Sports blog: Warrior Nation
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By JOHN NASH

Villager Sports Editor


STAMFORD -- All it took was a simple reminder and the Wilton Little League 10-year-old All-Stars remembered who they were.

Five innings later, they were headed to Sunday's District 1 championship game after defeating Darien American by a 17-7 score at Scalzi Park on Friday night.

Henry Strmecki and Zach Zeyher, the team's lead-off and No. 2 hitters, did what they're expected to do as each scored three runs by getting on base courtesy of two singles and other means in pacing the Wilton offense.

Matt Latella, meanwhile, added a home run to the offense cause, as well.

In the beginning, though, a nervous and tight group of players fell behind by a 3-1 score to Darien, bringing manager Tim Elkinton to the mound.

"It was a lot rockier than usual, but it worked out," Elkinton said. "Even when they got down 3-1 with one out, we had a meeting on the mound and I just told them, 'You're the same kids you were yesterday. Let's just go out, have fun and play some baseball.' Then we made some nice plays and got out of it."

Wilton starter Collin Kahal appreciated the words of encouragement for his coach.

"I was getting upset, so my coach came out and talked to me and he picked me back up," said Kahal. "We got into our groove and just started doing well."

Wilton did so well with its bats, in fact, that before Darien knew what hit them it was trailing by an 11-4 score in the fourth inning.

Darien did show some life, cutting the lead to 11-7 by the end of the fourth, but in the fifth Wilton went for the jugular.

With a Strmecki lead-off single and stolen base sparking things, Wilton scored six runs in the fifth and after Billy Black closed out Darien in the home half of the inning, Wilton had a 10-run rule win and were headed for Sunday's title game against the winner of National Lione-North Stamford.

"Once they turned it around, they never looked back and just kept charging and charging," said Elkinton.

Kahal added two singles to the winning cause while TJ Elkinton and Black each had a double. Black also scored twice.

Jack Gioffre, Joe Murtha and Ryan Gabriele all had singles.

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