Sports blog: Warrior Nation
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WILTON

By JOHN NASH

Hour Staff Writer


The Wilton Little League 12-year-old All-Stars opened their game on Thursday night by literally stealing the momentum in the very first inning.

But it was Norwalk that came up with a bigger answer, using some big bats to snatch the momentum right back and pull out an important 6-2 victory in the third round of District 1 pool play action at the Wilton YMCA's Bill Terry Field.

Four stolen bases on one play might have given Wilton a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but four two-out hits -- including a two-run home run by Edwin Owolo and a three-run blast by Corey Hayes -- left the score 5-1, Norwalk, by the time the first inning ended.

"That was an answer back to that really sad effort we made in the first inning, where we just weren't paying attention," said Norwalk manager Frank Diurno. "But I told our team when they came in, if we can score a handful of runs we'll forget all about that."

Which is exactly what happened.

Wilton starter Alex Jacobson notched the first two outs with ease before giving up a single to Mike Boguski. He then went to a full count on Owolo before the Norwalk batter crushed a pitch deep over the right center field fence, putting Norwalk up 2-1.

A double from Dan Romanello and a walk to BJ Buckle brought Hayes to the plate.

One pitch later, Hayes had a three-run bomb clear the fence and Norwalk was up by a 5-1 score.

"I was just standing there waiting and on that first pitch I was swinging for the fences," said Hayes. "The second it came off the bat, I knew it was gone. I saw it was a good pitch and hit it. It was big for us to get up."

Wilton added a second run when JT Morin doubled and later scored on an error to make it 5-2, but from that point it just couldn't take advantage of the opportunities that Norwalk handed out.

In the third inning, Wilton left a runner stranded at third base. One inning later, it had a runner tagged out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch, and in the sixth it left the bases loaded.

"We just got beat tonight by a team that played better than us," said Wilton manager Bob DeSantis. "It wasn't shock and awe, because we knew they were a good hitting team. They just took two very good swings with people on base and next thing you know we're down 5-1."

Norwalk added a run in the fourth when Anthony Salta walked and later scored on Boguski's sacrifice fly.

The win moved Norwalk to 2-1 in pool play as it heads into the weaker portion of its schedule while Wilton is 1-2.

In the first inning, Wilton literally stole the lead.

After Richie Williams singled to open the inning, Will DeSantis drew a walk on a pitch that drew the ire of the Norwalk manager.

As Diurno was talking to his pitcher through the fence, Williams stole third base. On the throw to third, DeSantis then stole second.

As Norwalk threw the ball to second, Williams broke for the plate, scoring while DeSantis raced to third for a fourth stolen base on one play.

Despite not having anybody out, Norwalk starter Matt Diurno worked himself out of the inning without any further damage and allowed his teammates to get him the lead.

The pitcher was replaced by Dan Romanello in the third and Buckle closed out the game in the sixth.

The Wilton squad put together a furious two-out rally in the sixth as Grant Sweeny singled and Jimmy Colihan and Morin both walked.

A fielder's choice on a ground ball up the middle ended the game.

Kyle Jonas and Morin both doubled for Wilton, which faces Darien American on Saturday, while Williams, Jacobson and Lucas Savoie each singled.

In addition to their home runs, Hayes and Owolo added a single and double, respectively while Romanello also doubled.

Norwalk plays Ridgefield American on Saturday.

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