Little League World Series: Fairfield Holds On For Thrilling Win In Opener

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield American Little League team withstood a furious comeback attempt by New Jersey to hold on for a 7-6 victory in the opening round of the Little League World Series Thursday afternoon at Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pa.

Fairfield, the New England Regional and Connecticut state champions, led 7-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. New Jersey rallied for four runs, highlighted by a mammoth two-run home run by Chris Cartnick.

Tyler Bauer came on to record the final out on a grounder to shortstop and Fairfield held on for a 7-6 victory.

Fairfield will play again on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m.

See also:

• Little League World Series: Meet The New England Champions
• Fairfield American Gears Up For Little League World Series
• Holbrook's Little League World Series Trip 5 Years In The Making (Video)
• Fairfield American Reaches Little League World Series With Historic Win

Check out the play-by-play of Thursday's win below.

FIRST INNING

Connecticut batting first. Garrett Drew pitching for Holbrook.

Ethan Righter batting. First pitch driven to right field, with Dean Daddio makes the catch for the first out.

Michael Iannuzzo at bat. 3-2 pitch smacked to center, Tai Mann makes the catch. Two out.

Matthew Vivona for Connecticut drives the first pitch to center, hits off the top of the wall for a two-out double.

Tyler Bauer for Connecticut. Hits a 1-1 pitch up the middle for a double, Vivona scores. 1-0 Connecticut.

Troy Ashkinos bloops ball to left, where Mike Arent makes diving catch for third out.

Connecticut leads 1-0.

Holbrook batting. Ethan Righter pitching for Connecticut.

Garrett Drew batting. Hits 2-2 pitch to shortstop for the first out.

Tai Mann at bat. Drives 1-0 pitch to right center for a home run. Tie game, 1-1.

Chris Cartnick batting. Strikes out swinging after 10 pitches and driving a long foul ball on the ninth pitch. Two out.

R.J. Vashey for Holbrook. Strikes out swinging.

Tied, 1-1.

SECOND INNING

Aidan Rivera batting for Connecticut. 1-1 pitch through the infield past diving shortstop.

Andrew Cutler drills single down left-field line. Arent relays to Chris Andrews at third who throws to home where catcher J.R. Osmond makes the tag play. One out, Cutler on third.

Anthony Pollack hits ball to shortstop but the throw home gets away, Cutler scores, Pollack goes to second on errant throw to second base. Connecticut 2-1.

Lee Randazzo hits ball to third base, Andrews throws to Vashey at first. Two out.

Righter hits a dribbler back to Drew, throws to Vashey. Side retired.

Connecticut leads 2-1.

J.R. Osmond batting. Hits a 2-2 pitch through the middle of the infield for a single. Ryan Kinsman courtesy runner.

Charlie Meglio batting. Strikes out swinging. One out.

Chris Andrews batting. On the 1-2 pitch, hits it to right field. Kinsman moves to second.

Arent batting. Strikes out looking. Two outs.

Andy Osmond batting for Dean Daddio. Strikes out swinging. Side retired.

Connecticut leads 2-1.

THIRD INNING

Iannuzzo doubles to center. Advances to third on wild pitch.

Vivona reaches first on a dropped third strike, no throw as Osmond holds Iannuzzo at third.

Bauer walks.

Christian Smith batting for Ashkinos. Strikes out looking. First out.

Sean O'Neil batting for Rivera singles up the middle, Cartnick knocks it down. Iannuzzo scores, Vivona scores as throw to Osmond at the plate is too late. Connecticut leads 4-1.

Holbrook pitching change. Kinsman pitching.

Owen Kalager batting for Cutler hits first pitch dribbler, force out at first. Two out.

Anthony Falletta batting. Hits to Cartnick, throws to Vashey for putout.

Connecticut leads 4-1.

Anthony Abbonizio batting. Ground out to shortstop. First out.

Mann batting. Strikes out swinging. Two out.

Cartnick batting. Takes first on a walk.

Vashey singles to center. Cartnick advances to third.

J.R. Osmond earns a four-pitch walk. Bases loaded.

Meglio batting. Wild pitch on 0-2, Cartnick scores. Connecticut 4-2.

Meglio strikes out looking.

Connecticut leads 4-2.

FOURTH INNING

Griffin Dodder batting. Flies out to John Grano in right. One out.

Righter singles off Cartnick's glove.

Iannuzzo walks.

Vivona triples down the third-base line, Righter scores, Iannuzzo scores, Vivona to third.

Bauer strikes out. Two out.

Ashkinos line drive to center, Mann leaping catch.

Connecticut leads 6-2.

Kinsman batting for Andrews, grounds to second. One out.

Grano batting, grounds to the pitcher. Two out.

Daddio batting, walks on eight pitches.

Connecticut pitching change as Righter reaches 85 pitches. Iannuzzo pitching.

Drew walks.

Mann flies out to center.

Connecticut leads 6-2.

FIFTH INNING

Andrews pitching for Holbrook.

Rivera batting, flies out foul to John Grano. One out.

Cutler walks.

Daddio pitching for Holbrook.

Pollock bloop single to center. Rivera moves to second.

Randazzo grounder to second, Meglio to Cartnick to Vashey, double play, inning over.

Connecticut leads 6-2.

Iannuzzo pitching.

Cartnick singles to center.

Vashey walks.

J.R. Osmond strikes out swinging on seven pitches. First out.

Meglio batting. Strikes out swinging. Two outs.

Andrews batting. Grounder to third for the force play. Inning over.

Connecticut leads 6-2.

SIXTH INNING

Daddio pitching for Holbrook.

Righter batting. Single to left-center.

Iannuzzo walks.

Vivona walks. Bases loaded.

Bauer hits a hard singles to left, Righter scores. Connecticut 7-2.

Cartnick pitching for Holbrook

Smith strikes out swinging. One out.

O'Neil strikes out swinging. Two out.

Kalager grounds to third for the third out.

Connecticut leads 7-2.

Iannuzzo pitching for Connecticut.

Arent batting. Four-pitch walk.

Andy Osmond batting. Grounder to first. One out. Arent advances to second.

Drew ground-rule double after ball caroms off third baseman, Arent scores. Connecticut leads 7-3.

Mann singles up the middle on a 1-1 pitch, Drew scores. Mann holds at first. Connecticut leads 7-4.

Cartnick drives a 1-0 pitch to left field for a two-run home run. Connecticut leads 7-6.

Vashey grounds to third, thrown out at first.

Pitching change. Tyler Bauer pitching for Connecticut.

J.R. Osmond hit by a pitch.

Meglio batting, grounds to short on 0-2. Game over.

Connecticut wins, 7-6.

Play-by-play compiled by Karen Wall (Patch Staff)