Shelton National saw its run in the District 3 12U Little League Tournament come to an end with a 5-4 loss to George J. Hummel last week at Casagrande Field in Seymour.
“The chemistry and camaraderie between these players has made this summer all that more special,” Shelton National manager Russ Duda said. “They go to school together, play sports and just hang out. That bond has made this a team and we get a spark from every player. We had ups and downs, but never gave up.”
Shelton National lost its opener, 11-1 to eventual D3 champion Union City from Naugatuck. They bounced back to defeat Ansonia 16-1, Watertown-Oakville 17-3 and Robert A. Coe from Beacon Falls 12-7.
Adam Chaves hit a three-run home run and SNLL took a 4-0 third-inning lead over George J. Hummel.
Jake Duda walked to get things going. He hustled back to first after Jason Beaudry’s hard hit to the outfield. Zaid Vohra’s reached on a misplayed fielder’s choice, before Ryan Miressi kept the rally going by taking a 3-2 pitch for a free pass. Chaves then clubbed his home run over the fence in left-center field.
Vohra set down the first 10 batters he faced, with Duda at second making a pair of stellar plays. Vohra, who knocked down a line shot up the middle to get the first out in the third, needed only 22 pitches to go through the batting order.
Vohra had singled in the first, Christian Fatsy was robbed of a hit in the second, and Duda drove the ball to the center field fence in the third.
GHLL, winners of three straight including a 4-3 victory over Shelton American a game earlier, broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning.
A single, an error and a walk loaded the bases for Anthony Marchetti, who singled home a run. Jake George dropped a run-scoring base hit into right field before a fielder’s choice made it 4-3. Vohra had a strike out to leave two runners in scoring position.
David Parniowski singled around a pair of Jack Casey strikeouts in the SNLL fifth.
GHLL took the lead in the home half of the inning. Two infield errors set the table for a pair of run producing fielder’s choice grounders and a 5-4 advantage.
Chaves’ shot was caught by Joey Carrafiello at the fence to open the SNLL sixth.
Joey Vargas reached on an error and pinch runner Fatsy went to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cole Ostrosky walked to put the go-ahead runner on base before Casey earned his sixth strikeout.
Shelton National was led by Zaid Vohra, David Parniowski, Ryan Miressi, Adam Chaves, Christian Fatsy, Jayson Laprise, Cole Ostrsky, Jake Duda, Jason Beaudry, J.J. McGlone and Joey Vargas. Russ Duda was assisted by coaches Kevin McGlone and Imtiaz Vohra.