Ryan Lynch tossed six strong innings in a complete game effort for the CT Bombers.

By Luis Torres

Ryan Lynch had no clue that the ball was in his glove when he made a nice backhanded grab in the top of the sixth inning. 

Lynch, Connecticut Bombers’ starting pitcher, just happened to make a gold-glove-worthy play as he was cruising along in his final inning of work. The uncommitted lefty spun around on a ball hit back toward the mound, grabbed the ball, and threw it over to first base for the second out in the inning.

The play was the highlight of his performance, as Lynch tossed six innings in Connecticut Bombers’ 7-2 win over DCP 2023 American in five and a half innings on Thursday at Diamond Nation in Flemington.

“I just threw my pitch. I don’t even know what I threw. Honestly, I forgot,” Lynch said while smiling. “I was just hoping to get an out, and the ball came right back at me. I spun around, felt it in my ribs a little, but I luckily grabbed the ball. I didn’t even know I had it. I just took my time and tossed it over to first.”

The win for Connecticut Bombers means coach Brad Chernovetz’s team ends the second week of Super 17 Invitational Wood Bat with a sparkling 5-0 record. What makes the unbeaten record impressive is Connecticut Bombers brought just 13 players with them this week and outscored their five opponents 27-4.

“To come down here and go 5-0 is tremendous and unbelievable,” Chernovetz said. “Our pitchers threw the ball great. All six of them.”

Lynch was the latest to toe the rubber, starting against DCP 2023 American. 

He got off to a shaky start as his command wasn’t up to speed in the first two innings. He did settle in after the opening frames, even though he allowed a two-run single in the third inning.

Lynch wasn’t overpowering, finishing with four strikeouts, but he kept hitters off balance and threw strikes and had his highlight-reel play.

“Before the game even started, me and a couple of teammates were in the bullpen, and we weren’t really ready to play, so that’s probably why I wasn’t so dialed-in in the first few innings,” Lynch said. “I was a little wild in the beginning and I couldn’t really locate. As the game went on, I just felt a little bit better and kept it going.”

“He’s a lefty who just throws the ball over the plate,” Chernovetz added. 

Class of 2024 Bryce Meder helped the offense break the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning, lacing an RBI single up the middle, pushing Connecticut Bombers’ lead to 4-2. Meder ended the contest going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.

Brady Chernovetz scored two runs as well. 

Jackson Dorsey provided all the offense for DCP 2023 American with a two-run single in the third inning. 

Brad Chernovetz was pleased when he spoke to his team after the win. 

He said he didn’t expect to go unbeaten this week, facing talented teams with a baker’s dozen’s worth of players.

“Coming down here and going 5-0 against this talent? No. I knew we had the pitchers to go throw,” Chernovetz said. “Wood bats are a big equalizer for teams like this, and I just think small ball wise, we played very well this week. It was a great team effort. Only 13 guys came down here and all 13 played, and all 13 did something team-wise. It was just team wins.”