Westport Scores and Standings: July 12

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Westport was six outs away from a monumental upset Monday in the District Two 12-year-old Little League tournament, but then it was as if somebody flipped a switch in the other dugout.

Fairfield American, which erased a three-run deficit earlier in the game, erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat Westport 12-5 at Blackham School.

In the other semifinal, Fairfield National used Zavier Espinol's three-run homer in the top of the sixth to hold off Trumbull American 4-3 and set up the anticipated all-Fairfield battle in the winner's bracket final.

The two Fairfield teams will meet on Tuesday (5:30 p.m., Blackham School) with a spot in the finals on the line. Westport and Trumbull American will battle in an elimination game.

Westport was holding a 5-4 lead when Fairfield American's bats awakened.

Brandon Flynn's RBI single tied the game before Grant Cornomack scored on a wild pitch to put Fairfield American ahead. Jack Oricoli's two-run homer and Brendan Bucher's solo shot made it 9-5.

Sean Gutierrez, who led off the bottom of the first with a homer, delivered a two-run double and Connor Lynch capped the eight-run uprising with an RBI single.

Westport stunned Fairfield American early, grabbing a 4-1 lead on Mack Muller's three-run blast in the second. Fairfield American battled back to tie with three runs in the third, but Westport regained the lead on Max Richlin's RBI single in the fifth.

Monday's other contest was a pitcher's duel betweem Fairfield American's Austin Pavarini and Trumbull's Matt McKernan, neither of whom allowed a hit through the first three innings.

Reed Harrington's moster homer that landed on the opposite field staked Fairfield American to a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Trumbull American pulled even in the bottom of the inning when McKernan stole home after Ryan Roberto deliberately got himself caught in a rundown between first and second.

Espinol's homer appeared to give Fairfield National some breathing room, but Trumbull American didn't go quietly, pulling within 4-3 on McKernon 's two-run shot

Fairfield National used three pitchers in the inning and Trumbull American loaded the bases Christian Lathrape's walk, but Jack Cohen got Jared Rosen - the only batter he faced - to ground to first to end it.

The Fairfield  National-Fairfield American winner will be off until Saturday. The Trumbull American-Westport winner will play in the loser's bracket final on Friday.

The Westport 10-year-old baseball team begins play in the sectional tournament on Wednesday in Naugatuck against the District Four champion at 6 p.m.

Wesport won the district two championship with a 4-2 victory over Fairfield American on Sunday.

Westport also has reached the quarterfinals in the 11-year-old tournament and took on Fairfield American on Monday night.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

MONDAY'S RESULTS

Ridgefield Jr. 4, vs. Westport Jr. 3

Westport Sr. 3, Greenwich Sr 2

TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE

Westport Sr. vs. Trumbull Sr., 5:30 p.m., at Staples High School

Westport Jr. vs. Greenwich Jr, 5:30 p.m., at Wakeman

The Daily Sports Digest is designed for you to add your best photo and/or video to share (instructions here). If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please e-mail sports editor Bob Birge at bob.birge@hotmail.com

 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS