Ridgefield's Babe Ruth Team Finishes On Top

Commentary contributed by Vince Ammirato.

Ridgefield’s 14U Babe Ruth District All Star team finished its season with a 2-0 win over Pomperaug at Community House Field for the I-84 summer league championship. 

Danbury-WIN

Ridgefield’s four-game championship run started with a 3-0 victory over Danbury at Rogers Park. Sam Sarath tossed a complete-game three-hitter and struck out 10.

Ridgefield got it going the hard way in the third as two batters were hit by pitches. Clutch two-out singles by Sarath and Nick Manderlink plated Liam Smith and Matt Mead to make it 2-0.

Ridgefield’s final run came in the fifth inning when Mead led off with a single and later scored on Manderlink's RBI single .

Brookfield-WIN

Ridgefield’s next opponent was Brookfield, and following Brookfield’s back-to-back losses to Ridgefield in the District 4 championship finals, Ridgefield knew that Brookfield would be eager for revenge at home at Huckleberry Hill. 

Brookfield jumped out early and scratched out unearned runs in each of their first two innings.

But with two outs in the third, Ridgefield got one back following Wright Lindgren's two-out double to the fence in left-center field and Smith's RBI single down the right-field line.

The pitchers dominated thereafter and Brookfield took a 2-1 lead into the seventh.

Down to its last out, Ridgefield staged a rally as Smith, Mead, and Joe Ammirato reached to load the bases and set the stage for Sarath, who blasted an opposite-field, base-clearing double into the parking lot for a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom half, Brookfield loaded the bases with one out, but Ridgefield closer Shane Murphy induced a game-ending double play.

Manderlink allowed just one hit over the first five innings and Murphy tossed the final two innings to earn the victory.

New Fairfield-WIN

Ridgefield traveled to New Fairfield for a Friday semifinal matchup at New Fairfield High School. With thunderstorms threatening, Ridgefield got off to a quick start.

Lindgren doubled to left center to lead off the game, forced a balk on the next pitch and scoring on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.

Joe Coyle got it going for Ridgefield in the third when he singled, stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth, Ridgefield tacked on two more on Mead's single, Ammirato's double and Manderlink's single. 

In the fifth, back-to-back walks to Porter Sigg and Lindgren set the table for Smith's two-run single.

Ridgefield broke open the game in the sixth when the first eight batters reached base.

Mead pitched brilliantly through difficult conditions and picked up his team by tossing a gritty four-hit shutout with five strikeouts.

Pomperaug-WIN

Ridgefield traveled to Community House Field to face Pomperaug in the finals on Sunday. 

Ridgefield got going in the third when Craig Burke got the team's first hit with a sharp line drive to left. Coyle followed with a double down the left-field line to put runners on second and third. 

Lindgren hit a one-hopper to first and the throw home was wide with Burke scoring for a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Smith, put the ball in play to the right side to score Coyle for Ridgefield’s final run. 

Sigg allowed just two hits over five innings and with Sarath pitching the final two innings to complete the shutout. 

In the I-84 championship run, Ridgefield had three shutouts and allowed only two unearned runs with all games called and caught by Coyle. 

Ridgefield U14 finishes its season as District 4 Babe Ruth champions and the Summer I-84 Travel League champions.