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The Stamford High School baseball team, winner of four in a row, thought it had finally found its momentum for the season. Unfortunately, on Monday evening it ran into an equally hot Wilton team that had won six straight. Warriors starter Paul Merolla held Stamford in check as the Black Knights managed just three hits. Wilton snapped Stamford's winning streak, 4-1.
"We've been hitting the ball well lately, so credit [Merolla] for what he did tonight," Stamford head coach Fred Kelley said. "When you face an ace like that you have to be ready. You can't win a game with just three hits."
Wilton got all the offense it would need in the first inning, getting to Stamford starter John McClafferty early. Shortstop Kevin O'Connell led off the bottom of the first with a double, somehow making solid contact on a pitch at his ankles. O'Connell scored on a fielder's choice by Ryan Phillips, who was driven in thanks to a monster triple by Evan Roux.
After that, Stamford could not figure Merolla out, failing to make solid contact for most of the game. The tall righty mixed his fastball with a devastating changeup, leading to many unbalanced swings.
Stamford's only offense came in the third when Zach Lyman doubled off the wall in left-center to drive in Jason LoRusso. Stamford's next best chance to score came in the fifth with two men on, but Lyman could not replicate his earlier success and flew out to deep center.
McClafferty put forth a very good effort, scattering six hits and striking out three. He kept his team in the game, retiring the last seven batters he faced. McClafferty needed just seven pitches in his final inning of work.
"It's one of those tough games, but we just have to work through it," McClafferty said. "I felt stronger as the game went on, but we just didn't get the breaks today."
Stamford (6-6, 4-6 FCIAC) will try to start a new winning streak when it travels to Darien on Wednesday. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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