Junior Babe Ruth Again Avoids Elimination

Relying on the impressive pitching of Chris McClelland, Ridgefield stayed alive in the 15-year-old Junior Babe Ruth state tournament Saturday with a 4-2 victory over Fairfield at Kiwanis Field.

Ridgefield also got just enough timely hitting to advance to Sunday's losers' bracket final against Norwalk at Kiwanis Field (10 a.m.).

The visitors snapped a 2-2 tie in the sixth on consecutive RBI doubles by Harrison Siclare and Phillip Sammon to regain a two-run lead.

McClelland surrendered two runs over five innings before giving way to Brad Rosenfield, who tossed two scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one runner. 

"(McClelland) was outstanding today, and he's been big for all us summer," Ridegefield manager Chris Molyneaux said. "Then when Brad Rosenfield came on in relief in the sixth inning, our pitching didn't miss a beat. Great pitching and very good defense were definitely the keys to this win."

Trailing 2-0, Fairfield got on the board in the fourth. Victor D'Asceno ripped an RBI double to plate Alec Creta, who led off the inning with a walk and stole second.

Fairfield pulled even in the fifth as Anthony DiLeo and Charlie Meder opened the frame with singles. Two outs later, Creta roped a line drive single to left to make it a 2-2.

In an earlier game, Ridgefield was drubbed by Norwalk, 19-2, so the team will have its work cut out on Sunday.

However, it should be highly motivated, as Molyneaux felt the Norwalkers ran up the score in the first meeting and expects his players to be primed for revenge.

"They sort of rubbed salt in the wound,'' Molyneaux said. "Our guys definitely remember that, and we are looking forward to playing them again."