The Shelton Gaels pounded the Farmington Indians, 10 – 1 in the first round of the Class LL State Championship.
Ryan Daiss started things off in the first inning by launching a grand slam home run to put the Gaels up 4 – 0.
“I had one (HR) last year in the first game of the states too. It’s kinda weird,” Daiss said.
Gaels co-captain, Eric Christensen went 2 for 3 and tied the all-time school record for base hits shared by Matt Memoli, (Class of ​’02), with 108.
“It feels good. I’m just glad to get it off my shoulders. The next one is going to be the hardest,” Christensen said.
Tom Carroll pitched six innings and gave up only one run in the contest to remain a perfect 8 – 0.
“Last year I was 1 – 2. I came into this year thinking I would be a reliever, but Coach Gura used me as a starter. I just started off good and kept getting better,” Carroll said.
The Gaels added to their lead in the third inning with a leadoff home run by Dan St. George, making the score 5 – 0.
Mike Georgalas, Daiss, and Carroll followed with singles to load the bases and set the table for one of last week’s SCC Championship hitting stars, Jim Pjura.
The Gaels slugger laced a single that scored Georgalas and Daiss, giving the Gaels a 7 – 0 advantage.
Farmington squeaked out a run in the fourth inning with a triple by Jeff Sweighoffer and an RBI single by Dave Spellman, to close the gap to 7 – 1.
The Gaels added another run in the fifth inning with a double by Carroll, followed by a walk to Pjura. Carroll advanced to third base on a passed ball and scored on a groundout by Carl Cristino to extend the Gaels lead to 8 – 1.
Ryan Zahornasky led off the sixth inning with a walk and was knocked in by a triple from Georgalas, building the lead to 9 – 1. Daiss walked and Carroll knocked in Georgalas with an RBI single giving the Gaels their final run and what would be the eventual final score, 10 – 1.
“It was one of those trap games where you come off a historic upset against Amity in the conference game. We weren’t able to start our ace, but we started Tommy (Carroll) who’s now 8 – 0. He would be an ace on a lot of other teams in the state,” Gaels Coach Scott Gura said.
“We have our best pitcher (St. George) on the mound tomorrow. He’s done a great job all year. We just have to back him up with hitting and we’ll be alright. If we hit the ball like that, then we can beat anybody.”
The Gaels face Newington at Shelton tomorrow afternoon at home.