Masuk High’s baseball squad entered the South‑West Conference Tournament quarterfinals as the No. 3 seed, setting up a home matchup against sixth‑seed Brookfield on Friday at 4:15 p.m.
A Week of Narrow Victories and Defeats
The Panthers’ recent stretch has been defined by razor‑thin margins, including a 3‑2 loss to Brookfield on May 18 and a 12‑9 win over Newtown on May 13.
Offensive Fireworks Against Newtown
In the Newtown contest, Masuk erupted for three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 9‑9 tie, with Jerson Perez delivering three hits, three runs and two RBIs, while Steven Curtin added two doubles and two scores. Austin Patti contributed two hits and two RBIs, and Nico Convertito sparked the rally with a leadoff triple that plated the go‑ahead run.
Resilience After a Setback
A 10‑2 defeat at the hands of Bunnell on May 15 tested the team’s depth, but a subsequent 13‑7 victory over Stratford the following day showcased a quick rebound. Sam Giampe earned the win on the mound with 2 ⅔ innings of relief, while Austin Patti smashed a pair of doubles and drove in three runs.
Coach Brian Hourigan described the Newtown game as “a crazy game. Both teams really battled,” underscoring the competitive spirit that has characterized the Panthers’ recent outings.