Wilton Scores and Standings: July 26

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Trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wilton 11s All-Stars showed their grit and tenacity by rallying for a 5-4 walk-off victory over Brookfield on Monday night in the Route I-84 summer playoffs.

Down after the first inning, Wilton scored single runs in each of next three innings to take a 3-1 lead. Brookfield (13-4) got hot in the fifth inning, scoring three runs off Wilton ace Will Suchy to grab a 4-3 lead.

But second baseman Griffin Klinga made a spectacular tag and throw to complete  a 4-4-3 double play and keep the deficit at one run.

Wilton threatened in the fifth as centerfielder Matt Rubsam reached on an error, then stole second and third.

Ian Filaski then hit a slow roller between first and second. As the first baseman bobbled the ball, the race for the bag ended in a collision between the Brookfield first baseman and Filaski. Although the ball was jarred loose, Filaski was called out and Wilton still needed a run.

Wilton's defense turned another double play in the top of the sixth. With a runner on first, Klinga fielded a grounder and flipped the ball to shortstop Dillon Lifrieri, who fired errantly to first. As the runner headed to second, first baseman Matt D'Elisa fired the ball back to Lifrieri for the tag to complete the double play.

Wilton was down to its last strike in the bottom of the inning, but D'Elisa smashed a single to score the fleet-footed Liam Murray with the tying run. Two pitches later, Lifriei stole home to score the winning run.

Pitcher Ben Rusin was effective on the mound again, pitching two scoreless innings and was aided by spectacular catches by leftfielder Sam Johns and centerfielder Suchy. D'Elisa also hurled two innings and struck out 3.

Wilton will next play the winner of Fairfield National and Newtown on Wednesday.

The 11-year-old Wilton baseball team clinched a spot in the section one finals with a 4-2 win over Seymour on Sunday.

The victory set up Wednesday's final match at Bridgeport's Blackham School (5:30 p.m.) against Fairfield American, which secured its berth on Saturday.

Fairfield American and Wilton, who are each 3-0, were supposed to play each in their finale on Monday, but the game was postponed and pushed one day due to rain.

They will play the first of their back-to-back games on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Blackham School.

While the winner will claim first place in the group, the game essentially is meaningless because they will face each other again on Wednesday with a spot in the state tournament on the line.

Amateur David Pastore of Greenwich emerged as the leader after the first round of the 77th Connecticut Open at the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield.

Pastore, who plays out of the eClub of Fairfield, stole the spotlight from 71 of the area's top professionals by shooting a sizzling 5-under par 66 Monday to grab a two-shot lead.

Pastore, the 2009 Connecticut Public Links chanpion,  had only one bogey on the day to go with four birdies and an eagle, which came on the uphill 463-yard par five eighth hole.  Pastore is looking to become the first amateur to win the Open since Jeff Hedden from Black Hall Club took home the trophy at Round Hill Club in 2008.

Hedden, who won the New England Amateur last week, is also in the field and is six shots back after an opening round 72.

Among local players, Wilton's Brian Murphy, who plays out of Brooklawn is tied for fourth after a 2-under 69.  At 71 are Redding's Jim St. Pierre, a former champion, and Norwalk's Gerry Courville.

Weston's Bernie D'Amato and Stamford's Mike Ballo Jr., who plays out of Woodway, are tied for 35th after carding 74s. Wilton's John Murphy is tied for 49th after a 75.

Danbury's Bensel and New Haven's Evan Beirne are tied for second at 68. Other former champs near the leaderboard include Kevin Giancola from Canton, Conn. (71), Steve Sokol from Orange Hills Country Club (74) and defending champion Kyle Gallo (74).

In the last 14 years, Gallo has won the Connecticut Open a record-tying four times.

Play will resume on Tuesday at at 7 a.m. with tee times running until 2:20 pm.  Following the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 40 players, including ties, for the final round on Wednesday.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS