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STAMFORD, Conn. It has been 54 years since Stamford reached the Senior American Legion Connecticut state finals. And after Stamford jumped out to a 7-0 lead over Norwalk, it appeared the drought would finally be over.
But Norwalk chipped away at Stamford's Cinderella story, pounding out 13 hits in the final five innings for a stunning 10-8 victory. Norwalk goes on to the state title game, Stamford to the losers bracket.
"We were both in the situations where you use a lot of arms in a long tournament," Stamford manager Kevin Murray said. "We had no errors tonight, so they earned every run they had. It's upsetting to lose a game like that when we're up, 7-0."
Stamford starting pitcher Dan White was lights out for the first four innings, allowing only two hits. Then the wheels came off in the fifth, as Norwalk sent 10 men to the plate and dramatically cut into Stamford's lead.
Norwalk tied it up 8-8 with three runs in the sixth. Stamford's Alex Rough tried to score on a single to center by Brandon Docimo in the top of the eighth but was gunned down by Matt Parlanti to preserve the tie. Norwalk scored the go-ahead run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth, completing the improbable comeback.
"It's a tough loss to take, but we'll rebound," Murray said. "We've been in this situation before with single elimination. We won two play-in games to get here, and tomorrow's another day."
Stamford was the beneficiary of seven walks in the first four innings. After Norwalk took a 1-0 lead on an error, Steve Hagedus added an RBI single and Rough plated two with a double. Rough and RJ Calo brought the game to 7-0 in the fourth. Three of Stamford's eight runs were unearned.
Stamford now must survive two games in the losers bracket to qualify for the finals. Stamford takes on Middletown at Muzzy Field in Bristol after the conclusion of the 3:30 p.m. game between Greenwich and Branford.
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