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NORWALK, Conn. The Norwalk 12-year-old Cal Ripken All-Stars' shot at back-to-back district titles will have to wait for one night. Mike Gonzalez ripped two home runs for Norwalk, but it was not enough. A grand slam by Greenwich's Marco Pastore sank the defending champs, 7-6, in the District 1 Cal Ripken double-elimination tournament.
The teams traded a pair of runs in the first inning, but Greenwich took the lead for good in the top of the second with a five-run frame. Norwalk scored three times in the bottom of the third, but left the bases loaded.
Connor Langan shut the door on Norwalk, pitching three-and-a-third scoreless innings of relief for Greenwich. Langan was perfect in the final two innings.
Gonzalez did everything he could to help his team, pitching four scoreless innings of relief for Norwalk in addition to his pair of home runs. Norwalk's only other scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth with runners on second and third and two outs, but Kevin Woodring flew out to deep center field.
The two teams square off again in a winner-take-all district tournament final Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan.
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