Darien/New Canaan Jr. Legion Falls to Ridgefield, 5-4

A two-run single from Ridgefield's Bryce Maher capped a three-run rally Sunday, as the town's junior American Legion team squeaked by with a 5-4 win over Darien/New Canaan.

Darien/New Canaan fell to 10-11 on the season but will be back in action against Ridgefield Monday at Darien High School.

With Darien/New Canaan holding a 4-2 lead and threatening to break open the game in the top of the fifth, Ridgefield's Johnny Olszewski turned an double play to get the hosts out of further trouble. Then in the seventh, he started a 4-6-3 twin-killing to end the game.

Ridgefield used three pitchers to shut down Darien/New Canaan, which scored two of its runs in the top of the first.

Ridgefield began chipping away at Darien/New Canaan's lead with two runs in the third. Maher singled and Olszewski beat out a grounder for an infield hit. Christian Walter scored Maher on a fielder's choice and Martin's single plated Olszewski.

Ridgefield then loaded the bases on two walks but was unable to do additional damage in the inning.

The critical point of the game came in the top of the fifth, when Darien/New Canaan put one on base. Bryan Previtz hit a liner to second baseman Olszewski, who then stepped on the bag to double up Tucker White and get Ridgefield out of the inning.

In Ridgefield's half, Walter was robbed of a hit by Darien/New Canaan shortstop Doug Reilly, who made a leaping grab of a line drive that appeared headed for the outfield. Martin then grounded to second for the second out.

At that point, Ridgefield's offense came alive. After Colin O'Meara walked and Kenny Ducey singled, Christian Andry delivered an RBI single making it 4-3. Maher's clutch single then put Ridgefield ahead, 5-4.

Darien/New Canaan went down in order in the sixth, then got a runner in the seventh via a walk, only to have him erased on Olszewski's double play.