Seven-Run Fourth Carries Wilton Baseball Past Danbury

Corey Fechter belted a three-run double and Scott Young added a three-run home run in a seven-run fourth inning Wednesday, as the Wilton High School baseball team posted a 12-6 victory over Danbury.

The Warriors, who were coming off an 8-7 extra-inning win over New Canaan, improved to 6-1, including 5-1 in the FCIAC.

Wilton also combined speed on the base paths and solid relief pitching to pull away for the win.

Senior speedster Cory Fechter led off the second with a single, stole second and scored the tying run on an RBI single by junior third baseman Ryan Phillips.

"I don't want to be cocky," Fechter said,  "but I was fourth-fastest in the state in third grade."

Cockiness aside, Fechter realizes that he still has to earn the green light from his coaches.

"I want to talk to coach (Tim Eagen) and tell him that I can have the green light, but you know, they have to give me the steal sign," he said.

Eagen was happy that Phillips delivered a clutch hit early in the game.

"I like when people get pressure on them, with two outs, in clutch situations, and deliver,"  Eagen said. "With runners in scoring position you just have to try and get it into the outfield, we were very successful with that today."

Two key offensive outbursts by Wilton put the game out of reach.

In the fourth inning, Danbury starter Cory Dean stared down Fechter with the bases loaded and one out.  Fechter won the battle, blasting a bases-clearing double. 

"In the past couple of games I have not been hitting it hard," Fechter said, "and going in, bases loaded...and getting a ball that I can drive to the opposite field, it felt great to help the team because it really sparked us."

The double chased Dean from the game, and reliever Abe Almonte did not fare any better, allowing Young's homer  just four batters later. 

Wilton starter Jack Palumbo pitched four solid innings, settling down considerably after Hatters shortstop Ian Ratchford launched a 3-1 offering in the first inning to put Danbury ahead, 1-0, it's only lead of the game. 

However, the rally in the fourth somehow affected the senior's concentration, according to Eagen.

 "I think it was just concentration on his part," Eagen said. "Jack is a veteran pitcher who should know better, but you know, it happens."

Fellow senior John Como entered the game in the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings.

"Give John Como all the credit in the world today," Eagen said. "He came in relief and did an outstanding job. When a senior like John can come in and contribute as he did today, it makes me feel good as a coach and makes him feel good as a player."

The Warriors tacked on four more runs in the fifth inning to complete the scoring, then started looking ahead to Friday's contest against rival Darien.

"Darien is a one of our big rivalries," Eagen said. "We've always had great games competing against Darien. I like our chances because we're playing good baseball right now."

"We're always motivated to play Darien," Phillips added, "We don't really like them very much. We still haven't peaked yet, so that is what is exciting about this team."