Norwalk rallies to earn title shot

Aug. 22, 2008: Players from the Norwalk, Conn., team rush Adams Field as they win their semifinal against Youngstown, Ohio, in the bottom of the eighth inning. The 7-6 victory in extra innings puts Norwalk in the final of the Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series at 1 p.m. Saturday. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger
 

By GUS SHLIMBAUM
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY – Norwalk, Conn., got the the revenge it was looking for in their semifinal matchup against Youngstown, Ohio, defeating them, 7-6, Friday at Adams Field. But they probably wish the victory had come a little easier.

Up by a score of 6-3, the New England Regional champions needed just three outs to advance to Saturday’s championship game of the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series.  

But Youngstown, which defeated Norwalk, 4-3, in the tournament’s opening game, rallied and tied the game on a Cody Pitzo single, sending the game into extra innings.

Norwalk did not let the disappointment shatter their confidence, scoring the winning run on an Alex Petrides bunt. Danny Diaz came home from second after Youngstown threw the bunted ball to an empty first base.

Mark Kohler, manager of the Connecticut team, said his players have been shown heart all season.

“They have been doing this all year,” he said. “They know how to come back.”

The victory was particularly satisfying because they knew Youngstown was one of the tougher teams in the Series.

“The boys said last night while we were watching their game that they all wanted to play them,” Kohler said.  “They got what they wanted and they did it ...  the hard way, but they did it.”

Norwalk will play the winner of Friday’s late game between Nederland, Texas, and Tallahassee, Fla., in the championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Trailing, 1-0, the New England champs took their first lead in the bottom of the second inning when Bryan Daniello ripped a two-run triple to the right-center field gap.

Norwalk looked like it was going to run away with the game, adding another three runs in their next at-bat.  Scott Angeley drove in a run with one of his three singles in the game, and Mark Hegar added a two-run single.

Youngstown did not quit, plating two in the top of the sixth.  G.J. Senchak hit an RBI triple and John Sansone drove in a run with a single.

The Ohio Valley Regional champions opened the top of the seventh with two singles.  A sacrifice fly by Dan Popio and a run scored on a passed ball set up the game-tying hit for Pitzo.  They could not continue their magic in the top of the eighth inning, though, as Norwalk’s Alex Petridis stranded a runner at second base.

Kohler said he knows no matter which team they face today, it will be a hard-fought battle.

“We beat Nederland  and know they are a great team, and we’ve watched Tallahassee play and know they are a great team,” he said.  “But we’ve got as good a chance as anyone else.”
   
Gus Shlimbaum may be reached at gshlimbaum@ledger.com.

 
Aug. 22, 2008: Youngstown, Ohio, first baseman Mark Leone tags Norwalk, Conn., runner Bryan Daniello for an out in the bottom of the first inning during their semifinal of the Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series at Adams Field in Quincy. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger