O'Leary's Homer Sparks Fairfield American To First Win In New England Regionals

Patrick O'Leary picked a great time to hit his first home run of the postseason.

O'Leary's two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning snapped a tie and sparked Fairfield American to a 7-4 victory over Shelburne, the Vermont state champion, Saturday night in the New England Regionals in Bristol.

"I was definitely expecting the pitch that I wanted and I made contact," said O'Leary, who belted a fastball over the left-field fence for Fairfield American's first big hit of the tournament.

Rallying from an early three-run deficit, the offense finally came alive for the locals after they were held to three hits in Friday's 3-0 loss to Rhode Island.

They improved to 1-1 in pool play and can assure themselves a spot in the single-elimination semifinals by winning at least one of their remaining two games.

Fairfield American is back in action on Monday (8 p.m.) against New Hampshire at the Giamatti Little League Center.

"You never want to go down 0-2 in short pool play, so this was a big win for us," Fairfield coach Chris Daley said. "It doesn't take the pressure off, but it is certainly a big win."

However, there were some anxious moments early on, as Fairfield American was blanked in the first two frames, extending its scoreless innings streak in the tournament to eight.

Starter Jack Quinn gave up three solo home runs, including two shots to Rayne Supple, as Vermont jumped out to a 3-0  lead in the top of the third.

But there was no panic on the bench for Fairfield American, which turned around the game in the bottom of the third, when it scored four runs on only one hit -- a swinging bunt by Nate Klein with the bases loaded.

"We didn't chase," shortstop Nick Nardone said. "We just took the pitches and got what we wanted."

Fairfield American wore down Supple, Vermont's starter, with a patient and disciplined approach at the plate, running up his pitch count. As a result, Supple reached his limit in the third inning, as Fairfield American took advantage of
four walks in the frames.

Overall, Supple issued seven in just 2 2/3 innings.

"We grinded it out for those early runs," Daley said.

After Supple walked the bases loaded, Fairfield American scored its first run when Quinn reached on an error. Following a  strikeout, Klein's infield single made it 3-2. A wild pitch brought in the tying run, and a groundout by pinch hitter  Liam Wurzel gave Fairfield American a 4-3 lead.

"It's just our patience at the plate," Daley added. "We've done that all summer-long, just great at-bats."

"The first game, we were chasing pitches and the kid (Rhode Island's Tyler Calabro) was throwing very well," Nardone added. "Today, we came in with a different game plan. The first inning or two, we were chasing a little bit. The third inning, we really settled down, waited for pitches we wanted."

After Vermont loaded the bases in the fourth on three walks, Quinn also reached his pitch limit.

But in a potentially pivotal part of the game, Eddie Magi replaced Quinn and turned in a huge effort in relief. He escaped the threat by inducing a grounder to short for a force at the plate and getting a strikeout.

Vermont did tie the game, 4-4, in the top of the fifth, when William Hesslink scored on a fielder's choice, but  O'Leary's homer lifted the spirits of the entire Fairfield American team.

"I was thinking base hit because I've been in kind of a slump," O'Leary said.

Leadoff homer Tommy Ryan followed O'Leary with a solo homer to center, as Fairfield American's offense finally started to resemble the unit that averaged 12 runs per game entering the tournament.

The offense fireworks made a winner of Magi, who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three.

For good measure, O'Leary worked the sixth to earn the save, but it wasn't easy, as he issued three walks before finally getting the final out.

"I had confidence that Patrick would shut them down," Daley said.

When the final out was recorded, Fairfield American's outlook was a lot brighter than it appeared 24 hours earlier.