SHARE

Fairfield Walks Off With State Title

At 4-foot-8 inches tall, Nate Klein may have been the smallest player on the field for Fairfield American Little League on Sunday afternoon in the Connecticut Little League State Championship game against Madison. But with one giant swing of the bat Klein became a hero, smashing a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to send Fairfield to the New England 11-12 Little League New England Regional.

The blast was the third of the game for Fairfield (15-0 in postseason play), who defeated Madison 11-1 by the mercy rule at Blackham Field in Bridgeport in the second game of the best-of-three title series.

"I was trying to get a hit," Klein said. "My team really encouraged me to get the home run."

Klein's teammate Jack Quinn, the winning pitcher, said the team has affectionately nicknamed Klein "Mini-Me," "Munchkin" and basically any other height-related nickname.

"He is clearly the smallest guy on the team and we didn't think he could actually hit a home run," Quinn joked. Quinn pitched a strong game for Fairfield, going all four innings with five strikeouts.

The victory is the first state title for a Fairfield 11-12 little league team. It is also the first time a District 2 team has advanced to the New England Regional since 1996.

"It's a special group of boys," coach Chris Daley said. "They are so loose and so confident. I am proud, happy and looking forward to the next step."

Daley said he saw a winning attitude in the team last year, when they won the state title in undefeated fashion in the 10-11 division. That entire team, except for two players, came back this year and has not lost in two seasons.

Fairfield started the scoring in the second inning with a four-run rally, helped by three Madison errors. In the third, Klein doubled and scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, ahead 5-1, Fairfield capped its powerful performance, starting with back-to-back home runs by Nick Nardone and Quinn. Then Chris Daley singled and Klein delivered the game-winning blast. Fairfield outscored Madison 26-5 in the series.

Fairfield will now represent Connecticut in the New England Regional in Bristol. The first game will be Friday night at 8:15 against Cumberland National Little League, the Rhode Island state champions.

"We are going all the way. The road to Williamsport, here we come," Quinn said with a smile as his teammates mobbed him.

to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE