Fairfield American tops Ridgefield for title
TRUMBULL — Fairfield American starting pitcher Will Ryan wanted the ball in his hands for the Section 1 championship game Friday night knowing he would need to be nearly perfect facing Ridgefield ace CJ Bucciero.
Ryan did his part, striking out four and giving up four hits while not allowing a run into the sixth inning when he was finally lifted after hitting the pitch limit.
He was relieved by Drew Kane, who closed the game with two runners on base, getting a line-out and then striking out the final batter to give Fairfield a 2-0 win over Ridgefield at Unity Park in Trumbull.
Fairfield American advances to the state tournament which begins Wednesday in Waterford.
Ryan knew nothing would be easy.
“Yeah I felt good and it’s always nice when you have a defense that can make plays behind you,” Ryan said. “It’s hard when I know their pitcher is really good too because it’s a little more pressure but when your defense can make plays, it makes it a lot easier. Drew (Kane) has closed all our games this year, he’s a really good pitcher and he helps us out a lot.”
Both Fairfield runs scored via wild pitches and both runs were scored by players batting in the ninth spot who got on and got around.
In the bottom of the third, Meesh Mulhall singled up the middle, went to second on a groundball to the pitcher, stole third and raced home on a wild pitch.
“(Mulhall) has been struggling a little bit,” Fairfield American coach Matt Lawlor said. “We told him ‘this is your time’ and he had a really good at bat and got on and scored our first run.”
In the fifth, pinch hitter Declan Gitman got on second before getting to third on a sacrifice fly and coming in on another wild pitch.
“We knew coming in if we got Ridgefield again, we knew we were getting their ace and he was tremendous today,” Lawlor said. “A 2-0 Little League game does not happen often. It was a great pitcher’s duel.”
Bucciero was stellar, striking out five while allowing just three hits.
Ridgefield threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs, but Ryan induced a groundball back to him for the final out, ending the chance.
“Will was once again tremendous,” Lawlor said. “We gave him the ball in a game against Trumbull and we told him today to do the same thing he did against Trumbull. He matched that effort and he went above and beyond.”