posted 06/29/2009
In a thrilling 8-inning nail biter, North Stamford's Airtech edged out Stamford American's Rotary 8-7 to capture the Stamford Tournament of Champions. The win gave the North Stamford Little League its second consecutive tournament title.
Both teams played well with only one error occuring throughout the entire game. Airtech took a quick 1-0 lead in the 1st inning after Peter Horn smacked a double to right field. Following walks by Cameron Elkins and Tyler Pingol, Matt Molinaro hit a sacrifice fly to center and brought Horn in for the first run. The lead did not last long as Rotary hit a two-run homer in the first.
Starting pitcher Peter Horn settled down and retired 9 of the next 10 batters Rotary sent to the plate. Horn scored Airtech's second run in the 3rd on a series of Rotary wild pitches. Rotary also scored another run in the 3d with two solid singles.
The fourth inning was all Airtech's. Tom Kavulich belted a double to left field. Connor Matheny hit a single and then Peter Horn walloped a pitch over the fence to give Airtech a commanding 5-3 lead. But Rotary would not be denied as they rallied in their half of the fifth inning with three runs of their own.
Airtech enterd the 6th inning down by a run. With one out, Tom Kavulich drew a walk. Justin Locascio entered the game to run for Kavulich. With a series of wild pitches and a sacrifice bunt by Christian Pingol, Locascio made it to third with two outs. One more wild pitch and Locasica darted for home. In a very close play, he slid under the pitcher's tag, scored that 6th run and gave Airtech a second life.
In the bottom of that inning, Peter Horn retired the first Rotary batter and then reached his pitch count limit. Horn left the game with 10 strike outs. With only a few pitching appearances all season, Jacob Schwartz entered the game with the score tied 6-6. Schwartz quickly fanned the next two batters, sending the game into extra innings.
Cameron Elkins led off the 7th with a base hit to left field. Another hit from Matt Molinaro and a sacrifice from Jacob Schwartz brough Elkins home and Airtech took a 7-6 lead. But Rotary would not go away. They, too, scored another run in the 7th and tied the game at 7-7. Then, with the game on the line, bases loaded and two outs Schwartz struck out the 7th batter to come to the plate and sent the game into the 8th inning.
With Springdale's stadium packed with screaming fans from both sides, the 8th inning was one to remember. Christian Pingol led off the inning with a beautiful bunt. Connor Matheny then sacrificed Pingol to 2d base. After another hit by Peter Horn and walks to Molinaro and Elkins, Pingol came home for what would be the winning run.
Jacob Schwartz struck out two more Rotary batters. He then fielded a soft grounder back to the mound and tossed the final out to first basemen Tyler Pingol. With that, Airtech capped a remarkable season, Schwartz had his first pitching win and North Stamford had its second consecutive City Champion.
The Line Score
