Fairfield Junior Legion Reaches .500

The work ethic that first-year Fairfield Junior American Legion coach JJ Edwards has instilled into his ballclub is paying major dividends.

Aaron Marks' delivered a game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday, lifting Fairfield to a 5-4 victory over Trumbull at Notre Dame of Fairfield High School.

The walk-off win enabled Fairfield (8-8) to reach the .500 mark after an 0-27 season last summer.

Marks had been struggling a bit at the plate, but he and his teammates have embraced the positive, hard-working approach of their rookie coach, who isn't much older than they are, having just recently graduated from Sacred Heart University.

"Coach (Edwards) is always available in his off-time if anyone needs extra help or wants to work on something," said Marks, who laced a single to plate Graham Boatwright with the winning run.

"We met up recently and he worked with me on my approach at the plate. Leading up to my at-bat in extra innings, he reminded me that I would be the fourth guy up in the lineup. He just told me to have a solid and productive at-bat, to wait for the right pitch and make my at-bat a good one."

After Boatwright singled to lead off the eighth, Jake Lightman put down a beautiful bunt for a base hit that runners at first and second with no one out.

After a strikeout, Marks stepped to the plate with a restored level of confidence, thanks to the words of his spirited first-year coach.

"I just felt good up there," he said.  "I waited for the right pitch,  and I was able to make good contact with the ball to help us get the win."

For Edwards, it was a big win in several ways.

"It's definitely a big step in the right direction for us," Edwards said. "He (Marks) really came up with a great at-bat for us, and he's really been working hard to get things going at the plate.

"We are .500 now on the season and we just want to keep playing good baseball to make a serious push at postseason play."

Along with Marks and Boatwright, who each enjoyed multiple-hit outings, the pitching duo of Chris Booton and reliever Danny Alvarado delivered strong outings on the mound.

Booton kept the Trumbull bats quiet, surrendering just five hits in 6 1/3 innings. With Fairfield leading heading into the final frame, a tough-luck error on a pop up allowed Trumbull (6-8)  to push across the tying run.

Alvarado, a smooth-tossing lefty, entered the game and kept the visitors in check, allowing just a lone hit while notching five outs with a solid array of pitches to earn the win. 

Fairfield took the lead in the fourth inning after Tommy MacGrath's key bunt put runners on second and third. Boatwright's first hit of the day gave the hosts a 3-0 lead.

After delivering the game-winning drive,  Marks was quick to credit his coach.

"He's a huge presence to have out there coaching us," Marks said. "I'm just really glad that I took the opportunity to put in the extra time and work with him."

Fairfield continues its series against Trumbull on Tuesday at St. Joseph High School (5:30 p.m.)