52°
FAIRFIELD, Conn. They might not have quite the power of their older counterparts, but the Fairfield American 11-year-old Little League team can still swing the bats with the best of them. At about the time the 12-year-old American team was wrapping up its Section 1 championship, the 11-year-olds were finishing off. The Fairfield 11s cruised to a 14-3, five-inning victory, clinching a spot in the 10-11-year-old state championship series.
"Somebody asked me if we hit as well as the 12-year-olds and I said, 'Honestly, we do not.' But these guys just put the ball in playa lot," Fairfield manager Bill Meury said. "They don't overswing, and if their pitcher puts it over the plate, our kids are going to put a good swing on it."
Fairfield starter Ryan Meury mixed his pitches well, keeping Wilton hitters off-balance. The lefty struck out five in four innings with a sizzling fastball and a big, slow curve.
With his team leading by a slim 3-1 margin in the top of the fourth, Will Lucas put the game out of reach with a three-run smash to dead center. Wilton hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Fairfield would erase any notions of a comeback in the top of the fifth.
Fairfield sent 13 batters to the plate, capped off by a three-run shot by Meury that just cleared the right field fence. Biagio Paoletta, Patrick Steed and Chris Meyers all had RBI hits in the inning.
"We just don't make many mistakes. We gave up two home runs, but any other ball that was put in play was usually an out," Meury said. "All we can do now is go up there [to the state championship] and play our best. It's like playing with house money now. No matter what happens up there, they've had a very good year."
The Fairfield American 11s will play the winner of Avon vs. Wethersfield in the state championship. The best-of-three series begins in Haddam on Sunday at 2 p.m.
How do you think the Fairfield American 11s stack up against the 12s? Do you think both will win the state tournament? Start the discussion below!
Follow Eric Gendron on Twitter for the latest MSC-Fairfield County sports coverage. Like The Daily Fairfield on Facebook.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
