Conard hosted Tolland in West Hartford on Thursday afternoon, falling by 13-2 in six innings.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

Andrew Weiss scores on a passed ball by Tolland. Andrew Weiss scores on a passed ball by Tolland. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

The Tolland Eagles scored in every inning but the first and cruised past Conard 13-2 in a boys baseball game in West Hartford on Thursday. The visitors pounded out 14 hits, including five doubles and were issued five walks from the Red Wolves pitchers.

“We want them to decide who we are going to be,” said head coach Brendan Smith of Conard. “A lot of young guys played for us last year and now we have to act like we have six or seven experienced starters.”

Starting pitcher Aidan Bailey pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first and his teammates answered by scoring in the bottom of the first. Andrew Weiss stroked a one-out double and then advanced to third and eventually scored on two passed balls by Tolland to stake  the Red Wolves to the early lead.

Andrew Weiss slides in ahead of the throw for a double for Conard. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

In the top of the second, it was the Eagles taking advantage of a walk and two errors combined with three base hits to score three times. On the mound for Tolland, senior AJ Hayes struck out the first two batters he faced before surrendering a single to Raymond Lamoureux. He would get to third on a stolen base and another passed ball, before Hayes got Liam Heaney looking for strike three.

Tolland added three more largely on the strength of a two more doubles, the second of which was hit by Cory Culhane, driving in two runs. Bailey was taken out of the game after that hit giving up six hits and six earned runs over two and a third innings pitched.

Conard starter Aidan Bailey gave up 6 runs in 2 innings of work. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Lennox Velez came in and put himself in a spot, walking two of the first three batters he faced before getting a ground ball to end it. After Tolland added another run in the top of the fourth, Conard struck back on offense. With one out it was Velez reaching, walking before moving to second on a wild pitch, and then to third on a balk. With two outs, Lamoureux dribbled a slow roller up the first bae line and beat it out at first as Velez crossed the plate to make it 7-2.

In the top of the fifth the wheels came completely off for Conard. William Restall reached on a misjudged fly ball to center and  later came around to score a single. The next batter, catcher Ivan Hramiak, drilled a double to deep center off Weiss who had moved from third to the mound, scoring another run. He would come around to score on a single and Tolland scored again when, with runners on first and third, Conard catcher Wyatt Daigle attempted to throw through to get the runner trying to steal second. Shortstop Jaden Kass cut the throw off ,but then lost the handle when he tried to throw back home to catch the runner. After four-and-a-half innings of play it was 11-2 Tolland.

Wyatt Daigle is safe at second on his steal attempt. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

“We really left Andrew with a bill today,” said Smith. “He had to finish it out. We’re playing three in a row and it is tough on the arms as they are not stretched out enough to go long distance in a game.”

In the sixth, Weiss was the victim of some bad fielding behind him as the Eagles turned a double, a and a single into two more runs with the help of a pair of Conard errors and a bases loaded walk.

Tolland head coach Howie Dietch decided to take his starter Hayes out of the game in the top of the fifth. His official line was 4 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs – only one earned –and 8 strikeouts. Conard could not get anything across in either the fifth or sixth and a ground out to short ended the sixth 1-2-3 and the game 13-2.

First baseman Calvin Borio secures the foul pop for the out. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

In addition to only getting four hits on the day, Conard batters struck out 10 times in the six innings.

“We are a resilient group and I expect us to be a completely different team on Friday,” Smith said after the game. “You are going to have days like this.”  The Red Wolves are now 1-2 on the season and host Plainville on Friday.

Wyatt Zhaner scores from first on a dojble for Tolland. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Ryan Roche looks back for a call from the home plate umpire. Conard vs. Tolland baseball. April 10, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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