Hall came back from a double-digit deficit to defeat crosstown West Hartford rival 14-11 in the annual Mayor’s Cup baseball game played at the University of Hartford’s Fiondella Field.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Scott Sulkazi

The historic Mayor’s Cup rivalry delivered another instant classic on Wednesday night, as Hall overcame an early 10-run deficit to defeat Conard 14-11 in one of the most memorable games in rivalry history.

After Conard exploded offensively in the first inning, taking advantage of multiple walks and defensive miscues to build a commanding 10-0 lead over their West Hartford rivals, it appeared the Red Wolves were in complete control. But Hall never panicked, and once Alexandre Rebours entered in relief, the momentum slowly began to shift.

Rebours shut the door for Hall, allowing just one run the rest of the way while allowing his team to chip away offensively. His performance on the mound became the turning point in the game and sparked a comeback few thought was possible after the disastrous opening inning.

Hall finally got its offense rolling in the fourth inning. Max Hanawalt worked a leadoff walk to give the Warriors life, and Quinn O’Neill followed with an RBI triple to get Hall on the board. A combination of patient at-bats, singles, and another walk helped Hall plate five runs in the inning and cut Conard’s lead in half.

From there, Hall’s offense refused to slow down. The Warriors consistently put pressure on Conard’s pitching staff, averaging three runs per inning as the comeback continued to build momentum.

Hall eventually tied the game in the sixth inning behind more clutch hitting from O’Neill and Tommy Hussey. O’Neill delivered again with an RBI single, while Hussey crushed a two-run double to bring the Warriors within striking distance. Moments later, Louis Sauer came through with a base hit to even the score and completely erase the once massive deficit.

With the crowd energized and the momentum fully on Hall’s side, the Warriors entered the seventh inning looking to complete the improbable comeback. After a few key base knocks set the table, Hussey delivered the biggest hit of the night – a bases-clearing three-RBI triple that gave Hall the lead and capped off the stunning rally. Hall held on from there to secure the 14-11 victory and clinch its third straight Mayor’s Cup title.

Hussey’s clutch performance earned him MVP honors after driving in key runs during Hall’s comeback effort. Despite the recognition, Hussey credited the entire team for the victory.

“It feels great, but credit to my teammates,” Hussey said after the game. “Alex Rebours came in there, shut it down, and did a hell of a job. Shoutout to the rest of the team too. It wasn’t just me – it was the whole team’s performance.”

Even after falling behind by 10 runs early, Hussey said the team never lost confidence.

“We never had a doubt,” he said. “The team knew after that first inning that we had it in us to come back and win. We knew we put up a lot of runs every game, and we knew we could do it.”

In a rivalry already filled with memorable moments, Hall’s dramatic comeback may go down as one of the greatest Mayor’s Cup games ever played.

Conard (5-14) will finish out the regular season on Thursday at Windsor.

Hall (15-4) has clinched the CCC Central title. The Titans will host Hamden on Thursday afternoon and then begin post-season play in the CCC Tournament with a home game vs. Farmington on Friday at 3:45 p.m.

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