New Canaan's All-Star 12s rolled over Southbury last night in a mercy-rule 12-2 win that puts the team one step closer to the Cal Ripken State finals. The team is working out of the losers' bracket since its loss to West Norwalk last Sunday.
A loss in the tournament means the end of the season for New Canaan, and as the defending state champions, the All-Stars are doing everything possible to keep winning.
Southbury came on strong, posting two runs in the first against New Canaan starter Zack Smith, but New Canaan evened the score on a walk by Kyle Levasseur, a hit by Smith, and an RBI by Alex LaPolice to end the first frame tied at 2-2.
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Both teams' defenses held each other in check in the second with each side retiring batters in order. Smith continued in the third, shutting down the side on two ground outs and a strike out, which set the stage for New Canaan to surge ahead in the bottom of the inning.
On the mound for Southbury, Jack Warner loaded the bases on singles by David Giusti and Levasseur and a first-base pass to Smith, who was hit by a pitch. LaPolice walked in a run to put New Canaan up by one, and then Zachary Allen crushed a grand slam to put New Canaan ahead 7-2 and prompting a pitching change. In for Southbury was Luke Niedziela, who served up base hits to Kane Curtin, Justin Clark, and Victor Lu. With one out, Giusti belted a line drive up the middle to score two, and then Colin Tiller nailed a single to load the bases again, prompting another pitching change. Zack Wilson promptly served up an RBI double to Levasseur before retiring New Canaan and ending the marathon inning at 12-2.
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Giusti took the mound for New Canaan in the fourth and retired the side on a fly out to Mike Collins, who made a spectacular running grab of a Niedziela missile in left field; a pop-fly to first baseman LaPolice, and a strike out. The game was ended after the top of the frame on the mercy rule, with New Canaan winning, 12-2.
The All-Stars play Newtown tonight at 5:45 at Ewald field in Southbury, and if they win, they'll play the loser of tonight's game between New Milford and West Norwalk tomorrow.
