The Cubs were the big winners in the AA Division last week, as two wins over the Braves pulled them to within a game of the league-leading Reds and Mets.
Meanwhile in the hotly contested AA Division the Yankees took over the top spot, moving a half-game in front of the previously unbeaten Athletics.
Here is a look at some of last week’s action on the New Canaan youth diamonds.
AAA
Cubs–5; Braves-4
Braves catcher George Stewart follows Henry Silva’s foul ball in NC baseball action against the Cardinals.
The Oxygen Fitness Braves and Camsan Electric Cubs opened their season with a 5-4 barnburner, won by the Cubs.
The Braves grabbed the lead early. Peter Jardim ripped a single before Matthew Benevento crushed a triple to deep center. The Cubbies took the lead back in the 2nd, as Mike Sanseverino and Nick Garcia led-off with singles, and were driven home by Matt Balkun and Ryan Werneburg.
The Braves would grab the lead again when Carson Perlman laced a single to center to drive home Will Galvan and Jardim. But the Cubs would again rally. Werneburg knocked in Balkun, and Sanseverino drew a bases-loaded walk to grab a 5-4 lead.
In the last stanza, the Braves advanced Perlman and Benevento to 2nd and 3rd, but Cubs closer Joe Generalis induced a pop-up to 3rd to preserve the win for the Cubs.
Cubs-13; Braves-7
The Oxygen Fitness Braves and Camsan Electric Cubs faced-off Saturday, with the Cubs earning a tough 13-7 victory.
The Cubs jumped on top 6-0 as Ryan Werneburg, Joe Generalis, Lucas Barry and Justin Embarquez all knocked-in runs in the 1st. The Braves responded with 2 runs of their own behind base knocks by Carson Perlman, Peter Jardim and Chris Bopp.
Down 10-4 in the 5th, the Braves would rally. Jardim singled and scored when Matt Benevento laced a triple to center. Bopp and Joe Hargrove added RBI hits to cut the lead to 10-7.
But the Cubs pushed the lead back to 6 on an RBI single by Chris Visconsi and 2-run double by Werneburg, and Werneburg pitched a scoreless 6th to secure the win for the Cubs.
AA Division
Angels-15; Orioles-4
Cullen McCarthy makes solid contact for the O’s.
The Mellick and Sexton Angels defeated the Express Orioles 15-4 in a hard fought contest. Angel pitcher Ian Wearing threw 2 scoreless innings in the win. The Oriole offense was led by Thomas Arnold and Robbie Hellman.
The Angels bats were alive with hits from Peter Cioffi and Beckett Walters. The Orioles defense was highlighted by sparkling plays from Jack Lenihan and Cullen McCarthy.
Yankees-15; Orioles-3
Yankees pitcher Giovanni Cascione delivers a strike.
The Karl Chevrolet Yankees defeated the Express Orioles 15-3. The Yankees bats were alive with hits from James Crehan and Colin Sampson. The Orioles defense was anchored by the play of Charlie Besgen and Jackson Easley. The Yanks defense saw web gems from Cole Schubert and Anthony Cascione. The O’s offense was powered by Jack Greiner and Robert Harris.
A’s-16; Orioles-6
The Stamford Insurance Group Athletics defeated the Express Orioles 16 to 6 on a partly cloudy Saturday. The A’s offense was powered by hits from Jack Johnson, Ty Groff and Jack Reed. The Orioles defense was anchored by infielders Cullen McCarthy and Eoin Mueller.
A’s pitcher Cooper Dinan fires it in.
The A’s pitching staff of Cooper Dinan, Ryan Connelly and Philip Etergino held the O’s bats in check. The Orioles team had clutch hits from Thomas Arnold and Mason Zea. The Athletics fielders had web gems from Calvin Stuart and Danny Rogers.