall’s strong work at the plate continued as Hall ran through its batting order and a 2-run RBI by Hanawalt in his second appearance of the inning brought the score to 9-0 Hall.

Aiden Bailey took over at the mound for Conard, and with the bases loaded Levy popped out to end the inning with no further runs scored.

It remained 9-0 after the fourth inning, with Bailey again getting out of a bases-loaded jam without anyone scoring.

Freshman Max Hanawalt took over pitching duties for Hall in the top of the fifth, and Jayden Kass, who had reached first on a walk, crossed home after Jack Kane doubled to left center, giving Conard its first run.

Conard added two more runs in the fifth when designated hitter Paul Glotzer hit a 2-run RBI, and the inning ended when Hanawalt struck out Leo Vanangs with the score 9-3 Hall.

Bailey remained on the mound for Conard in the fifth. Hall picked up its 10th run, scored by Ludgin.

Freshman Jeff Niman took over pitching duties for Hall in the sixth, and retired the side with no change to the score.

Kevin Jakubowski got his chance at the mound for Conard in the sixth, and walked senior captain Jack Sauer who was replaced by pinch runner Josh Gertner, who then stole second, made it to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Hanawalt, giving Hall their 11th run.

Sauer pitched the final inning for the Titans, and although several Red Wolves made it to base, they failed to score and the game ended with the score 11-3. Hall had 12 hits, while Conard had six.

Conard next travels to 8-0 Southington on Monday.

“It was a tough one,” said Conard coach Brendan Smith, whose Red Wolves are 0-7 and still looking for the first win of the season. “We started off up and down,” he said, and although Hall ultimately took over the game he said he’s proud of how the team battled. “We never quit today. We came in down 9 going into the fourth there and our goal was to make it a baseball game, and we  made it a baseball game.”

“Any Hall-Conard game is always exciting,” said Sanford. “We were up a lot of runs but I never felt comfortable until we got that last out there. The kids played really hard on both teams,” he said. “It was a fun game to be a part of.”

Sanford said the Titans started off the season a bit slow, but now at 5-4, “we’re starting to play some pretty good baseball.”

There has been a lot of production up and down the lineup all year, Sanford said, and their defense was effective Friday as well.

Hall hosts Farmington (1-6) on Wednesday.

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