Junior Legion Rallies Past Darien/New Canaan To Keep State Tourney Hopes Alive

Bryce Maher's two-run single capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday, as the Ridgefield Junior American Legion team kept alive its state tournament hopes with a 5-4 win over Darien/New Canaan at the old high school.

Ridgefield, which started its winning rally with two outs, improved to 10-11 and needs to win five of its last six games to qualify for the state tournament.

The team is back in action Monday against Darien/New Canaan at Darien High School.

Ridgefield's Johnny Olszewski, who pitched two innings in relief, was involved in two double plays that also were pivotal in the win.

With Darien/New Canaan holding a 4-2 lead and threatening to break open the game in the top of the fifth, Olszewski turned an double play to get the hosts out of further trouble. Then in the seventh, he started a 4-6-3 twin-killing to end the game.

Ridgefield used three pitchers—Jason Marra, Olszewski and Devon Martin—to shut down Darien/New Canaan (10-11), which scored two of its runs in the top of the first.

Ridgefield began its comeback with two runs in the third. Maher singled and Olszewski beat out a grounder for an infield hit. Christian Walter scored Maher on a fielder's choice and Martin's single plated Olszewski.

Ridgefield then loaded the bases on two walks but was unable to do additional damage in the inning.

The critical point of the game came in the top of the fifth, when Darien/New Canaan filled the sacks with one. Bryan Previtz hit a liner to second baseman Olszewski, who then stepped on the bag to double up Tucker White and get Ridgefield out of the  inning.

In Ridgefield's half, Walter was robbed of a hit by shortstop Doug Reilly, who made a leaping grab of a line drive that appeared headed for the outfield. Martin then grounded to second for the second out.

At that point, Ridgefield's offense came alive. After Colin O'Meara walked and Kenny Ducey singled, Christian Andry delivered an RBI single, making it 4-3. Maher's clutch single then put Ridgefield ahead, 5-4.

Darien went down in order in the sixth, then got a runner on in the seventh via a walk, only to have him erased on Olszewski's double play.