Wilton 10s Dominate Stamford National 9-2

Anthony Passaniti tossed three innings of shutout ball, and combined with Everett Andersen and A.J. Preisano to allow Stamford National just three hits in a dominant 9-2 victory in the second game of pool play in District 1 baseball action on Saturday in Stamford.

The Warriors made a statement in the first inning, immediately jumping on the Stamford starting pitcher.  Leadoff batter Eli Ackerman walked and Ryan van Heyst singled to set the stage for Andersen who singled to drive in the first of four Warrior runs in the inning.  Ryan Sorbo then singled for another run and Kevin Hyzy, reprising his first at-bat in game one, tripled deep to left center.  Anthony Passaniti singled in Hyzy, but the inning ended as a Warrior runner was cut down at the plate trying to score.

Stamford got one back in the bottom of the frame, but Wilton responded with another run in the top of the second on Andersen’s ground rule double that scored van Heyst, who had singled.  Had the ball not bounced over the fence, Sam Strazza, who singled after van Heyst, would also have scored.

Andersen set the Nationals down in the second with help from catcher Strazza who pegged out a would-be base stealer.

The Warriors tacked on yet another run in the third as E.J. Fasano delivered an RBI single.

Passaniti came on to pitch the third and was brilliant for three innings, keeping the Stamford bats at bay, allowing just two hits while fanning four.

Ryan Sorbo came through in the fourth with a long double to left scoring Strazza, who had walked, and Andersen, who had singled, to extend the lead to 8-1 and then Ryan Johnson’s hard grounder drove in Sorbo to make it 9-1.

Stamford threatened in the sixth and scored once, but A.J. Preisano shut the door to preserve the 9-2 victory and a 2-0 record in pool play.

The Warriors will take on Norwalk at 5:45 on Monday at Broad River Field in Norwalk in game three of pool play action.