WESTPORT, Conn. The Westport Cardinals qualified for postseason action in the Fairfield County Men's Senior Baseball League. But they won't be heading there with much momentum.
The Cardinals dropped a doubleheader Sunday to New Canaan, 4-1 and 5-0, to finish the regular season 7-11. They will play in the league's second playoff tier for teams that finish in fifth through eighth place. Westport has lost six of its last seven games. The Cardinals started the season 4-1.
"There's a lot of parity in the league other than the teams at the top (Fairfield and Monroe),'' Westport manager Bill Thornton said. "We had some games that were close and they just went the other way. We've had trouble getting the clutch hits. On Saturday (a loss to Monroe) we had 15 runners left on base."
Westport's bats were silent Sunday. In the opener, New Canaan pitcher Pat Chieffalo allowed six hits and walked one in five innings. New Canaan touched Thornton for three runs in the second, and the Cardinals never recovered. They left eight runners stranded on base.
New Canaan's Scott Carew was even harder to solve in the nightcap. Westport had four hits and just one baserunner after the third inning. Pitcher Chuck Hite settled down after allowing three runs in the first inning for Westport. The Cardinals couldn't muster any sustained offense.
The Cardinals will now await the President's Cup playoffs beginning Sept. 11. The Cannons could be an opponent. New Canaan is battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the league's championship tournament.
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