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Just as things were turning around for the Stamford Babe Ruth 15's, their run in the Babe Ruth World Series came to sudden and heartbreaking end. Stamford won two games in one grueling day to squeak into the elimination round of the Series to face Bryant, Ark. Stamford was one defensive out away from moving on to the semifinals, but the magic finally ran out.
Luis Lopez, brilliant as the team's closer throughout the postseason, allowed back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the seventh, which tied the game at 1. It all unraveled in the bottom of the eighth after Lopez walked the bases loaded and Bryant scored the winning run on a close play at the plate.
"Luis is the guy we wanted in that situation. You have to have your best pitcher out there," Stamford manager John Calo said. "If you lose with your best pitcher, there are no regrets. If I had to do it all over again I'd put Luis out there in a heartbeat."
Shawn Crowell did all he could in the start for Stamford, going five innings and holding Bryant to just two hits and no runs. Travis Docimo provided Stamford's only offense of the day driving in Steven D'Annolfo with an RBI single. Stamford's offense was hamstringed by injury again, losing catcher Jason LoRusso. Stamford finishes the postseason at 13-3, including a string of 11 in a row in sectionals, states, and regionals. Calo said this season is one the players and coaches will always remember, particularly the three walk-off wins that got Stamford to World Series.
"They totally exceeded all expectations for all the coaches involved," Calo said. "They gave us 110 percent every step of the way. We couldn't be more proud of these guys."
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