Wilton 10u Cooperstown Team Shines in Season-Opening Tournament

The Wilton 10u Cooperstown baseball team finally got a taste of outdoor action this past weekend with a strong showing at the Water-Oak 10u Spring Bash in Watertown, CT.  The Warriors charged to the semifinals with three convincing wins before falling to the eventual champion Overlook Black Sox.

Continuing a long Wilton tradition, this select group of 14 Wilton Little League ten year olds began training in February for a June tournament in Cooperstown that draws ten year old teams from around the country.  The Water-Oak tournament was their first step on the road to the cradle of baseball.

During pool play on Saturday, the Warriors dominated with pitching and defense.  Against the Seymour Mudcats Micah Worley hurled two scoreless frames while Everett Andersen and AJ Passaniti brought the heat, fanning two batters each in their scoreless innings of work.  Ryan Van Heyst led the Warrior hit parade with two hits while reaching base three times.

During the Saturday afternoon contest versus host Watertown, the Warriors put on a defensive show rarely seen at the 10 year old level.  With one out in the first, left fielder Ryan Johnson tracked a well-hit ball down the line then left his feet to make a spectacular diving catch to prevent an extra base hit.  Two batters later Johnson charged in to make a diving circus catch while colliding with Van Heyst.  Watertown clung to a 4-3 lead entering the fourth, but the Warriors plated three in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth when A.J. Preisano and Van Heyst went yard back-to-back to seal the victory 11-6.  Davis Wallon and Strazza both hurled two scoreless innings, helped by Passaniti whose strike from center field nailed a tagging Watertown runner at the plate.

In Sunday’s championship round, the Warriors pounded Naugatuck 12-3, as 12 of Wilton’s 14 players reached base.  Ryan Sorbo collected two hits to pace the team while Andersen, Passaniti and Brian Cipri kept the Naugatuck bats quiet.

The strong defense that had carried the team to that point wavered and the Warriors dropped their semifinal game to Overlook 14-3.