By Tim Parry

For the first time in 19 years, a team from Connecticut is heading to the Little League World Series.

Shelton National came from behind today and defeated Manchester North, the New Hampshire representative, 2-1 to capture the New England Championship, and an automatic berth in Williamsport.

Trailing 1-0 with one out in the top of the sixth inning, Shelton National’s Tyler Tice clubbed a home run over the center field fence to tie the game. Following a Robert Moretti ground out, Marcelo Ursini lined a laser over the left field fence that proved to be the game-winner.

Moretti struck out 10 New Hampshire batters in five and a third innings work. Eddie Kochiss came on with one out in the sixth to pick up the save.

Whether it was with Manchester North runners on first and third with two out in the bottom of the sixth, or Shelton National trailing 1-0 with the game on the line, Shelton National manager Ed Szymansky said he and his team had faith.

“We always have the feeling inside that as long as there’s time left, we have a chance to win the game,” Szymansky said.

Manchester North took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when catcher Nick Markis roped a home run over the left field fence.

Shelton almost broke through in the fourth inning. With none out and Tice on second and Moretti on first, Manchester North pitcher Carmen Giampetruzzi fanned Ursini and Kochiss, and got pinch hitter Hunter Boles to ground out to second.

When asked during the post game press conference what he expected when his team headed back to Shelton tonight, Szymansky said he wasn’t sure. Then he had a surprise for his team, which had assembled behind him.

“We’re going right to Williamsport,” Szymansky announced.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 7,982, which filled the bleachers and surrounded Breen Field at the A. Bartlett Giametti complex in Bristol.

Shelton National went 6-0 in the tournament. For box scores and more, click here.

The Shelton National Little League has now gone two games in the regional tournament without getting out of the fourth inning.

That’s because Shelton keeps evoking the mercy rule. The latest one came tonight, with a 10-0 win over Williston, VT, at A. Bartlett Giametti complex in Bristol.

Eddie Kochiss pitched a one-hitter, walked two, and struck out 10 in four innings of work. Kockiss, Robert Moretti, and Tyler Tice each hit homers for Shelton National.

Shelton National plays Rhode Island at 8 p.m. Monday, then, in a game that will be televised on MSG, plays Massachusetts at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

By Tim Parry

How long has it been since a Connecticut team reached the Little League World Series? It was 1989, and the star of that Trumbull team, Chris Drury, is now a grizzled veteran in the National Hockey League.

But if the Shelton National Little League 12-year-olds keep playing the way they are, there’s a good chance that 19-year streak will be snapped.

In its opening game Friday in the Eastern Regionals, Shelton National defeated Maine state champion Camden Rockport 12-1 in a mercy-rule game that ended in the bottom of the fourth inning.

It’s the seventh time in 13 tournament games that Shelton National has topped the 10-run mark.

But if Shelton National is going to keep on trucking through the tournament and get a chance to play August 9 for a shot at a trip to Williamsport, it’s going to have to keep playing as a team.

“The top picks up the bottom, the bottom picks up the top. One for all and all for one, one through 12 [players on the roster],” Shelton National manager Ed Szymansky said. “We won’t pick any one kid out. Today it was [Jake Szymansky’s] day in the sun, now it’s back to work.”

But keep in mind these 12-year-old kids are only human. They did struggle coming out of the gate against the Maine batters, though it was ever so slightly. Maine loaded the bases in the top of the first before Shelton National pitcher Rob Moretti got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

“I told the kids they were going to be a little nervous at first. Once they’d get the mistakes out of the way, we’d come back and play Shelton baseball.”

Moretti (eight strikeouts in three innings) and Eddie Kochiss (three strikeouts in one inning) dominated on the mound for Shelton National, and the team’s bats were just as impressive. Jake Szymansky and Kochiss both homered, and Szymansky, Tyler Tyce, and Chris Berritto each drove in two runs.

Moretti, Kochiss, Szymansky, and Matt Batten had two hits each to lead the Shelton National attack.

So after the kids take Saturday off and go to Lake Compounce, how does Shelton National prepare for its game Sunday against Williston, Vermont?

They’ll just stick to the basics.

“All they have to do is play fundamental baseball, that’s what wins baseball games,” Ed Szymansky said. “Catch, throw, and hit, everything comes after that. It’s so repetitious it’s like a second nature to these kids.”