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Here are recaps from the latest action in Darien Little League baseball:
Majors
Kiwanis Club 5, Dolcettis 0
Kiwanis Club opened the season with 5-0 victory over Dolcetti's in a well-played opening game for both teams. It was a pitching battle for most of the game as Cord Fox for Dolcetti's and Nick Walter for Kiwanis kept their opponents at bay with four strong innings each. In the top of the sixth inning, Sean Gallagher and Nick Walter reached base on hits and then Justin Van de Graaf knocked both in with a line-drive single to right field. Two batters later, Luke Leasure knocked a two-run home run to put the game out of reach. Justin Van de Graaf pitched two scoreless innings for the save, thanks in part to an outstanding double play to end the game by Jason Flynn.
Darien Sports Shop 16, Brown Thayer Shedd 8
In the first game of the season, the Darien Sports Shop defeated Brown Thayer Shedd, 16-8. Both teams swung the bat effectively. The Sports Shop jumped out to a 16-run lead and Brown Thayer Shedd battled back with eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
On a warm night, Shelby Grant hit a grand slam for his first home run of the season and collected four hits, a great start to his final season of Little League eligibility. Other Sports Shop players with multiple hits were Dillon Jones, Peter Marren, Ollie Steeves, Aidan Connolly and Max Grant. Aidan Connolly, Dillon Jones, Max Gasvoda, Peter Marren and Arthur Xanthos pitched effectively. Ryan Finn, JW Keever and Patrick Finke all contributed to the win.
For Brown Thayer Shedd, Zack Dimonekas collected three hits. Oliver Williams and Tommy Napolitano also had multiple hits. Napolitano kept the Sports Shop in the game with four innings of effective pitching. Brown Thayer Shedd battled from a 16-run deficit and showed a lot of character in a fun first game for both teams
Minors
Miceli Insurance 7, Swimm Pools 6
In a hard fought battle, Miceli Insurance came back from a first inning four-run deficit, and Draper Faulkner worked a two out 3-2 walk in the bottom of the last inning to score Quenten Ehlers (two hits and two RBIs) and squeak by Swimm Pools in a 7-6 victory. Micelis Cole Brode contributed two runs, Hank Thomas had a hit and an RBI. Jack Whittier made a nice play at second with the bases loaded to end a rally. On the mound, Matthew Brewer changed speeds beautifully in picking up six strikeouts over the final two frames. Ryan Griffin led the offensive charge for Swimm Pools with a hit, run and RBI. Mike D'Agostino knocked in a speedy Nick Casciari for Swimm Pool's first run of the season. Ethan Marsh's shot down the right field line knotted the score in the third. Quinn Galante shut out Miceli over two strong innings. Tommy Stearns provided the defensive play of the game for Swimm Pools, tracking down a blast deep in the outfield.
Kelly Associates 12, Nielsens Florist 6
Kelly Associates outlasted a tough Nielsens Florist squad, 12-6, in an opening day match-up that featured the first home run of the season for Kelly. Braxton Reynolds, who pitched three no-hit innings to start the contest, anchored the Kelly pitching. Jamie Mitchell, who went three for three with a home run and two RBIs, paced the Kelly offense. Willie Noble, Austin Won, Everett Chung, Max Burke, John Parkhurst, Alex Gardner and Nick Van Ingen also contributed RBIs. Burke and Parkhurst each had two hits, and Jack Neafsey led the charge on the base paths with four stolen bases. The Kelly defense played strong in the infield with Chris Santoro, Chung, Gardner, Burke and Neafsey all making solid plays. The Nielsens squad would not quit, though, and staged a late rally with two runs each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings anchored by a key two-run double by Robbie Gasserud. Matt Stone, James Louis and Daniel Guarini also contributed key RBIs.
AAA
Osherows Live Wires 4, My Tutor & Me
In a closely contested game, the Osherows defeated My Tutor & Me, 4-1. For the Osherows, starting pitcher Will Henry Harmon fanned seven batters in the first three innings. The Osherows got out in front early on with runs by Harmon and Mark Belak, after key singles by Bennett McDermott and cleanup batter Will Kirby, who also both scored later in the game.
My Tutor & Me struck back after Max Berry hit a home run for one of his two hits. Also, heavy hitting Ryan Kellogg stroked a double. John Michael Fallon and free-swinging Grant Doherty hit singles. My Tutor & Me had strong pitching performances by John Henry Slonieski, Oliver Bolton and Frank Drugge, who battled hard for their team.
The Osherows had strong middle relief from Teddy Chieffi, who worked his way out of a bases loaded jam and stranded two runners in another inning. He was later awarded the game ball. The Osherows finished with closer Will Kirby striking out the final three batters in the bottom of the sixth.
Other top hitters for the Osherows were Teddy Chieffi, John Barsanti, while Michael Spenner and Evan Devita contributed key defensive plays.
IST Baseball 5, Jakes Place 2
Tuesday night's first game for IST Baseball and Jakes Place was filled with pitching and defensive gems. The AAA American League teams played a close game with IST coming out ahead, 5-2.
On a perfect night for baseball at Holmes School, IST's pitching effort was led by Alex Tomasello and followed up by Nick Sosnow, Ryan Mulliken, Hudson Lazzara, Peter Marsh and finally Jack Conti. Alec Armstrong topped IST's offense, with contributions from Jack Armstrong, Conner Brennan, Jackson Morgan, Aidan Murphy and Tre Tucci.
Jakes Place had superb pitching as well with a big effort from Jack Roberson. Isabelle Smith turned in two standout defensive plays, one in the outfield and one at first base. The game was close throughout, and everyone played well.
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