All-Star 12s Drop Game Two in State Championships

Today's faceoff between New Canaan's All-Star 12s and West Norwalk in Game Two of the Cal Ripken State Championships was the kind of battle that players and fans have come to expect. Today's meeting was the fourth in a week between the two teams, and today's decision went to Norwalk, with a 10-6 win. New Canaan defeated Norwalk last Wednesday to win the District One championship, but Norwalk was given an at-large bid into the States. Both teams won their games yesterday, which set them up to face each other today.

Norwalk went up early, scoring three runs in the first inning on home runs by Marco Latella and David Balunek, and setting the stage for a marathon second inning that lasted nearly an hour. New Canaan upped the ante at the top of the frame. Norwalk ace Balunek loaded the bases on singles by Justin Clark and Mike Collins, and a walk to David Giusti, and then New Canaan began batting in runs on base hits by Colin Tiller, Kyle Levasseur, Zachary Allen, and Zack Smith, putting the All-Stars up 4-3. But Norwalk fought back in the bottom of the second, scoring four more on home runs by Zack Azadian and Balunek (his second) to end the inning at 7-4, Norwalk.

Entering the fifth inning, the score was 8-5, Norwalk, on home runs by Norwalk's Jeremy Linton and New Canaan starter Alex LaPolice. With Marco Latella on the mound for Norwalk, Giusti reached on a perfectly placed bunt, Levasseur and Allen both reached on infield errors, and then LaPolice drove in a run on a grounder ripped to centerfield to put New Canaan within two, before Giusti took back the mound. After loading the bases, Norwalk scored two more on an infield error, putting the score at 10-6 and the win out of reach for New Canaan.

Standouts for New Canaan were Colin Tiller, who was three for four with three singles, an RBI and one run scored; Kyle Levasseur, who went four for four, with four singles, an RBI and one run scored; Alex Lapolice, who went three for four with a home run, base hit, and a walk; and David Giusti, who was three for three, with a single, two walks, and one run scored.

New Canaan will play face either Southbury or Shore Line on Tuesday evening.