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FAIRFIELD, Conn. The magic of Fairfield American's 2010 New England championship team might be carrying over to this year's squad. Down by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Fairfield bounced back on home runs by Eddie Schwartz and Jack Oricoli in a dramatic 10-7 win over East Haven.
Schwartz hit an absolute bomb that left the park in the blink of an eye and traveled at least 300 feet. Oricoli's laser line drive barely cleared the center field fence, but it was enough to give Fairfield American a walk-off win in the opening game of the state sectionals.
"Any time we can be compared to last year's team, we'll take it," Fairfield American manager Kevin Flynn said. "We keep coming from behind because we have heart. It's a quiet confidence that things can happen."
Oricoli was eager to reach the plate with the game on the line after an uncharacteristic pitching performance. He left in the third inning after surrendering six runs (three earned). Brendan Flynn was dominant in relief, pitching three solid innings and collecting the win.
The Fairfield faithful, having watched their team explode for 16 runs in the sixth inning of Sunday's District 2 championship game, kept waiting for the offense to spring to life. When East Haven pushed across an insurance run in the top of the sixth, it didn't deflate American one bit.
With one out and one on in the sixth, Eddie Schwartz turned on a fastball out over the middle and rocketed it high over the left field wall. Grant Carnemark reached on an error and Flynn was intentionally walked, setting up Oricoli's heroics.
The line drive home run was Oricoli's second of the night. He clocked one in the first off the scoreboard in right field.
"We're a strong-hearted team. We just never want to give up," Schwartz said. "It felt great for me to get one and for Jack to hit that after a tough nightwe're all proud of him."
Fairfield American has a few days off to savor the win, playing District 1 champion North Stamford on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Orange.
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