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STAMFORD, Conn. The North Stamford Little League 12-year-old All-Stars got off to a hot start Saturday in their Section 1 Tournament game against Fairfield American. But that was before they ran into a brick wall named Brendan Layne, who no-hit North Stamford through the final three innings as the defending champs rolled to a 10-5 win.
[Fairfield American] is a very difficult team to defend. They spray it around, North Stamford coach Dave Grafstein said. But I thought our pitchers threw well.
North Stamford was first on the scoreboard, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on back-to-back doubles by Alex Mella and Grant Stone. But quick base-running on a passed ball by Connor Devaney and a two-run double by Sean Gutierrez put Fairfield American ahead 3-2 in the top of the second, and American would not give up the lead for the rest of the game.
Fairfield American continued its uncharacteristic small ball throughout the game, improving its lead to 6-2 in the third with a string of four singles and a sacrifice fly. American starting pitcher Eddie Schwartz developed control problems in the third, throwing two wild pitches with the bases loaded to give North Stamford two runs. But Brendan Laynes 3 ? innings of no-hit pitching in relief secured the game for American.
Saturdays win puts Fairfield American atop the Section 1 standings with a 2-0 record in round-robin play. It facees Berlin Sunday in Orange. North Stamford drops to 1-2 going into its final round-robin game Monday. It would need a win Monday and back-to-back losses from either Fairfield American or Shelton National to make it to the championship series.
We want to win big-time on Monday, Grafstein said. We want to end on a good note, and feel good about [the tournament].
Do you think North Stamford can win its last round-robin game Monday?
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