After having to endure several rain delays and postponements this season, Monday’s thunderstorm saved the Twisters from having to play a split-squad doubleheader against Danbury and Newport. With the extra day-off the Twisters will have had two full days of rest and preparation for the playoffs, which start tonight (7) at home against the Middletown Giants.

Because of the rain the Twisters (30-10) were prevented from attempting to break Keene’s NECBL single season record of 31 wins set last season. The Twisters did set the mark, however, for the best winning percentage in one year (.750).

Torrington appears to have drawn a favorable opponent in Middletown (18-23, fourth in the Southern Division), but Twister manager Gregg Hunt refuses to take his team’s in-state rival for granted.

"In the game of baseball anything can happen," said Hunt, whose team went 5-0 against the Giants including a doubleheader sweep on July 12 at Fuessenich Park. "(Middletown) has some talented players on that team and if they get one hot streak we could be in trouble."

The Twisters have won nine of their last 10 games and the Giants are 5-5 during the same stretch.

Dennis Robinson (6-1, 1.60 ERA) will get the start on the mound for the Twisters. Robinson was torched for six runs against Newport last Monday. He had only allowed one earned run in the season up to that point.

"That start was nothing more than an aberration," said Hunt. "I am not worried about (Robinson) being affected by it."

Middletown is led offensively by one of the top hitters in the NECBL in Phil Rothkugel. He ranks first on the team in batting average (.306) and home runs (5) and is second in RBI (15). Mike Parisi is the Giants’ leader on the mound, with a 7-2 record and a 3.35 ERA.

Jeff Natale finished the regular season ranked first on the Twisters in batting average (.322), doubles (12) and on-base percentage (.492). Lance Salsgiver finished second on the team with .278 average.

Bobby Garza (5-1, 1.87 ERA) will start game two for Torrington and Matt Torra will get the nod in game three. Hunt says he plans on using either a four or five man rotation for the playoffs.

Same old story

The NECBL playoffs will consist of three best-of-3 series. There is rain in the forecast for the next three days (what else is new) and the schedule could be up in the air. Middletown in fact, has already had to deal with scheduling difficulties. Because of the American Legion State Tournament taking place at Palmer Field, Game 2 of the series was moved to Fuessenich Park on Wednesday. The Giants will be the home team.

"That’s typical of how this season has went," Hunt said of the rain prospects. "We’ve dealt with it all year and will continue to do so."

First pitch for all the playoff games is at 7 p.m.