Ridgefield’s U15 Babe Ruth All Star team won the 35^th annual Jimmy Fund Tournament Championship by emerging from the loser’s bracket to defeat Newtown’s very strong U15 All Star team twice, 3 -2 and 6 – 4.  The Tournament, a 12 team double elimination tournament, was hosted by Ridgefield Babe Ruth and set a new record for donations raised for the Jimmy Fund. Also participating in the tournament were teams from New Fairfield, New Milford, Fairfield, Trumbull, Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield as well as Ridgefield’s U14 All Star Team.

Ridgefield’s U15 began the tournament by defeating District All Star teams from New Fairfield 11 – 4 and Bethel 12–2. But Newtown’s U15 District All Star team sent Ridgefield into the loser’s bracket with a late game, come from behind victory in the bottom of the 7^th, 6-5 on Friday, July 25^th.

The loss set the stage for one of the most memorable pitching performances in Jimmy Fund Tournament play when Kyle Deleon pitched a 1 hit complete game shutout against the District All Star team from New Milford, 6 – 0. After giving up the hit and a walk to the first 2 batters of the game, Deleon proceeded to retire the next 20 consecutive batters flawlessly, recording 21 consecutive outs with the help of a double play that ended the first inning. Meanwhile, the offense delivered all the support Deleon would need in the bottom of the first when CJ Donohue opened the game with a triple and was quickly driven in by Hunter Alicea’s single. Dan Zarnik reached on a base hit and was driven in by Jon Tagliaferri’s double to left center. Consecutive singles by Kevin Walters, Donohue and Alicea, and a walk to Zarnik added 1 more run setting the stage for Tagliaferri’s second double clearing the bases for the games 6^th run.

The win over New Milford put Ridgefield in the finals for a rematch with Newtown, needing 2 wins for the Championship. Ridgefield took the early lead in the first when Hunter Alicea walked, stole second and third, and scored on a balk. Newtown tied the game when Evan Barreto opened  the third inning with a triple and scored on a fielders choice by Matt Harrison. Ridgefield took the lead again in the 5^th when CJ Donohue walked, moved to second on Alicea’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Dan Zarnik’s massive triple off the 390 mark in deep center field. Newtown tied the game again in the bottom of the 6^th on singles by John Fracker and Mike Herring. Fracker scored on an error hit by Danny Lynch. But Ridgefield remained resilient and took the lead again in the top of the 7^th when Zarnik’s second monster triple of the game drove home Alicea who had singled. Alex Tuccio and Dennis Ashley combined for the win giving up on 1 earned run on 6 hits. Since this was Newtown’s first loss in the tournament, the stage was set for the second and final game for the Championship.

Ridgefield jumped out to an early 4 run lead at the top of the first on singles by CJ Donohue and Hunter Alicea, Dan Zarnik hit by a pitch. Jon Taliaferri’s walked forced in the first run when Pete Conroy cleared the bases with a double to left center field. Newtown came right back in the bottom of the first with 2 runs off a double by Torry Deakin. Matt Harrison had reached on a single, John Fracker reached on an error and Sean Kennedy singled loading the bases for Deakin’s double. Kennedy also attempted to score but a strong throw by Dennis Ashley to catcher Matt Mastrogiorgio stopped him with a dramatic collision at the plate. Newtown narrowed Ridgefield lead to one run in the 3^rd. Ridgefield again extended the lead in the 5^th when Jon Taliaferri started the inning with a triple and scored when Ashley hit into an error. Newtown came within in one run again in the 5^th when Danny Lunch scored on a fielder’s choice after reaching safely with a single. But Ridgefield sealed the victory with one more insurance run in the 6^th when Tuccio walked, Conroy and Mastrogiorgio singled and Kyle Deleon also walked to force in the 6^th run. Dan Zarnik pitched the first 3 innings giving up 3 runs, only one earned, on 6 hits. Deleon closed out the game giving up 1 run on 4 hits for the win. 

During the post game ceremonies, Jon Tagliaferri was awarded the Jimmy Fund 15U Tournament MVP.