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Homer Gives Ripken Team Wild Win

"Wild" does not begin to describe the ups and downs of the District 1 Cal Ripken League 12-and-under tournament final between New Canaan and West Norwalk. New Canaan's Kane Curtin crushed a high fastball to dead center in his first at-bat of the game for a walk-off solo home run to beat West Norwalk, 12-11. This was the second year in a row Curtin downed West Norwalk as he hit the game-winning home run in last year's district final as well.

"I didn't really think I was going to get it because it was upstairs," Curtin, 12, said. "I was thinking to be really aggressive on that at-bat. I thought it would be a good way to get on base and it was. It feels great."

The only reason Curtin was in position to provide the dramatics was because West Norwalk mounted an incredible comeback in the final two innings. New Canaan led 11-3 after three innings when the West Norwalk exploded for four home runs, cutting the lead to 11-9.

New Canaan closer Zach Allen was tagged for two home runs in the sixth tying the game at 11. West Norwalk had the go-ahead run at third with one out, but Allen bore down and struck out the final two Norwalk batters setting up Curtin's heroics.

"Zach is a big, dominant guy," New Canaan manager Paul Giusti said. "To have two home runs hit off of him – that was some impressive hitting on their part. The momentum was all with [West Norwalk], and for Kane Curtin to do what he did was pretty special."

New Canaan sent 12 players to the plate in the second inning as Zach Allen clubbed a three-run homer and Alex LaPolice added a solo shot.

New Canaan will be a top seed in the state tournament while West Norwalk will receive an at-large bid.

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