67°
GREENWICH, Conn. In one of the most epic pitchers duels of the season, Greenwichs Dylan Callahan went toe-to-toe with East Hartfords Alan Schiff for 10 innings Saturday in the Class LL state tournament. Despite retiring 22 batters in a row at one point, Callahan ended up the hard-luck loser. Schiff was not quite so dominant, but he shut down the Cardinals when it counted, as East Hartford ended Greenwichs season with a 4-2 victory in the state quarterfinals.
I just wanted to win so badly for my team. Its unfortunate we didnt, but somebodys got to lose, Callahan said. We had a great run and were one of the best teams in the state. But you cant win them all.
Callahan put in the longest outing of his high school career, striking out 10 in 9 1/3 innings. He allowed just three hits, and only one East Hartford run was earned.
Callahans lone walk of the afternoon turned out to be a big one. He put on the leadoff batter in the top of the 10th, and that runner scored on the eventual game-winning double by Christian Caballero.
An unbelievable performance, Greenwich manager Mike Mora said of Callahans effort. Its unfortunate that he ended up with a loss, but its outstanding how he pitched under the circumstances. He wanted the ball (in the 10th). Hes my senior, and I left him in. Thats on me.
Greenwichs best chance to win came in the bottom of the eighth with Callahan on third, but Casey Gaynor grounded out to third. The Cardinals managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 10th, but Taylor Olmstead hit into a game-ending fielders choice.
The Cardinals dug themselves an early hole in the second, when two errors led to two unearned East Hartford runs. The score stood at 2-0 until the fourth, when Kyle Ballone roped a two-run double that hopped against the right-field fence, scoring Cameron Fennell and Matt Pruner. The Cardinals stranded seven runners on the afternoon.
Greenwich finishes a memorable 2012 season with a 23-2 record and a perfect 20-0 in the regular season.
It was a tremendous year," Mora said. "We didnt get a championship, but we had a good ride, and I think the kids grew.
Follow Eric Gendron on Twitter for The Daily Voice's latest coverage of Fairfield County sports.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.
