All-Star 11s Continue Streak in Maine

New Canaan’s All-Star 11s made quick work of their opponents from Norton, MA Wednesday evening, beating them 11-1 in the third game of the Cal Ripken Northeast Regional championships in Oakland, ME. The win puts New Canaan, which is now the only undefeated team in the tournament, one win away from the championship.

Norton, also undefeated coming into tonight’s game, had beaten North Country (Vermont), and host team Messalonskee (Maine) to advance to the winners’ bracket game against New Canaan. But they faced a determined New Canaan team which wasted little time taking control and routing their opponents in just over an hour of play. The game was ended in the fourth inning when New Canaan’s ten-point lead triggered the mercy rule.

Alex LaPolice started for New Canaan and shut down Norton’s offense throughout his four innings on the mound. Of the first six outs for Norton, five were strikeouts. LaPolice—in his best pitching performance of the season—struck out eight batters and gave up only two hits.

New Canaan’s offense was just as effective, running through their entire batting order in their first at-bat. Leading off in the bottom of the first, Kyle Levasseur greeted Norton pitcher Jason O’Neil with a first-pitch double that one-hopped to the center field wall. Justin Clark followed with a two-run, 240-foot home run (his first of the tournament) into the bullpens. Zack Smith worked a walk, and then LaPolice hit an RBI double that scored Smith from first. Zachary Allen walked, putting runners at first and second with no outs, and prompting a pitching change for Norton. Mike Collins hit a single off reliever Zachary Feeney, and LaPolice took a gamble and headed for home but was thrown out at the plate. Colin Tiller loaded the bases with a single, but Feeney finished off the side with two strikeouts to end the inning with a score of 3-0 New Canaan.

After LaPolice retired the side in order with three strikeouts in the top of the second, New Canaan threatened another scoring spree, loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch to Smith, a double by LaPolice, and a walk by Allen. But Feeney was able to work himself out of the jam and hold off New Canaan, stranding the runners.

New Canaan returned the favor in the top of the third, stranding Norton with bases loaded before picking up the bats and once again running through the batting order. First up was Tiller, who reached second on a single and a steal. Jimmy Fahey and David Giusti followed with walks to load the bases with no outs, prompting Norton to pull Feeney and replace him with their ace Keenan Coffey. Coffey struck out Levasseur and then Justin Clark hit a sacrifice grounder that scored Tiller to put New Canaan up 4-0 with two outs. Smith followed with an RBI single that scored Fahey (5-0). LaPolice hit a blooper and reached second on an error, scoring Giusti (6-0) and putting Smith on third. Smith stole home on a passed ball (7-0), allowing LaPolice to steal third. LaPolice then darted for home on another passed ball and scored from third, putting New Canaan ahead 8-0 before Coffey was able to get out of the inning.

Back on the mound in the top of the fourth, LaPolice kept up the pressure. Norton’s Paul Caramanica was able to reach third on a base hit and two passed balls, but LaPolice struck out Cody O’Brien. Jason O’Neil followed for Norton, hitting a sacrifice fly to Clark in right field, and allowing Caramanica to tag up and score from third. Michael Capprini was next and hit a bomb to deep center field, but Smith tracked it and made the catch on the run for the third out. Score 8-1 New Canaan.

Back at bat in the bottom of the fourth, New Canaan poured it on. Kane Curtin led off with a base hit. Jimmy Fahey followed with a single that forced Curtin out at second. David Giusti laid-down a text-book bunt up the third base line to advance Fahey, putting runners at first and second with one out. Levasseur cranked another hit to deep center, but Norton’s fielder was there to make the catch for the second out. Clark was next, and hit an RBI single that scored Fahey (9-1). Smith followed with an RBI single that scored Giusti (10-1); and LaPolice followed with an RBI single that scored Clark, putting the score at 11-1 and triggering the ten-run-rule end to the game.

The win puts New Canaan into the championship final, to be played Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of Thursday night’s losers’ bracket game between Norton and Messalonskee.

Justin Clark was named game MVP for New Canaan by the tournament directors.