Fairfield All-Stars Storm Through District Tourney

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The 12-year-old All-Star teams from Fairfield National and Fairfield American showed a lot of similarities Saturday afternoon. Both faced off against Bridgeport teams in the District 2 Little League tournament. Both rode three home runs to double-digit, four-inning victories. And both improved to 4-0 in group play.

Fairfield American started off Saturday’s action at Blackham School in Bridgeport with a three-run first inning against Park City Little League. But their bats really came alive in their 10-run fourth, when Eddie Schwartz and Jack Oricoli both hit three-run homers and Sean Gutierrez added a solo shot. Reed Szemplinski, Jon Anuzzi and Brendan Flynn combined for a no-hit shutout to beat Park City 19-0 in just four innings.

“We just did what we were supposed to do,” head coach Kevin Flynn said after the game. “We just played baseball.”

The Nationals also got off to a hot start Saturday against North End Little League.  Zavier Espinel put his team up 4-0 in the first with a three-run homer. Hunter Rempe followed suit with a three-run shot of his own the next inning, followed immediately by Reed Harrington’s solo home run. A string of base hits in the bottom of the third gave the Nationals 11 runs.

Starter Ryan Congdon went 3 ?  innings before giving up North End’s only run and struck out eight in the process. Rempe struck out the only batter he faced to close out the 11-1 victory.

Coach Luis Garcia said after the game he thinks his team can make the same type of run Fairfield American’s 12-year-olds did last year. “The boys are gelling very nicely,” Garcia said. “They’re ready.”

Both teams have just one game left in the round-robin portion of the tournament. Fairfield American plays fellow undefeated Trumbull American Tuesday, and Fairfield National plays Stratford Wednesday. Wins for both would lock up the top seeds in the double elimination round.

With their wins Saturday, the boys put themselves in good position to face off in the District 2 Championship game July 17. If they do, it would mark the fourth straight year this group of boys has created an intra-town final, having done the same as 9, 10 and 11-year-olds. The Americans won last year’s battle on the way to the state championship in their age group.

“The National guys are looking tough this year,” Flynn said. “You can’t look past anybody. We just take it one game at a time.”

Which team do you think has the best chance to win the district championship? Start the conversation in the comments below.

 

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