In a thrilling championship game, the No. 2-seeded Karl Chevrolet Giants captured the New Canaan Baseball AA Championship with a hard-fought 10-9 victory over the league’s No. 1 seed, the Giftfly.com Phillies.
The visiting Giants got off to a hot start with five straight hits to lead off the game from Doster Crowell, Ryan Moore, Thomas Garcia, Luke Reed, and Connor Lytle who ripped a bases-clearing triple to give the Giants an early 5-0 lead.
The Phillies bounced back, scoring nine runs over the next three innings, including six runs in the 3rd inning led by Paige Davis, Tanner Capelli, and Sam Bisesi who had two hits in the game. Meanwhile, Phillies pitchers Sam Bisesi, Hayden Roeder, and Tanner Capelli frustrated Giants hitters and held them scoreless over the next four innings.
Down 9-5 after three innings, Giants pitcher Luke Reed calmed his team down by getting the next six consecutive batters out in the 4th and 5th innings to set up the game’s final inning with the Giants still trailing 9-5.
With their rally caps on the Giants began mounting a comeback. Connor Lytle and Alex Capelo each walked to open up the inning and were followed by consecutive singles from Nathan Sieckhaus and Cole Schubert. A few batters later, trailing by one run with runners on second and third, Doster Crowell tripled to bring home Josiah Jung and Jack Dann with the eventual winning run.
Leading 10-9 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, Giants closer Connor Lytle struck out the first two batters, surrendered a single to Michael Riley. With the tying run on base, Lytle induced a comebacker to the mound for the final out, sealing the improbable comeback and title for the Giants.
Front Row (left to right): Doster Crowell, Ben Capelo, Connor Lytle, Jack Dann, Ryan Moore, Thomas Garcia Back Row (left to right): Cole Schubert, Luke Reed, Nathan Sieckhaus, Alex Capelo, Josiah Jung Coaches (left to right): Tim Dann, Lou Garcia, Rob Moore. Missing: Ryan Tonghini
Credit: Heather Moore