First win for Torrington Riptides

In only the third fixture of their first season, the Torrington Riptides baseball team secured their first ever victory, winning the second of two home games against the Cornish Pioneers. They won the game 14-8, having lost the first game 21-7.

In the first game, a strong pitching performance from the Pioneers’ Dan Kitts helped to give the more experienced visitors a clear advantage. For Torrington, Ed Keech pitched all five innings of the game, getting seven strikeouts.

Ed Wilmott hit the only home run of the day, in the first inning of game one, and Keech batted in two more runs in the third inning.

The fifth and final inning saw the Riptides get six hits – including from Joshua Owen, Mike ‘Juggernaut’ Curtis, and Fred Batt – to score four consolation runs to finish the first game.

For game two, Torrington had the pitching advantage, with Ed Wilmott allowing Cornwall to score just one run in the first inning and none in the third. Wilmott struck out five, and made a succession of great fielding plays to enable Ashley Hendy to tag another five batters out at first base. An impressive catch by Batt, and great batting by Keech, Wilmott and Owen, all contributed to Torrington’s success.

“This is a huge moment for this new team,” said Riptides player-manager Jess Cooper after the game. “We’re excited and proud to get our first win under our belt, and to do it so early in the season. There are no easy opponents for us, and it was a hard-fought win, but the whole team pulled together brilliantly.”

After the weekend game at home (Great Torrington School) against the Exeter Spitfires, the Riptides travel to face the Newton Abbott Brewers on May 11.

To join or sponsor the team, email Jess Cooper at torringtonriptides@gmail.com