#ctbase – We’re doing something a little different here at the Batter’s Box. Today is the first day of “Touch ‘Em All.” Here I’ll look at the four games, stories or players that stood out to me from yesterday’s action. Check it out.

FIRST BASE

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH – A couple of teams got some timely hits on Monday. North Branford got past Coginchaug in Shoreline Conference action 3-2 in eight innings. Brandan Basil hit a double that scored Kyle Hart in the top half of the eighth. North Branford is 5-1. …Stratford is also 5-1 after Alec Ward recorded the go-ahead hit in the fifth inning as the Red Devils defeated New Milford 3-2 in SWC play yesterday.

SECOND BASE

NOT EVEN CLOSE –Despite those close results, there really weren’t too many nail-biters on Monday.  There were 16 games called into the New Haven Register newsroom yesterday and nine of them were decided by five runs or more.

THIRD BASE

JINXED? – Derby, who just got voted into the New Haven Register Top-10 poll, suffered its first defeat of the season 3-2 to St. Paul. The Red Raiders came in at the No. 9 spot after starting the season 5-0. They are now 5-1 and still a legit threat.

HOME

NO NO – Congrats to Justin Beal of Old Saybrook on his no-hitter last night. Beal led Old Saybrook past Old Lyme 3-1 in a Shoreline Conference game to pick up his second win of the season. Old Saybrook is 3-3 and Old Lyme is 4-2.

THREE UP, THREE DOWN

Three teams going up, three teams going down

THREE UP

Notre Dame-West Haven (6-0): They’ve got every No. 1 vote in the latest poll.

Shelton (5-1): With their pitching, it’s hard to see anyone taking them down.

Stratford (5-1, 1-0): Brian Caselli and Axel DeJesus are arguably the best one-two punch in the SWC.

THREE DOWN

Law (1-6): This season is starting to look eerily close to last season.

West Haven (1-4): In the SCC, it is really hard to get a break.

Sheehan (3-3): Got outscored 12-1 in back-to-back losses.

AROUND THE HORN

THE TOP 10 POLL

MONDAY’S ROUNDUP

– HENRY C