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FAIRFIELD, Conn. After squeaking by Yalesville in the state sectional opener, the Fairfield American 11-year-old All-Stars were determined to avoid drama in their second state tournament game.
American added six hits to the seven walks given up by Seymour. Biagio Paoletta crushed a three-run, game-ending home run off of the roof of the press box in center field to cement an 11-1 victory in a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened game.
Fairfield manager Bill Meury said the kids learned from their previous game, a 9-7 win against Yalesville, that every inning counts. "A team can come back very quickly," Meury said. "We had that game [against Yalesville] 9-3, and then all of a sudden they came back. They learned their lesson I think."
Fairfield scored at least one run in every inning they were issued a walk. Up 2-0, American sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring five times on just three hits.
Matt Kubel struck out three in three innings pitched and drove in a pair with an RBI single. Michael Ghiorzi pitched two innings of dominant relief. Leadoff hitter Ryan Meury reached base and scored four times.
"We just told the kids to put the ball in play. When you put the ball in play, you can put pressure on the defense and make things happen," Meury said. "Our pitching got ahead of guys tonight and when you do that you have a good chance of winning."
The Fairfield American 11s improve to 2-0 in state sectional play. They could clinch a spot in the sectional finals with a win over Annex Little League (New Haven). That game is schedule for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Blackham School in Bridgeport.
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