Late Comeback From Hall Forces Conard to Fall in Mayor’s Cup Baseball Game - We-Ha

West Hartford’s baseball rivalry reached its 2024 pinnacle on Monday night as the Hall Titans defeated Conard for the Mayor’s Cup.

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Hall senior captain Chase Hanawalt, who took over as pitcher in the fifth inning, was named MVP. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Bridget Bronsdon. Photos by Ronni Newton and Craig Rosenberg

What started out as an early Conard lead turned into a scoring drought that eventually sunk the Red Wolves 4-7 as a late comeback from Hall secured the Titans as Mayor’s Cup champions for 2024.

This year, the Red Wolves and Titans took to the University of Hartford to compete in the 12th annual baseball classic, the Mayor’s Cup, for a healthy match of cross-town rivalry. The tradition, which began in 2012, officially marks the end of the regular season and even names one lucky athlete MVP.

Although Conard took the trophy in 2023, the Titans’ late comeback forced the Red Wolves to unravel in the final innings.

Damian Witkor singled to get on base and slides back to third in the bottom of the first inning, before scoring Conard’s third run on a single by Paul Glitzier. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

What began as a quiet top of the inning from Hall ended in immediate momentum by the end of the first for Conard. Conard senior Damian Witkor was the first to bring in a run. With a bouncing ground ball slicing up the middle, Witkor put the Red Wolves on the board to take the first lead of the day.

Junior Nolan Wusterbarth, the starting pitcher, was next. Although Wusterbarth’s bouncing ball landed him the out, it also brought in another run for Conard’s advantage. Paul Glotzer granted Conard the final excitement of the inning. Thanks to a bouncing ground ball that snuck just past Hall’s diving third baseman, Conard pulled in their final run of the inning for a 3-0 lead.

Owen Ludgin on the mount for Hall. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Despite this immediate success, this would be Conard’s highest-scoring inning of the contest as they would go on to face a scoring drought.

The second inning remained quiet from both dugouts as the Titans and Red Wolves appeared to be at a stalemate with neither making advancements.

Calvin Cianflone, at bat in the top of the third, had an RBI. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The silence was broken in the third as Hall junior Calvin Cianflone stepped up to the plate and nailed a hit to put Hall on the board and end their 0-3 deficit. The Titans weren’t finished yet. With the help of Tyler Redden stealing second, he went on to ring in Hall’s second run on another ball up the middle by Mason Hebert.

Jeff Niman crosses the plate, scoring Hall’s first run in the top of the third inning. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Although Hall had shown their aggression, Conard was ready to answer. Just as last time, Glotzer weaved a bouncing ball just between the shortstop and third baseman to unknowingly pull in what was the Red Wolves’ final run of the contest by Jack Kane, who had stolen third during Ben Hammond’s at-bat.

Jack Kane scored Conard’s fourth run. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By the fourth inning, Conard was showing signs of a weaker performance. A quick one, two, three sent the Red Wolves back into the dugout just as quickly as they emerged.

Nolan Wusterbarth on the mound. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

As Hall took to the plate to begin the fifth, they unknowingly were standing on the precipice of a victory. With runners on first and second, senior Chase Hanawalt’s near home run sent both runners home and landed him sliding into third to tie the score.

Now, as the score tied to 4-4, it was anyone’s game.

As Hebert stepped up to the plate, a high ball sacrifice fly granted Hanawalt just enough time to bring in Hall’s first lead of the contest 5-4.

Chase Hanawalt cheers as he reaches third base, while Calvin Cianflone and Tyler Redden score to tie the game. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The Titans continued to make strategic moves well into the bottom of the sixth. Following Hanawalt’s success at-bat, he took over pitching from senior Owen Ludgin in the fifth. The senior came out exceptionally strong and immediately struck out the Conard athlete looking for a chance to retaliate.

Chase Hanawalt on the mound. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard’s pitching change came soon after as Wyatt Daigle was welcomed to the mound to close out the match.

Wyatt Daigle on the mound. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The final excitement of the contest resulted in two more runs in the seventh from Hall and a Conard bench that was quiet offensively but continued to loudly cheer for each of the final batters. With Hanawalt on the mound and another near home run for the Titans, Hall turned the tide of the contest in their favor to close out the regular season as champions.

Although Hall had a slow start, it appeared their success was worth the wait with a 7-4 triumph. “This was a really fun game. I’m happy for the seniors on senior day, it’s always good to go out with a win for them,” Hall first-year head coach Nick Sanford said.

Among the seniors was captain Hanawalt, who was named the MVP of the game thanks to his immense success in batting in runs, pitching, and leading the Titans to victory. “He did it all today,” said Sanford.

Chase Hanawalt with the MVP trophy. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Craig Rosenberg

Catcher Tyler Redden does a flip after the Hall win. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Craig Rosenberg

Hall reclaims the Mayor’s Cup trophy after defeating Conard 7-4. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

As for Conard, they didn’t let the score define them. Head coach Brendan Smith not only praised the work his team has done all season but remained immensely proud of his players despite a season-ending loss.

“Manage the emotions of the game and go have fun, take all of it in and see what happens and never give up, never stop fighting,” he told his players, “and we did that today,” he said.

Coach Smith also noted the “blueprint” the seniors have left for the underclassmen and emphasized his excitement to return next year.

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“This team is really special. I told them after the game I’ve never had more fun showing up every day than I had with them. It didn’t matter what the outcome was, obviously, everyone wants to win, everyones competitive, but they were genuinely hard workers. They genuinely really love each other, really love baseball, they really love doing things the right way and working hard every day and you know, that’s fun as a coach to get to experience that on a day in day out basis,” he said.

Despite the loss, Conard, which ends the season at 4-16, appeared to be rich in camaraderie and spirit. As for Hall (11-9), their season is not over yet and they will begin preparations for their next challenge in the Class LL state tournament, which begins next week with pairings still TBA.

Simon Levy grabs onto third base. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Jeff Niman crosses the plate, scoring Hall’s first run in the top of the third inning. Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall Mayors Cup baseball. May 20, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton