Sports
Westport American Reaches District II Little League Semifinals
Garrett Stonehouse homers twice for Westport American, which faces Fairfield American on Monday.
The Westport American Little League team left nothing to chance Saturday.
Garrett Stonehouse hit two home runs and drove in five, as Westport American defeated North End, 15-2, at Bridgeport's Blackham School to secure the final play spot in the semifinals of the District II Little League tournament.
Stonehouse, who was 4-for-4, smacked a two-run homer in the top of the first, then belted a three-run shot in the fourth that hit the concession stand beyond the center-field fence.
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Saturday's contest was halted after four innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Had Westport American not won Saturday, there was a possibility it could have lost a tiebreaker to North End and been bumped out of the playoffs. But it became clear that wasn't going to happen after it erupted for five runs in its first at-bat.
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Westport American completed round robin play 4-1 and earned the No. 2 seed in the "Red" group. It will take on Fairfield American, the top seed in the "Blue" group, in Monday's semifinals at 5:30 at Blackham field No. 2.
In Monday's other semifinal, Fairfield National, the No. 1 seed in the "Red" division, faces Monroe, the runner-up in the " Blue" division. The semifinals are double elimination, meaning each team is guaranteed to play at least two games.
The semifinal winners — and losers — play Tuesday. The championship game is set for Saturday.
Westport American tacked on five runs in the second inning, one in the third and two runs in the fourth.
Owen Burke drove in four runs with an RBI triple in the first and a three-run homer in the second.
Ian Burns collected three hits for Westport American, whose only loss in group play was a 10-0 defeat to Fairfield National. Jon DeDominico and Justin Ludel added two hits apiece.
Burns and Burke each pitched two innings for Westport American, combining on a one-hitter. North End's only hit was a single by Orlando Sanchez in the third.
DeDominico, Stonehouse, Burns and Burke — the first four hitters in Westport American's lineup — were a combined 11-for-16.
