Fairfield 17U Comes From Behind To Defeat Westport

Fairfield 17U defeated Westport 12-5 on Wednesday night at Kiwanis Field in Fairfield. 

Westport got out to a quick start in the first inning. They scored four runs on three hits, and capitalized on a Fairfield error. The big blow in the inning was a two-run single by Jacob Ragaza. 

Fairfield got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. Jack Fitzpatrick led off with a triple to deep left field and Sean McAdams followed up with a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Fitzpatrick and get Fairfield on the board. 

Fairfield had a big second inning and was not only able to tie the game, they were able to take the lead. With runners on first and second and one out, James Blanco hit a hard ground ball that ricocheted off pitcher Jacob Lessing and allowed Aidan Gouley to come in and score. A walk loaded the bases and then Fitzpatrick singled to left to bring home two more runs as Griffin Dodder and Blanco crossed the plate. Three batters later with the bases again loaded, Danny Pierce singled to left field to plate to more and give Fairfield a 7-4 lead. 

Fairfield added a run in the third. Steve Titus and Gouley each singled to put runners at the corners. With Gouley in motion, a ground ball to short by Dodder turned into a 6-3 putout and a run for Fairfield. 

Westport got a run back in the fourth. With two outs and a runner at third, Jacob Lessing hit a ground ball to second that McAdams made a sliding play up the middle but the throw to first was dropped allowing a run to come in and cut the deficit to 8-5. 

Fairfield tacked on a run in the fourth. With runners at second and third and one out, Sam Swanson singled to right to bring in Jack Martin, who walked to lead off the inning. 

The fifth inning saw another run go up on the scoreboard for Fairfield. After Titus and Gouley walked to start the inning, Dodder laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. A ground ball to short brought Titus in to increase the lead to 10-5. 

The scoring was capped in the sixth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Titus doubled to left field to bring home Swanson and Pierce. 

After a tough first inning on the mound, Martin settled down to throw three innings plus, allowing five runs, but only one earned, on three hits, while striking out three and walking four. Charlie Mitola came out of the bullpen to throw four innings. He allowed one hit and two walks, while hitting one.