Connecticut rides strong pitching to win over Maine

Posted 8/4/13

Connecticut pitchers allowed just one hit in a 7-0 victory over Maine.

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Connecticut rides strong pitching to win over Maine

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The Southington South Little League 9/10-year-old all-stars have already made history, winning the league's first state championship since 1969.

On Saturday, they set the stage for more with a victory in their opener at the Eastern Region Invitational in Cranston, R.I. Southington beat Windham, Maine, 7-0, as three pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout.

“I told these kids before the season started they were a special group and they had the chance to do something big,” said Connecticut manager Chris Laporte. “I just put them in the positions and they do the rest.”

Starting pitcher Jake Napoli went 4.2 innings without allowing a hit. Maine put five runners on base thanks to walks and errors, but Napoli didn't allow anything else. He struck out nine before reaching his pitch-count limit.

Sean Olson went one inning and gave up the only a hit, a pop-up down the right-field line that was tough to handle. Olson also didn't surrender a run and he struck out two. Jake Neuman got the final out, also by strikeout.

All told, Connecticut pitchers recorded 12 of the game's 18 outs by strikeout.

“Up to this point, we felt we had the best pitching all through districts, sectionals, state,” Laporte said. “They continued right through to today.”

For much of the game, Connecticut needed that kind of pitching performance. The Southington stars scratched a run across in the second on an error but couldn't get anything else through four innings.

In the fifth, they broke through.

A walk by Nikko Buonanni and a single by Michael Gurdenza started a rally. Daniel DiCorpo followed with a two-run single for the 3-0 lead. After a walk to Dylon Olson, Napoli drove in two with a base hit. Shane Laporte then crushed a two-run homer over the fence in right-center to blow the game open.

“The home run opened it up,” Chris Laporte said. “We got the extra runs we needed. I told the boys, 'You've got to come to play now. This is the best of the best.' They did.”

The Connecticut pitching staff had no trouble making the lead stand up. Caleb McCartney and Quinton Hastings reached base in the sixth but were stranded there.

“Their starting pitcher threw hard,” said Maine manager Paul Kent. “I think our guys were a little intimidated out of the gate, and that happens. As the game went on, I think we got a little stronger, but you've got to tip your hat to the kids. They pitched great.”

There were some bright spots for Maine, including 2.1 solid innings on the mound from McCartney and a sliding catch in right field by Brady Bowen.

“It was a great game,” Kent said. “I reminded these guys it was a 1-0 game going into the fifth. They're a good team and to run it four full and keep it at 1-0, it could have gone either way. We've got to work on hitting. You've got to turn your brain off. Hitting is 90 percent mental. They just need a little more confidence and they'll turn it around. I'm proud of them either way.”

Maine will try to bounce back Sunday when it takes on Vermont. Connecticut plays New Hampshire on Sunday.

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