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NEW CANAAN, Conn. The New Canaan Demons erased an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Coventry in the 12-year-old Cal Ripken League baseball championship Saturday. New Canaan plated six unanswered runs, winning 6-2 and finishing the state tourney with a perfect 7-0 record.
Coventry came close to adding to its 2-0 lead, but New Canaan starting pitcher Mikey Peli escaped a bases loaded jam with a full-count strikeout.
Dodging that bullet seemed to awaken New Canaan, which struck in the bottom of the second with all the offense they would need. After Kyle DeMayo drew a bases loaded walk, Jimmy Stanley connected for an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. Another bases loaded walk, an RBI groundout by Robby Jones, a Coventry error and an RBI single by Matty Evans rounded out the New Canaan offensive explosion.
Peli settled down after his rocky start, cruising through the third and fourth innings. Jones came on in relief, shutting down Coventry in two innings of perfect relief with three strikeouts.
New Canaan will represent Connecticut in the Cal Ripken New England Regional Tournament in Newtown when it meets Upton, Mass., Saturday at 1 p.m.
The New Canaan Demons are, pictured, standing left to right, Jackson Yancy, Trevor Donnelly, Matt Burger, Michael Pelli, Robbie Jones, Justin Stemmerman, Matt Evans, Dillon Abate, coaches Rob Jones, Steve Evans, Chas Abate; kneeling left to right, Kyle DeMayo, Jimmy Stanley, Justin Greco, Trevor DeGenghi; front, bat girl Taylor Yancy.
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