An Impressive Run for FNLL

At the gazebo at the Sherman Green in Fairfield

Fairfield National's Little League World Series run is over. 

While they did not win it all, they won in a lot of ways, both on and off the field. 

They won districts, sectionals, the State of Connecticut and the Metro Region to advance to the Little League World Series. In the LLWS, they advanced all the way to the United States Championship. In the Championship on Saturday, they fell to Nevada, representing the Mountain Region, 8-2. 

Fairfield defeated Aruba on Sunday in the "third place game" to finish as the third best team in the World. A tremendous accomplishment! 

Most importantly, the boys of FNLL, as well as the coaches, represented Fairfield and captivated the Town of Fairfield and the State of Connecticut in an amazing way. 

They created memories for themselves that will last a lifetime. 

Fairfield was so impressive to watch. This is a team that won by playing well in all facets of the game, Hitting, pitching, defense and smart baserunning. A roster that consisted of: 

Logan Gryga
Ben Herbst
Charlie McCullough
Luca Pellegrini
Dante Madera
Joe Sorrentino
Brian Palazzolo
SJ Taxiltaridis
Tommy D'Amura
Colin Curley
Jimmy Taxiltaridis
Boden Dunlap

Some standout performances were the pitching and defense of Pellegrini. The pitching and hitting of SJ Taxiltaridis. The defense and hitting and leadership behind the plate of Jimmy Taxiltaridis. The hitting and pitching of Tommy D'Amura. And the defense of Dante Madera in center field and Brian Palazzolo at third base. 

There are so many others I could have named. That is the issue with sometimes trying to give shoutouts. No offense intended to anyone not mentioned. It is a tremendous TEAM! 

Congrats to Manager Brian Palazzolo and Coaches Dave Gryga and Tom Curley as well 

They were the third Connecticut team to make the United States Championship, joining Trumbull in 1989, who won it all, and Westport in 2013. 

They were just the fourth team from Fairfield to make the Little League World Series. Fairfield American made it in 2010, 2012 and 2017. 

The Town of Fairfield will honor the team on Monday at the Sherman Green. Come out and show them your support! 

While I'm not going to say I really know anyone on the team that well, I know family and friends of the players and coaches and my passion for sports, and especially baseball, in this town make it a pleasure to watch and follow. 

It was great to see all fans who went down to Williamsport to support, those who attended watch parties at local establishments and those who supported in other ways. There was also a lot of support on social media and in other ways around town. This just goes to show what a great community this town is. It does not matter which side of town you live on, which little league you are a part of, or which schools you attend or attended, it's about being a part of "One Town." 

These kids are not only great players but seem like great young men who we are all excited to watch and see what they do in the future, in all sports and life. 

For now, congratulations and thank you, Fairfield National! 

Fairfield Little League Baseball

Watching though the wind screen because we always make it work and respect space where we are guests.  

Little League baseball was back on Robcasting Radio on Tuesday. 

I was honored to join my friend Rob Adams for Fairfield National and Fairfield American in the final game of district two pool play at Unity Park in Trumbull. 

Fairfield National asked Rob to broadcast it, and well, it's Fairfield related, so I'll often be there. 

We all know how much I love sports involving Fairfield, so a all-Fairfield matchup is very enjoyable. #OneTown 

We have done little league broadcasting for Fairfield American three times, 2018, 2019 and 2020. We also did some National in 2020 after they won district two over American. 

It's been a blast every time. So great getting to know the players, coaches and families. 

Tonight, American came out of top 12-2. Both teams will be playing in the double elimination portion of the district two tournament beginning Friday at Unity. Rob will be back on Friday when National plays Trumbull at 7:30pm. Listen on Robcasting Radio. 

We had to watch the game tonight through the wind screen. We made it work. Like always. We can see enough and Rob was able to look though where two pieces of the wind screen were zip tied to the fence. 

It rained off and on at points in the game, but Rob is prepared and brought a pod to keep the equipment dry. He also had a tarp to keep the power strip hopefully dry. Safety is no accident, you know. #Preparation 

Sure, we got a little wet, but that was fine. Knowing the equipment was dry and safe, the only other real issue was keeping our scorecards as dry and possible so we could: 1) Read what they said and 2) continue to write what was happening; I gave up on my scorecard with an inning to go, to be honest. It was a losing cause. 

Rob trying to keep his scorecard dry. 

I'll be bouncing between a number of things this summer, including little league when I can. My main priority will be the communications work for Fairfield American Legion baseball I am doing. I've also got some basketball coaching. 

After Legion, it's somewhat wide open, little league baseball, Babe Ruth baseball, AAU baseball, anything else I can think of. Basically, if Rob is there, there's a decent chance I will be there at some point if I can. And even things Rob isn't at, I'll go watch and/or cover in some way. 

I also want to watch as many of the Ludlowe baseball guys as I can who are playing on various teams this summer. I'm always going to support those guys especially, as well as all the others playing. 

Here is the full broadcast from tonight. 

Fairfield National Topples Stamford North To Advance To Section One Final (Broadcast of game included)

Fairfield National Little League defeated Stamford North 15-0 in three innings in the Section One Tournament on Sunday afternoon in Milford. Fairfield advances to the Section One Championship next Sunday. They will face the winner of Hamden and Stamford North, who play next Saturday. 

Brady Takacs led off the game by drilling a full count offering over the wall in left-center field to give Fairfield a quick 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Nick Crosley hit a pop-up to short right field and an infield fly rule. However, the ball fell between the second baseman and the right fielder. Jimmy Dobbs was able to come in and score on the play to give National a 2-0 lead. 

Fairfield broke the game open in the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Nick Garofalo was hit by a pitch and Dobbs walked to increase National's lead to 4-0. The next batter, Henry Vincent singled to right field to bring in two more runs and increase the lead to 6-0.

Later in the inning, Crosley doubled off the wall in right field to bring in two more runs to make it 8-0. Crosley moved to third on a wild pitch and then came in to score as Tommy Galvin reached first on an error. 

The offense just kept on coming in the third inning. With on on and one out, Garofalo drove a 1-2 pitch deep down the left field line and snuck it just inside the foul pole for a two-run home run to make it 11-0. 

A walk to Dobbs and singles by Vincent and Dylan McDonald loaded the bases. Crosley then walked to force in a run and make it 12-0 as the bases remained loaded. Vincent then came in from third to score on a wild pitch before the scoring was capped on a two-run pinch hit double by Kellan Gilligan. 

On the mound for Fairfield, Garofalo allowed one hit and walked two, while striking out five in the rule-rule shortened three inning game. 

You can hear the broadcast as Rob Adams and I had the call on Robcasting Radio. Follow Rob, Robcasting Radio and myself on Twitter for updates about the broadcast of the championship game and more. 

We called the game wearing masks....We do what is asked of us. I am betting I could not be heard....considering it's tough to hear me normally. 

Dobbs Pitches Fairfield National Past Hamden In First Sectional Game

Jimmy Dobbs' complete-game lifted Fairfield National Little League Past Hamden by a 3-1 score in the first game of the Section One Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Ralph Clarkson Field in Milford. 

Fairfield National got on the board in the bottom half of the first. Nick Garofalo doubled to left with one out. Dobbs then reached on an infield single on a high chopper up the third baseline as Garofalo moved to third. Dobbs moved up to second on defensive in-difference before and groundout to third off the bat of Henry Vincent brought Garofalo home. 

Hamden tied up the score in the third. Eric Jagielew walked to lead off the inning. He moved to second of a wild pitch. With one out, Nate Marczak reached on an error and Jagielew moved to third. Two batters later, with two outs, Kam Gamm hit a popup to short right field that was dropped and allowed Jagielew to come in to score and tie the game at one. 

Fairfield National took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Dobbs reached on an error and moved to second on a wild pitch. Vincent lined a soft single into center field and Dobbs moved to third. Vincent would move to second on defensive in-difference. Then, back-to-back wild pitches allowed Dobbs and Vincent to come in and score and give National a 3-1 lead. 

That would be more than enough for Dobbs. He threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run on three hits, while walking two and striking out six. 

Fairfield National will be back in action on Sunday at noon against Stamford North. 

Rob Adams and I broadcast today's game on Robcasting Radio. We will have the rest of Fairfield National's games in the Section One Tournament and Robcasting will have the state tournament in Stamford, whether Fairfield National makes it or not. 

Fairfield National Defeats Fairfield American To Win District Two Title

Fairfield National Little League defeated Fairfield American 4-1 to win the 12-year-old District 2 Championship on Tuesday night at Blackham School in Bridgeport. It's the first District title for Fairfield National.

Fairfield American took the first lead of the game in the second inning as Ian Moore connected on a home run to deep left field that was a no-doubter off the bat. 

Fairfield National came right back and tied the game at one in the bottom half of the inning. Henry Vincent led off the inning with a double to right. Two batter later, Dylan McDonald singled to bring in Vincent and tie the game. 

National took the lead in the third. Nick Garofalo reached on an error leading off the inning. Two batters later, with runners at second and third, Vincent grounded out to first base allowing Garofalo to come home and put National up 2-1. They had an opportunity to add on as Nate Jackson hit a fly ball to medium-deep center field and the runner tried to score. He successfully beat the throw home but was called out on appeal for leaving third base too soon. 

Fairfield National was able to extend their lead in the fifth. With two outs and nobody on, Jimmy Dobbs was intentionally walked. That brought up Vincent who drove the first pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run home run to give National a 4-1 lead.

On the mound for National Nick Garofalo was terrific. He threw five innings allowing one run, on one hit - the home run, while walking two and striking out six. Garofalo was named District tournament MVP. Tommy Galvin picked up the save, working around a hit to throw a scoreless sixth. 

Although it came in defeat, Nate Swinford was solid on the mound for American. He threw four and two thirds innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out seven. 

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I had a blast once again joining Rob Adams on Robcasting Radio for Fairfield American's run. Thank you to the coaches, players and families for all their help and was great to get to know you. Always love covering little league baseball and any sports in Fairfield. Hopefully more with Fairfield National going forward. Either way, it's been fun to cover Fairfield American (and Fairfield National) again. 

Fairfield National Powers Way Past Fairfield American in District 2 Pool Play

Fairfield National's Nate Jackson delivers a pitch during the fifth inning

On the strength of two home runs, Fairfield National Little League defeated Fairfield American 6-3 in pool play of the District 2 tournament on Wednesday night at Blackham School in Bridgeport. 

Fairfield American got off to a strong start, scoring three runs in the first inning. Ian Moore led off the game with a single to center. Four batters later, with runners on first and second, Nate Swineford singled to center to bring in Moore. 

Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Cole Krollman singed to center to bring in Brennan Davis, who had walked, and Swineford to put American up 3-0. 

National came right back in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Garfalo singled with one out, the next batter, Jimmy Dobbs homered to right-center field to cut the American lead to 3-2. 

National would tie the game an inning later. Nate Jackson led off with an infield single to shortstop. After a strikeout, Jake Capola walked and Brady Takacs singled to right to load the bases. The next batter, Garfalo, worked a full-count walk to bring in Jackson and tie the game at three. 

After the three-run first inning, American would be shut down offensively for the remainder of the game, managing just two hits over the final five innings against three National pitchers. Garafolo picked up the win, throwing four innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while striking out six, walking two and hitting one. Jackson threw two-thirds of an inning, bridging the gap to Tommy Galvin, who picked up the save. 

National broke the scoreless tie in the fourth. Galvin reached on a lead-off walk. After back-to-back strikeouts, Garfalo, the left-handed batter, drove all ball to the opposite field that easily cleared the left-field fence and landed on the field on other main field in the complex. 

American had their chances, as they left eight men on base, including leaving the bases loaded in both the fifth and sixth innings. 

National improves to 1-0, American drops to 1-1 in District 2 Pool Play. 

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