Sports
New Canaan 11's Open With Win In Ripken Regionals
Matt Evans has three hits, including a two-run homer, in a 12-1 win over Litchfield, N.H.
New Canaan opened the 11-year-old Cal Ripken New England Regionals with a bang Saturday, routing Litchfield, the New Hampshire state champion, 12-1 in New Milford.
Matty Evans led New Canaan's attack by going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run. The contest was stopped after five innings because of the mercy rule.
Matt Burger was 1-for-2 with two walks while Dillon Abate was 1-for- 1 with three walks from the leadoff spot.
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Robby Jones and Trevor Donnelly each had hits while Justin Stemerman (1-for-2 with two walks) , JD Sparks (two walks) and Justin Greco (walk) also contributed for the winners.
New Canaan's pitchers once again were on fire as Mikey Pelli pitched two scoreless innings and Abate allowed one run over three innings.
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New Canaan takes on Exeter, N.H., on Sunday at 3 p.m. in New Milford in the winner's bracket semifinals.
In other games Saturday, Exeter defeated Sutton, Mass., 6-2, Newtown downed Uptown, Mass., 8-1, and New Milford topped Keene, N.H., 5-3.
On Sunday, New Milford faces Newtown at 3:30 p.m. In earlier games,
Litchfield takes on Sutton at 12 p.m. and Keene battled Upton at 12:30 p.m.
On Friday, Abate was the winner in the accuracy throw event in the skills competition which preceded the start of the regionals.
Players threw a ball from center field at a target placed on home plate. Points were awarded for throwing the ball through a hole in the target or hitting the target. Each of the eight regional teams submitted three participants.
There were four events in the skills competition - accuracy throw, running relay, around the horn throwing race and home run derby. Abate was the only Connecticut player to win or place in an event.
