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STAMFORD, Conn. Bristol took an early 4-0 lead against Stamford in Sunday's American Legion Junior Division state championship game, put brakes on the Zone 4 champion's running game, and captured the title with a 6-3 win at Muzzy Field.
Stamford (23-8) battled from behind all game after Bristol scored three in the second and one in the third. Stamford got within 4-2 on Jeff Cortese's two-run double in the fifth. Bristol scored two in the seventh, and needed them when Stamford got a run home with one last rally.
"I'm an aggressive manager, and being down four runs took us away from some of the things we like to do,'' Stamford manager Scott Giorgi said. "We like to hit and run and steal, and take the extra base. Being down four runs, we couldn't afford to take chances."
Stamford outhit Bristol (24-5), 9-5. Walks, however, also played a big part in Stamford's demise. Stamford pitchers walked 11 batters, including six by starter Peter Dawson in the first 1 2/3 innings. He survived a shaky first despite walking three batters. He walked two with two-out in the second, and Jake Martel's slicing line drive ticked off the glove of right fielder Brian Pollack for a triple. Mitch Guilmonte's double added another run. Logan McCullough replaced Dawson in the second, and allowed just one unearned run over the next 4 1/3 innings.
Stamford climbed back with Cortese's big hit in the fifth. After Bristol tacked on two in the seventh against a tiring McCullough, Stamford appeared set up for a big rally when Nick Palumbo and Bryan Pieschel reached base to lead off the inning. Both runners moved up on a throwing error. Billy Druehl crushed a line drive to center, but it was caught. It got a run home, and Bristol retired the next two hitters to end it.
"We had a lot of hits the past few days that found holes,'' Giorgi said. "Today we hit it right at them. If Druehl's hit goes over his head, we have two runs in and we have a runner on second with none out. It was that close."
The loss closed the book on the best season ever for Stamford's Junior Legion team. It made its first appearance in the state championship, won the Zone 4 title and was one win away from winning the first state title by a Stamford American Legion team since 1957."I'm proud of my guys,'' Giorgi said. "They don't quit. I'll go into battle with those guys any day."
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