Fairfield National Surprised By Monroe In District Two Little League Play

Many local Little League baseball fans are eagerly anticipating a District Two championship game involving both of Fairfield's two 12-year-old teams.

But the dream matchup took a blow Monday night, when Fairfield National lost to Monroe, 6-3, in the semifinals at Bridgeport's Blackham School.

On the other field, Fairfield American crushed Westport American, 13-3, in a game that was called in the fourth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

A Fairfield vs. Fairfield district final is still possible, but now Fairfield National has to battle its way out of the losers' bracket.

Fairfield National coach Ed Grella not only had to contend with a tough Monday team, but an unruly parent heckling the team had to be tossed from the game.

"It started with lousy pitching and countinued with lousy hitting," Grella said. "So tomorrow we have to battle. We have to fight our way back to the winners' bracket."

Fairfield National plays Westport National at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in an elimination contest.

Fairfield National starter Jiacomo Brancato struck out two batters in a scoreless first before Monroe manufactured a run in the bottom of the second.

Tim Quinlan walked and made it second on a passed ball. Pinch runner J.J. Williams entered the game and later scored as Fairfield National caught a runner in a rundown between first and second.

Brancato was pulled in favor of Tim Foley, who got his team out of the inning by striking out Zack O'Gull.

After stranding a runner in the third, Fairfield National gave up another run on a bloop single.

Down 2-0, Fairfield National came alive in the fourth inning, when Drew Speckman, Reed Harrington and Johnny Crescione hit consecutive singles to load the bases.

Monroe pitcher Cameron Kovachik nearly got out of the jam, recording a pair of strikeouts.

But Speckman scored Fairfield National's first run on a wild pitch, then Harrington tied the game when he slid in safely on a passed ball.

Fairfield National, however, never led in the contest.

Monroe responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to open a 5-2 lead. It then added an insurance run in the fifth.

In the sixth, Crescione doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored Fairfield National's final run on Foley's RBI single.