Undermanned Ridgefield Drops Senior Legion Doubleheader to Greenwich

Undermanned Ridgefield Post 78 dropped a home doubleheader on Tuesday to undefeated Greenwich in Senior American Legion Zone Four action.

Ridgefield, which was down four starters, lost the first game, 7-4. The nightcap was called due to darkness in the sixth inning with Greenwich leading, 5-0.

Greenwich improved to 9-0 while Post 78 dropped to 2-6.

Ridgefield was without catcher Tommy Payne as well as three other starters.

The Greenwich team is comprised mainly of the players who won state and regional Junior Legion titles in 2008.

In the first game, Post 78 center fielder Grant Smith made a miraculous diving catch near the outfield fence with the bases loaded to prevent any runs from scoring. 

Led by Jack Yuen, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Ridgefield tried to rally from  a 6-1 deficit.

Post 78 scored three times in the sixth to pull within 6-4 before Greenwich added an insurance run in the seventh.

In the second game, Ridgefield's bats were silent.

Replacing Payne behind the plate was freshman Colin O'Meara, the starting backstop on Ridgefield's junior club, who had difficulty handling the off-speed pitches of staff ace John Morrison.

The result was a number of passed balls and walks that led to Greenwich runs.  O'Meara continued to battle and got better as the game progressed. 

The second game was necessary because Monday's scheduled contest in Greenwich was postponed due to a communications error in which the umpires failed to show up.

The teams play again in Greenwich on Wednesday and Saturday.

Ridgefield's junior team beat Greenwich, 7-2, on Monday to improve to 5-4.