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STAMFORD, Conn. To stop the Stamford American Legion Junior baseball team in the state playoffs, its opponents must slow down Billy Druehl and the team's running game. Few have done it this season, and Enfield couldn't do it Monday.
Druehl sparked Stamford's attack for the under-17 team with two hits, three stolen bases and two runs scored as Stamford advanced to the quarterfinals with a 10-0 victory that was stopped in the fifth inning via the mercy rule. Stamford advances to the quarterfinals Wednesday against an opponent to be determined. The game will be played in Danbury or Windsor Locks.
"We were all getting good jumps on the catcher,'' Druehl said after Stamford swiped seven bases, including three by Nick Palumbo. "That was a big help to get runners into scoring position."
Stamford used its aggressive base running all season in compiling a 20-7 record. It captured the Zone 4 championship and earned its way into the round of 16 in the states. Enfield, which went 18-6 in Zone 8, defeated Moosup on Sunday to reach the round of 16. But it had no answer for Stamford's aggressive attack.
"I played that way all year,'' manager Scott Giorgi said. "That's the way I played. I think it's important to keep guys moving. I will stay with that as long as we're going here in the states."
Andrew Oakes got the victory for Stamford, allowing two hits while fanning six and walking four. His teammates staked him to a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Cortese. Brandon Curto's two-out, two-run single in the third made it 3-0, and Brian Pollack's single in the same inning made it 4-0. Stamford put it away with a five-run fourth, with Cortese and Curto delivering RBIs. A walk and two Enfield errors helped the inning along, as did four stolen bases by Stamford.
"It was important to come out and get some runs early,'' Giorgi said. "We hadn't played in eight days, and I was a little concerned about that. It was important to get Andrew an early lead. If we can get Andrew a couple of runs, I like our chances."
Rain stopped several games Monday, and the team must pick them up again Tuesday. Stamford will come back Wednesday with Logan McCullough, who has also pitched splendidly this summer. Stamford is just three wins away from winning its first Junior Legion state championship.
"Our first goal was to win our zone, and then we wanted to a home playoff game,'' Giorgi said. "We'd never done that. We want to keep it going."
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