Baseball Squanders Huge Lead In Loss To Norwalk

In a wild game that included a beaning and an ejection, the Ridgefield High School baseball team squandered an 11-run lead after two innings and suffered an 18-17 loss to Norwalk on Monday afternoon.

Norwalk, which trailed 12-1 early in the game, broke a 14-14 tie with four runs in the top of the seventh before rally by the Tigers in the bottom of the inning fell just short.

Norwalk (10-5, 10-3) and Ridgefield (10-5, 9-4) entered Monday's contest tied for third in the FCIAC. The top four finishers earn a home game in the first round of the league playoffs.

During the top of the seventh, Norwalk right fielder Thomas Sullivan was struck in the head with a wild pitch and taken to Danbury Hospital for evaluation. According to his father, he did not lose consciousness.

Norwalk lost another player in the second when third baseman Doug Weeks was tossed from the game by the field umpire for arguing a tag play on steal by Ridgefield's Mark Giles, who was called safe. It appeared that the Bears' infielder tagged Giles on the shoulder before the runner reached the base.

Still, the call seemed to fire up the Bears, who were held to three hits over the first three innings by Ridgefield starter Dan Zarnik.

Norwalk scored two runs in the third and five in the fourth, narrowing the deficit to 12-8. 

In the fifth, Norwalk shortstop Leon Fleming hit a monster three-run home run over the 390-foot sign,  pulling the Bears within 12-11.

Clearly rattled, the Tigers committed a pair of errors that led to three more runs for Norwalk in the frame, and a 14-12 lead for the Bears.

"Pitching and at least five errors cost us the game," Ridgefield coach Tony Wilmot said. "But I really liked the way we battled and hung in there even when they came back on us."

"That is what I like about these guys," he continued, "their enthusiasm for the game is great, and I can't be mad at that."

Still, it was a frustrating defeat for the Tigers, who appeared to be cruising toward an easy win.

"I hate losing like that," said Giles, who had five hits, including a booming home in the second inning.

Ridgefield pulled even in the bottom of the sixth, parlaying a walk, a bunt and two singles into a pair of runs.

But the Tigers couldn't shut down the Bears in the top of the seventh, and a  close play at second in the bottom of the inning ended the game.