The Union City comeback kids couldn’t pull off one more win. After coming back against Prospect in a last-at-bat win and overcoming a four-run deficit against Ansonia, UCLL’s run came to an end.
The Union City Little League Major Boys all-star team fell behind in all five district games they played, and came from behind to win three of them.
After earning those three wins in the double-elimination tournament, Union City was ousted, dropping a 2-1 heartbreaker to Shelton-National on July 15, when the team’s comeback wasn’t enough. Union City lost its two games by a total of three runs. The team had lost to the Peter J. Foley all-stars on July 9, 5-3.
“They never gave up,” UCLL manager Dennis Sigetti said. “They always thought they had a chance to win.”
The game against Shelton offered great pitching, solid defense and defining moments.
Perhaps the biggest moment came in the bottom of the third with Union City at bat. With runners on first and third and one out, Tyler Deitelbaum bunted a pitch up the third baseline.
The third baseman grabbed the ball and pump-faked a throw to first, faking out the Union City base runner, who was tagged out. The play killed a potential game-changing rally and marked the second time in the game Union City had a runner tagged out between third and home.
“It was an out and it saved a run,” Sigetti said.
In the fifth, Mike Cowell scored on a single by Matt Cappola to give Shelton the lead. In the bottom of the inning, Union City could not take advantage of back-to-back singles from Evan Pelliccia and Deitelbaum.
Andrew Rivera started on the mound for Union City and lasted into the fifth. He was relieved by Nick Soucy.
“Andrew pitched a great game,” Sigetti said.
George Cambrelen smashed his third homer of the tournament for the Union City’s only run of the game.
Union City had kept its tournament hopes alive a few days earlier in a 3-1 win over Prospect, which scored first in the opening inning. Coby Vaccarelli, who also pitched, doubled home Robert Stach to put Prospect in front.
In the bottom of the first, Rivera singled home Pelliccia to tie the game.
In the second, Deitelbaum bunted home Richie Brown to give Union City the lead. In the third, Rivera doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to push Union City’s advantage to 3-1.
Those runs were enough for Pelliccia, who pitched for Union City. After the first inning, Pellliccia only allowed three baserunners the rest of the game.
“I was proud to coach this group of kids,” Sigetti said.
