Fairfield National Tops Fairfield American, Forces Winner-Take-All Game

FNLL's Jimmy Dobb's pitcher to a FALL hitter 

Fairfield National (FNLL) 12 district little league defeated Fairfield American (FALL) 8-1 in the first game of the Championship Series in the District Two Tournament. The National win forces a winner-take-all championship game on Tuesday at 5pm at Blackham School in Bridgeport. 

American took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but that was the only run they could muster all game, as they left seven on base on the day. 

In the first, Brennan Davis worked out a two-out walk and Nate Swinford singled to put two men on. The next batter, Ian Moore doubled to deep-left field to plate Davis. FALL had a chance for more but a runner was caught between third and home on a wild pitch to end the inning. 

National tied the game and took the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Nick Garafalo and Jimmy Dobbs worked back-to-back one-out walks before Henry Vincent singled to center to bring home Garafalo to tie the game. Two batters later, Dylan McDonald doubled to left field to bring in Dobbs and Vincent and give FNLL a 3-1 lead. 

FALL got the first two men on in the second and two men with less than two outs in the third, but could not do any damage. 

FNLL added another run in the bottom of the second. With runners at second and third and one out after Jake Capolla reached on a fielders choice and Brady Takacs doubled, Garofalo grounded out to first bade to bring in Capolla. National held a 4-1 lead. 

The game was broken open in the fourth. With two on and two out, Dobbs singled to left to bring in Capolla. The next batter, Vincent tripled to left field on a ball the took a funny bounce off the turn and rolled all the way to the fence to bring in Garofalo and Dobbs to put FNLL up 7-1. 

FNLL capped the scoring in the fifth. McDonald reached on an error to lead off the inning. The ground ball went all the way to the wall and McDonald ended up a third base. Four batters later, with two out and runners at second and third, Takacs reached on an infield single to shortstop and McDonald came in to score. 

Jimmy Dobbs was terrific on the mound for National. He threw 6/2 innings, allowing one run of four hits and striking out five and walking five. He came out as he reached the maximum pitch count. Tommy Galvin three two pitches to close out the victory.  

Here's the broadcast as Rob Adams and I had the call on Robcasting Radio.