STAMFORD, Conn. National Lione showed off all the reasons they were the favorites to win the District 1 Little League title Wednesday vs. Wilton. Lione pitches well, hits the ball hard and turns a mean double play.
Just about everything went Lione's way in the district semifinals against Wilton. Lione rapped out 10 hits and rode a stellar outing by Jay DeVito to a 7-3 victory and a date in the district championship game.
"These kids are confident and ready to play. They're excited and have a lot of enthusiasm," National Lione manager Billy DeVito, the pitcher's father, said. "They're motivated. There's nothing better than that. It's a lot of fun."
It was clear from the first inning that luck would be with Lione. After the leadoff Wilton runner reached on a close play, Dean DePreta and Donnie Depina turned the first of three nifty 6-4-3 double plays.
In the bottom of the first, Michael Tufano barely beat out a grounder to short to keep Lione's inning alive. Danny Hogan promptly followed with a three-run blast to give Lione a lead it would never surrender.
Lione blew the game open in the bottom of the second when six of the first seven batters reached. Conor Nicholson and Howe hit back-to-back RBI singles, followed by a two-run double by Depina.
DeVito cruised through 4 ? innings, racking up an impressive nine strikeouts. Wilton nearly rallied twice against Lione's bullpen, but a controversial out at third ended a rally in the fourth. Howe tagged out Wilton's speedy Ryan Osgood on a perfect throw from center by Tufano.
"This is my last year in Little League, so I want to have the memory of winning it all," the younger DeVito said. "It was nice having those runs right away. I didn't have to be perfect tonight."
The District 1 Little League championship game will be an all-Stamford affair. North Stamford defeated Darien in the other semfinal and meets National Lione Sunday at 4 p.m. in Scalzi Park.
Do you think National Lione can win its third straight District 1 title? Start the discussion below!
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