State Title 'Perfect Ending' For Fairfield Little League Team

FAIRFIELD, CT — Following an amazing 14-and-1 record, along with an incredible team batting average of .373, Fairfield’s American Little League 11-D team took the state championship last month.

“We went into the game undefeated in state, so Southington North had to beat us twice,” explained Manager Matt Lawlor.

Though they opened the game with an early 2-0 lead, pitching on both sides was impressive, keeping the bats at bay for the better part of the game.

“After a brief lightning delay in the top of the sixth inning, our bats really came alive, and we scored eight runs on some very hard hit balls,” Lawlor said.

The boys actually batted around and made it a 10-1 ballgame before quietly closing out the Southington North team in the bottom of the inning.

Drew Kane got the win, pitching a complete game and only giving up three hits, while offensively the team made a strong showing.

On Thursday afternoon, 4 p.m., the team, along with the Fairfield Little League Girls Softball State Champions, is scheduled to be honored at Sherman Green, rain or shine.

“This team has been playing together since they were 8 years old,” Lawlor noted. “They are like family with each other.”

The championship team included Brooks Fonseca, Thomas Gardiner, William Hathaway, Patrick Jodice, Drew Kane, Trip Keyes, Hudson Kofoed, Dylan Lawlor, Max Mulhall, Michael Mulhall, Tristan Rivera, and William Ryan.

“They pick each other up,” he said. “They are all great friends and constantly encourage one another.”

Jorge Rivera, a parent and coach, noted how necessary it was for this unit to be in sync because of the challenges on the field.

“A lot of our final games were very tight throughout the first four innings,” he said, “and then in the fifth and sixth innings we would break out.”

Their ability to maintain composure, he said, especially at such a young age — brushing off a bad inning or two but still staying in the game — was extraordinary.

“That is a special team,” he said.

Joe Ryan, a parent and coach, along with Tom Keyes, likewise commends the players and their manager.

“There is a closeness that has developed with these boys and the coaches over many years of working together,” he said, “not just this summer. Those relationships motivate the boys to put the team first, not themselves.”

Along with others who have watched the team perform together for years, parent Tyler Hathaway was impressed yet again.

“This group of boys is special,” he said. “They get along so well both on and off the field and are quick to pick each other up when the inevitable mistakes happen.”

“It was a great experience for everyone involved — players, parents and siblings — and to see it culminate in a state championship was the perfect ending."