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DARIEN, Conn. Darien Americans' 5-4 victory over Darien National on Friday at McGuane Park was like a slippery bar of soap. The Americans had it, nearly lost it, then regained control and won with a run in the bottom of the sixth to improve to 2-0 in the District 1 Little League Tournament. Darien National slipped to 0-2.
Leading 4-0 entering the sixth behind overpowering right-hander Casey Brown, the Americans seemed well on their way to victory. The Nationals climbed back, with Nathaniel Pucci's two-out, two-run home run to tie the game.
The Americans won in the bottom of the inning when Gianni Filippone walked, went to second a passed ball and took third on Charlie Sealy's single. After a line drive out to right on which Filippone held at third, Kevin Klarer hit a smash to short that handcuffed the Nationals' shortstop and scooted into left as Filippone raced home for the winning run.
"I told them that we didn't want to go to extra innings,'' Americans manager Al Filippone said. "I thought we were in good shape with the meat of our lineup coming up."
"It's just been a play here or a play there,'' said National manger Ron Drake, whose team has lost two one-run games in the tournament. "We've been playing as a team. It's just a break or two that didn't go our way."
The Americans seized control in the third with three runs. Luke Leasure hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out later, Filippone delivered a two-run single. Peter Marren's solo home run in the fourth made it 4-0.
Brown, who earlier this year won a Darien Little League contest as the league's hardest thrower, took it from there. Spotting a nasty knuckler with his fastball, Brown fanned eight, walked two and allowed two hits before leaving with two on and none out in the sixth. Charlie Sealy relieved Brown.
Jack Farren drove home the National's first run with a fielder's choice, and Chris Drake delivered an RBI single. After an out, Pucci tied the game with a shocking blast. "I called it,'' manager Drake said. "I thought he might pop one, and he did."
Will Enzor pitched well for National into the sixth before being relieved by Richard Brereton, who faced the final two batters. The National's dodged one bullet when Filippone held at third on the fly ball before Klarer's hard-hit grounder drove in the winning run.
Darien Americans look to go to 3-0 in Pool B on Sunday at noon in Weston. Darien National, which probably needs to win its final four Pool B games if it hopes to reach the elimination round, meets Stamford Federal on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Weston. Complete standings and results are available on the District 1 website.
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