Ridgefield Scores and Standings: July 11

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The Ridgefield senior American Legion team, which features a young pitching staff, dropped to 4-17-1 following a pair of losses Sunday to Westport (5-1) and Wilton (4-3).

However, the junior squad swept a doubleheader from Westport 7-1 and 4-1 on Sunday to improve to 13-7 and move within one win of clinching a berth in the state tournament.

The senior club team recently went 1-3 in a tournament in Pawtucket, R.I., with the one win a 9-5 victory over Orange. 

Ridgefield was tied 1-1 in the seventh against the Massachusetts RBI Hawks, who then scored two runs off starter Dan Zarnik for a 3-1 win. Ridgefield also lost 10-0 to the eventual tournament winner Team Cape Cod, which drew from all high schools in Cape Cod.

Starter Dan Greenberg led the final game against Glen Falls 1-0, but Glen Falls scored twice in the sixth and  three times in the seventh to post a 5-1 victory.

In zone games, Ridgefield suffered a 7-6 loss to Fairfield in a suspended game on Thursday. In the nightcap, the  teams played to a 5-5 tie after 10 innings.

Ridgefield did record an impressive 6-0 victory over state tournament hopeful Stamford on Saturday behind Zarnik's four-hitter. Mike Devivo had two doubles and a single, Jim Hannigan and Devin Martin each contributed two doubles and Joe Hannigan added a pair of singles.

In 11 of the 15 losses entering Sunday, Ridgefield had led or been tied in the sixth or seventh inning. The team has played errorless baseball in 10 games this season and has seven players batting above .300.

"Ironically, this is one of our best all-around senior teams in years," coach Anthony Fucelli said. "The combination of a lack of key two-out hits, young pitching, no closer and some bad luck has left us with the
losing record so far." 

Other than Zarnik, who pitches for Fairfield University, and high school senior Jack Yuen, all of Ridgefield's pitchers were sophomores in the spring - Martin, Dan Greenberg, Chip Papa and Joe Malley.

"All of them have shown poise and ability to compete at this level," Forcelli added. "However, the majority of the teams which we have faced have older players and pitchers."

Ridgefield won the 15-year-old district four Babe Ruth tournament with a 4-3 win over Pomperaug and advanced to the state tournament which begins Friday in New Milford.

In the 14s, Ridgefield will play for the title on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Danbury. 

The Ridgefield American 12-year-old Little League team completed pool play in the District One tournament with a 12-8 loss to North Stamford. It finished with a 3-3 record and did not advance to the semifinals.

Ridgefield National dropped an 11-10 decision to undefeated Darien American and wrapped up pool play with a 2-4 mark.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Ridgefield Jr 13, Wilton Jr. 1

Ridgefield Sr. 6, Stamford Sr. 0

SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE

Ridgefield Jr. 7, Westport Jr 1 (1)

Ridgefield Jr. 4, West9port Jr. 1 (2)

Wilton Sr. 4, Ridgefield Sr 3

Westport Sr. 5, Ridgefield Sr. 1

MONDAY'S SCHEDULE

Ridgefield Jr. vs. Westport Jr., 5:30 p.m., at East Ridge Middle School

Ridgefield Sr. vs. Norwalk Sr., 5:30 p.m., at old Ridgefield High School

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS