The Shelton Gaels defeated the Newington Indians 10 – 2 and will advance to the Class LL quarterfinals.
For the second day in a row, the Gaels offense was powered by the bats of Ryan Daiss and Tom Carroll. Daiss went two for three and Carroll went three for four, slugging two doubles and a home run.
“We faced a good team again. It was closer than the score said. I’m finally starting to see the ball good in my at bats,” Daiss said.
The Gaels sent out their ace, Dan St. George who went onto pitch six strong innings for the win, allowing only four hits while striking out six batters.
“I think that this was a good win for us. We got out early and they battled back to make it a one run game. It was nice to see us get out of a jam,” St. George said.
The Gaels were off to an early 3 – 0 lead after two walks and RBI producing hits from Daiss and Carroll.
The Indians bounced back for two runs in the fourth inning to close within one of the Gaels, making the score 3 – 2.
The Gaels added another run in the fifth inning with doubles from St. George and Carroll and led 4 – 2.
In the sixth inning the Gaels exploded for six runs behind patient hitting and a two-run home run from Carroll to extend their lead to 10 – 2.
“It was a knuckle ball and I swung kind of easy,” said Carroll of the home run. “We’re always a threat to hit the ball. We always come through in the clutch and find a way to win. I have a feeling that this could be the year. We have Coach Morocco watching on our shoulders.”
“We’re a very difficult team to keep down for 21 outs in a game. We hit the ball very well, and until the last out is recorded, we’re very strong one through nine (batting lineup).” Gaels Coach Scott Gura said.
With the victory, the Gaels advance to the quarterfinals and await the winner of Hamden vs. Manchester, to be played on Saturday.