Trumbull Babe Ruth defeated East Lyme by a score of 2-1 to on Friday force a second game to decide the 15U state championship.
Trumbull will play host East Lyme at Veteran’s Memorial Field today at 5:30 for the title.
Evan Warner (three strikeouts) pitched through the fourth inning and picked up his second win in as many nights. Jake Teixeira (four strikeouts) then came in to finish the game in relief.
The teams traded first-inning runs before Trumbull took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning.
Trumbull would score the go-ahead run after Chaz Stolba took the second pitch of his at bat right off his leg. Andrew Koch laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Stolba to second. Stephen Ioli then hit a soft grounder to third and Stolba got caught in a run-down, but the second baseman threw one in the dirt at third and Stolba was safe.
With two outs, Thomas Krois delivered the game winning single to right.
East Lyme scored in its first at bat after a misplayed ball and singles by Liam Holloway and Griffin Powers. Warner got out of trouble, as Koch snared a hard line drive to third and Stolba in caught a soft liner to center and Trumbull got out of the inning.
Tim Seymour worked a walk and with two outs in the Trumbull first. Warner then ripped a ball to deep left center field for a double to tie the game.
In the top of the fifth, Teixeira gave up a walk to Blake Brokan. Kaften then crushed a line drive between center and right that Solba laid out for to make a spectacular catch to keep the game at 2-1.