Conard beat crosstown West Hartford rival Hall in the third annual ‘Strike Out Cancer’ baseball game.
By Ronni Newton
Conard defeated Hall 8-4 in a baseball game between West Hartford’s rival high schools on Monday, May 1, and the American Cancer Society was also a winner in the third annual “Strike Out Cancer” game.
Conard and Hall meet twice a season in baseball, with the annual Mayor’s Cup game at the University of Hartford as the final contest between the West Hartford teams, and this was the third year in a row that the first meeting has been a fundraiser for a cancer-related charity.
Michael Mathews went the distance for Conard, which boosted its record to 8-3 with Monday’s win. Hall is 5-5. The game ended when centerfielder Patrick Baron made a leaping catch of a long hit by Hall’s Andrew Nicklas.
Funds raised Monday will support Relay for Life and Making Strides of Greater Hartford. Cami Ferreira, a family friend of Hall High School baseball captain Mike Verrengia, and a breast cancer survivor, helped coordinate the efforts along with Conard team captains Michael Mathews and Joe Celio.
The inaugural Strike Out Cancer game was held in May 2015, and prompted by then Conard co-captain Jordan Muchin, whose family friend Lynn Torsiello was a cancer survivor and leader of a Making Strides team. Sadly, Torsiello lost her battle on Jan. 29, 2017.
Team captains once again designed special shirts for the day (pink for Conard and blue with pink letters for Hall), and most of the players on both sides played in honor or memory of those touched by cancer, with all of the names listed in the program. Nearly a dozen cancer survivors, representing both schools, had the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
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Cami Ferreira throws out a ceremonial first pitch to Hall co-captain Mike Verrengia. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Lori Verrengia
Hall baseball coach Jeff Billing (left) with Conard baseball coach Sanjay Rambhia. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard co-captain Michael Mathews prepares to catch ceremonial pitch thrown by Ronni Newton. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Lori Verrengia
Edward Giungi throws a pitch to his son Michael Giungi. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Lori Verrengia
Survivor Patty Fox throws a ceremonial pitch to Hall’s RJ Michaels. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Lori Verrengia
Michael Mathews went the distance for Conard. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Co-captain Tyrek Robinson at the plate. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Ben Kriedel on the mound for Hall. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Nick Gaglioti at the plate for Conard. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Charlie Lage at the plate for Hall. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Avi Ehrlich on the mound for Hall. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Co-captain Joe Celio at the plate for Conard. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Patrick Baron crosses the plate for Conard. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Patrick Baron (far right) is all smiles after leaping far into the air to catch Andrew Nicklas’ fly to center field for the last out of the game. Conard vs. Hall ‘Strike Out Cancer,’ May 1, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Cami Ferreira (left) with Relay for Life New England Senior Director Alexis Maliga. Courtesy photo
