BASEBALL
The “cardiac kids” did it again last weekend, as Darien Babe Ruth 13U baseball advanced to the winners bracket final in the Connecticut state tournament by beating Shoreline 6-5 in a game that went to the wire.
After spotting Shoreline four runs in the top of the first inning, Darien came back with three of their own in the bottom half. Shoreline scored again in the top of the 4th to take a 5-3 lead. Then things got interesting.
Casey Brown hit a two out solo home run over the right field fence that carried well over 300 feet to get Darien within one.
Brown carried the momentum on to the mound pitching the final two innings striking out five batters and shutting out Shoreline.
Darien got the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the seventh by Christopher Drake and Brown walking and Tyler Grant hitting a single. Shoreline was able to get an out at home with grounder.
Brian Peters then came up and hit an RBI single scoring Brown to tie the game. Jack Farren then followed with a hard grounder to shortstop that brought in Grant who beat the throw home with the winning run giving Darien the win.
Andrew Winsch was the starting pitcher for Darien and pitched five solid innings striking out three batters.
Grant led the way with two hits and an RBI. Peters finished two RBI to go along with his game tying hit.
The Darien 13′s are back in action Wednesday night against the Norwalk/New Milford winner with a birth in the state championship on the line. The state tournament is being held in Watertown, CT.
Earlier Darien beat Waterford 11-10 on July 13 at the Waterford Babe Ruth Complex.
Peters pitched the last two innings in relief giving up no runs and picking up the win.
Darien spotted Watertown a five run lead in the first inning and was down 10-5 in the fifth inning. But Darien scored two in the sixth and four in the seventh to take the lead.
The win got it all going for Darien as it moved on to the second round of the Connecticut State tournament.
Brown went 4-for-5 with three singles, a double, six RBI, Pidgeon had three walks, two runs scored, Drake singled, had two walks, two RBI, Peters singled, walked twice and had an RBI Farren doubled, Matthew Drake singled, had two walks, scored three runs, Kevin Klarer singled, had an RBI and stolen base.
