A rag tag group of 14-year-olds – kids who had never played together before, some who had never played on a travel team or an all star team – put up a good fight in the Connecticut Babe Ruth State Tournament this past weekend.

Ultimately, though, the locals bowed out of the tournament with two consecutive losses. The end came in a thrilling 4-3 loss to powerhouse Danbury on Monday night.

“Sharpening their skills and building a cohesive machine is a challenge I’d take on any day of the week … and twice on Sundays,” said assistant coach FJ Urso. “After looking into the kids’ eyes before their first meeting with powerhouse Danbury, I said, ‘this is our backyard and nobody beats us in our backyard without a fight.’ The look on their faces was sobering. Danbury was in for the fight of its life.”

The visitors went somewhat quietly in the first inning, collecting a base hit and earning a free pass, but pitcher Ryan Clark – who opened the game by striking out the leadoff batter – induced a ground ball to Kyle DiNicola at second base for the final out.

In the bottom of the frame, Nick Urso collected a one-out single and then scored on a long double by Clark to the gap in left centerfield. Cleanup hitter Joe Greenfield followed with a line drive base hit over the shortstop’s head to score Clark and give the locals a 2-0 lead.

Both teams went quietly in the second, but in the top of the third the visitors put together a couple of base hits and trimmed the Newtown lead to just one run. But in the bottom of the frame, the locals got the run back. Urso and Clark had base hits and Greenfield was issued a free pass, with Clark eventually scoring on a Danbury error to put Newtown on top, 3-1.

In the top of the fourth, the game was turning into a heavyweight bout with Danbury securing a run on two hits and an error. But stellar catches by Greenfield (in leftfield) and Jacob Burg (in rightfield) kept Danbury at bay into the seventh inning.

Reliever Nick Saviano – after striking out the first batter in the top of the seventh inning – found himself in a tough predicament facing the top of the Danbury order. Saviano issued a walk, but then induced a fly out to Jared Modzelewski in centerfield.

But the No. 3 hitter, Chris Fiddner (4-for-5 on the night), and No. 4 hitter, CJ Arconti, put together back-to-back hits to tie the score, 3-3. Urso, on in relief, stopped the bleeding by striking out the No. 5 hitter. That gave the locals an opportunity in the bottom of the frame, but Modzelewski’s base hit was the only damage done.

The two teams went quietly – in order – in the eighth inning, but in the top of the ninth David Lamson doubled, Steve Vazquez walked, and Fiddner followed with a two-out single to score the eventual winning run.

“Nobody loses a game like this one,” said assistant coach Ray Larnerd.

Urso and Clark each went 2-for-4 while Greenfield, Burg and Modzelewski all had one hit.

Coach John Modzelewski’s troops will play in the Jimmy Fund Tournament next week, which will be hosted by Newtown.

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