Connecticut team suffers first loss

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA. » Mike Randazzo led his players out of the third base dugout and into left field, sitting them in a circle to begin his postgame speech.

The undefeated summer had just had the first ‘L’ posted on the board as Lufkin, Texas, had outbattled Fairfield American and taken a 6-3 victory. And looking at the disappointed looks on his players’ faces, Randazzo knew he didn’t need to say much.

“I told them, ‘Look at the score. That was a good game today,’” Randazzo said. “We played well. But I also told them, we have another game tomorrow.”

After 19 straight wins to open the tournament season, Fairfield American came up short in its winner’s bracket second-round game in the Little League World Series. Lufkin got a complete game from starter Collin Ross and a pair of home runs from Christian Mumphery to knock Fairfield into Monday’s loser’s bracket (8 p.m., ESPN) against Walla Walla, Wash., at Lamade Stadium.

Fairfield was limited to just four hits by Ross, who retired the last 15 batters he faced. He struck out eight and got two spectacular fielding plays from left fielder Kolby Kovar, who twice robbed Michael Iannazzo of potential extrabase hits.

“That team made some plays that surprised me,” Randazzo said. “To be honest, that play the left fielder made was ... I don’t know how he made the play. He made two of them. That’s what happens. Those plays go a different way, things can change.”