Monroe All-Stars Top Easton 3-1

The Monroe 12 All-Stars continued to rely on shortstop Jay Buhlmann's hot bat and pitcher Cameron Kovachik's strong right arm as they won a 3-1 triumph over Easton on Artman's Field at Blackham School in Bridgeport Monday night.

Monroe jumped on Easton in the bottom of the first.

Second baseman Nick Maini led off the inning with a single. Then Buhlmann belted a two-run homer that easily cleared the center field fence.

Monroe was up 2-0 and never looked back.

"He had two in the last game," Monroe Head Coach Bill Duignan said of Buhlmann's new-found power.

The shortstop hadn't hit a homer during the regular season, but has three in the tournament so far.

The victory improves Monroe's record to 3-0 in District 2 play with two games to go. Monroe takes on defending District Champs Fairfield American on Thursday, then Park City on Friday.

Despite tonight's win, Duignan and Coach Rich Buhlmann said some rust from being off for a week showed at different points during the game.

"A win is a win," Duignan said. "This was a tough win, but I think our week off showed."

Mental lapses resulted in errors, including one in the sixth inning. But Kovachik, who had 8 strikeouts, consistently dug deep and overcame them.

"Cameron did a fabulous job," Duignan said.

With runners on first and second and one out in the top of the sixth, Monroe clung to a 3-1 lead. But Kovachik ended Easton's final threat with a big assist from Buhlmann.

A shallow pop up was fast becoming a bloop single to left field, but the shortstop spun around and sprinted after it, making a clutch catch for out number two.

Kovachik then retired the last batter with another strikeout.

Monroe's third run came in the third inning, when catcher Pat Ryan was hit by a pitch and stole second base. First baseman Tim Quinlan smacked a double scoring Ryan for a 3-0 lead.

Easton scored on a throwing error in the top of the fifth.

But Monroe had some gems in the field.

One great play followed an Easton double to start off the third inning. The next batter hit a short fly that was about to fall into right field before hard-charging rightfielder Brian Denham made a diving catch.

Denham then jumped back up to his feet and threw to second base, doubling up the runner who failed to tag up before heading to third.

Instead of a bloop single and a run scoring, Denham turned a double play.

"That was a big play," Duignan said.