North Stamford 9-10s Roll Through District Final

STAMFORD, Conn. – North Stamford defined dominance in the 9- and 10-year-old Little League district tournament. The young ballplayers tore through their opponents, outscoring them 73-15 in seven games for a perfect 7-0 record. The latest victory was the sweetest, dismantling Wilton, 12-5, to win the District 1 championship.

"This is awesome. These kids really worked hard for this," North Stamford manager Frank Wainwright said. "They gelled together since day one. They only had five days to get ready and they're a good bunch of kids who worked well together."

North Stamford set the tone for the game right away, sending seven batters to the plate and scoring three times. Montana Semmel drove in the game's first run with two more scoring on wild pitches.

Semmel then took the mound for 3 ? hard-fought innings. The North Stamford righty struck out four and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning.

North Stamford clung to a 4-2 lead at that point, but being unable to score seemed to deflate Wilton. The Wilton pitchers imploded in the top of the fourth as five runs scored on three walks, two hit batsmen and one hit. But that lone hit—a bases-clearing double by Jack Miezell-- blew the game wide open. North Stamford scored three more times in the top of the fifth.

Noah Skang came on in relief to shut the door on Wilton. He struck out the final batter to clinch the title.

"I knew we were going to win. I was feeling good before the game," Semmel said. "We were undefeated in the tournament, but I didn't think we would win by so much. I think we can win the state championship, too."

The North Stamford 9-10 Little League team moves on to the state tournament in Naugatuck. Its first game is Thursday against an opponent to be determined.

Do you think the North Stamford 9-10 team can win the state championship? Start the discussion below!

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