New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Shelton rallies to capture title, advance to sectionals
NAUGATUCK — It felt like nothing would fall in for Shelton American Little League on Thursday night, and then Friday night, again, not much was dropping in.
Then everything started falling right for Shelton American, keeping the carousel turning, one base at a time. Four runs in the top of the sixth gave Shelton American a 5-1 win over Union City at Peter J. Foley’s stadium and American’s first District 3 Majors championship since 2010.
“Yesterday was tough,” said Nicolas Piscioniere, who walked to load the bases in the sixth as part of the winning rally.
“We had nine fly-ball outs yesterday with no strikeouts,” manager John Larkins said. “We had such determination and grit in the batter’s box.”
They struck out just twice Friday night, but except when Ayden Sepkaski blasted a home run over the scoreboard just to the right of center field, they weren’t getting much to fall in.
Union City shortstop Andrew Tyszka had six assists and three putouts himself on the first 17 outs his team recorded, all by pitcher Aidan Adanosky.
But Adanosky reached his daily pitch limit with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth, the game tied at 1. Gael Quiroga dumped a single to right to break the tie. Paden Larkins was hit by a pitch to make it 3-1. Joe Giliotti’s looper fell in front of Tyszka, who had no play, and it was 4-1.
“We knew they were going to be tough. That’s what it’s supposed to be about,” Union City manager Ed Tyszka said. “They had one bad inning, we kind of had a bad inning, but I’m proud no matter what.”
Shelton American moves on to the three-team Section 2 tournament, which will be played here beginning Tuesday with a game between District 6 champion Avon and District 5 champion Wallingford.
Shelton American plays Wednesday and Thursday, with a final game between the top two
teams next Friday, July 20. That champion moves on to the four-team state tournament in East Lyme.
“This is just part of the journey,” John Larkins said.
Friday was about as crisp as a championship game should be. Adanosky retired the first eight and took a two-hitter to the sixth. Sepkaski robbed two Union City players of hits in the first three innings with sliding catches going toward the line in right field.
“The ball just came to me and I caught it,” Sepkaski said. You had to dive, he was told. “That’s OK.”
Manager Larkins said there’s a little more to it: Sepkaski is one of the fastest players on the team, and with hard-throwing pitchers, Shelton American expects opponents to hit to right field.
Sepkaski came in to pitch the last three innings. A ground ball off the lip of the infield and two walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but one more ground ball ended it.
Union City, which was seeking its first district title since 1996, will remain together to play a tournament in town. Adanosky and catcher Nate Parker, whose back-to-back hits produced the lone Union City run, enthusiastically went to the mound to accept their pins after the game.
There was apparent mutual respect both Thursday and Friday between the teams, who, Ed Tyszka remembered, met in fall ball and played a similarly tight game.
“I remember telling my son, we’ll see them again,” Ed Tyszka said. “We’ll see them in all-stars.”