CHAMPS — Darien LL 10-11 District title winners include Nicholas Conte, Tom Conte (manager), Brian Cicero, Jake Hyde, Max Deberadinis, Frank Cicero (coach), Reid Gesualdi, Jack Bogdan, Griffin Ott, Mac McLean, Anthony Gesualdi (coach), Sean O’Malley, Aldo Stefanoni. Not in picture: Reilly Warble and Nathan Hadlow.
BASEBALL
Reid Gesualdi, Jake Hyde and Sean O’Malley had three hits apiece, and pitchers Griffin Ott and Max Deberadinis combined to shut down a potent North Stamford offense, to lead Darien American to a 7-4 victory in the Connecticut District I Little League 10/11 Championship game in Stamford over the weekend.
With the win, Darien advances to the Connecticut Section One Tournament, hosted by Prospect Little League.
It is the first time in three years Darien’s taken a District title.
Gesualdi, Hyde and O’Malley each singled in the first inning to give Darien a 2-0 lead.
O’Malley then led off the top of the third inning with a 230 foot home run over the left center field fence to extend the lead to 3-0.
Meanwhile, Ott was making quick work of a North Stamford team that had scored 60 runs over its previous five games, throwing just 33 pitches through three shutout innings, aided by Jack Bogdan’s running catch in right center field.
After Darien extended its lead to 5-0, North Stamford scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Deberadinis took over on the mound, stopped the rally, and went on to record the final seven outs of the game.
Brian Cicero and Nicholas Conte drove in key insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning, which proved important as the tough North Stamford squad mounted a final rally in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Darien’s strong defense held on for the 7-4 win.
Aldo Stefanoni and Mac McLean also had hits for Darien.
Reilly Warble and Nathan Hadlow, though unable to attend the Championship game, contributed throughout the tournament to enable the team to reach the final.
Darien American is managed by Tom Conte, and coached by Frank Cicero and Anthony Gesualdi.
