Westport CT Shows its Mettle, Wins Section 1 Title in Extras

Written by John Malone, editor

Relying on its big arms for most of the District 2 and Section 1 tournament, Westport was getting desperate for some big hits late in its championship game against Bristol Edgewood. No matter what Westport mustered offensively, Edgewood always had an answer. Finally in the seventh inning, Westport got some breathing room off the bat of Charlie Roof.

Roof's single in the fourth allowed Westport to take a 3-2 lead, but it was his two-run two-out double in the seventh that won the game. A leadoff walk to Chris Drbal started the inning, but back-to-back strikeouts by Edgewood reliever, Shane Caron, put Westport in another tough spot. Harry Azadian and Matt Stone worked another pair of walks to load the bases for Roof.

"That's a really good team over there, they need to be proud of themselves. We battled too though," Westport manager Tim Roger said. "I told them before the game that I thought it would take four runs to win this game. It was a great battle."

In Westport's previous meeting with Edgewood Chad Knight tossed a no-hitter and completely shut down the big bats of ELL. Tonight, the ball went to Azadian who was great once again himself. Azadian allowed two runs on three hits in five innings. He only needed 58 pitches. With the state finals looming on Saturday and a 3-2 lead in the sixth, Roger lifted Azadian for Knight.

"With pitch count rules, you have to make plans and contingency plans and stick to them," Roger said. "If we could get Harry at 65 and only use chad for three outs, we would do that then."

Edgewood had other plans. After a walk, Stone made a great throw to second after a wild pitch and caught the runner stealing for the first out. Knight blew away the next batter for out number two. With a two-strike count, Edgewood's Cory Fradette blasted a home run 300 feet to right centerfield (I measured it!) to tie the game. A ground out got Westport out of the sixth without further damage, but the plans were thrown for a loop. Luckily for Westport, the offense came through in the seventh. Knight got the first out and was relieved by Max Popken who induced two more outs to pick up the save. (Editor's Note: I would make all the same pitching moves that Westport made.)

"Everything that could happen, did happen," Roger said. "It was back and forth. Every inning we scored a run, they came back with a run...except for the seventh."

Westport didn't commit an error in 16 chances in the field and shortstop Ricky Offenberg (who had an RBI single) was nothing short of magnificent with the glove.

Westport opened the game with a triple from Drbal  (3-for-3, three runs, 3B, 2B) and an RBI from Popken. In the fourth, Tatin Llamas homered to right to give Westport a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the sky opened up and play was suspended for close to two hours. Both Azadian and Edgewood starter Noah Plantamuro weathered the storm, so to speak, and continued to be effective.

Edgewood will face the winner of South Windsor American and Coginchaug on Saturday in Game 1 of the state finals, a best two out of three affair. Westport will have its full pitching staff available.

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