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The Stamford Babe Ruth 15's are still alive in the Babe Ruth World Series, but just barely. They were handed just their second defeat of the entire postseason today, losing to Hamburg, Ark., 9-3.
All the offense in the game came in the third and fourth innings for both teams. Hamburg took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but Stamford cut the lead by scoring once in the bottom of the frame. Hamburg blew open the game in the top of the fourth scoring six times, creating an insurmountable lead. Shawn Crowell was the expected starter for Stamford.
Stamford is technically still alive in pool play, but they need to win their final two games and they will need to get help from other teams in their division. The top three teams in the two divisions advance to the elimination round.
In the first game for Stamford on Friday, Luis Lopez's magical run of relief appearances came to an end as Saginaw Valley, Mich., jumped on him for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Saginaw Valley held on to win, 5-4. Lopez had picked up three wins in relief during the regional tournament and a win and two saves in the state tournament.
The game started out promising with Stamford jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI double by Kevin Epp and an RBI single by Jeff Cortese. Saginaw fought back with two runs off Stamford starter Danny O'Leary. Stamford retook the lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Jason LoRusso and a sac fly by Kyle DiVico, but Lopez could not hold the lead.
Stamford will try to keep their World Series dreams alive when they take on the tournament host team, Monticello, Ark., at 3 p.m.
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