By James Lomuscio
Westporters John Shuck and Rick Small had stepped into the Black Duck in Westport’s Saugatuck section tonight for dinner, but dinner could wait as their eyes remained fixed on one of the four television screens showing Westport’s Little League on its way to making history.
Westporter John Shuck (l) was among those at the Black Duck watching Westport’s Little League New England Regional championship victory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“They’re playing hard, and they look like winners,” said Shuck as he watched the bottom of the third inning with no score.
By the end of the game, fans there and at other gathering places around town cheered loudly as the 12-year-old Little League All Stars bested Lincoln, R.I. 1-0 to win the New England Regionals championship—a first in Westport’s history.
Next stop, the Little League World Series beginning Thursday at Williamsport, Pa. Westport will face Southeast champion South Nashville, Tenn. at 7 p.m.
“I’m a former Westport Little Leaguer, and it made me feel great,” said Buck Iannocone, who with more than a half dozen friends had made reservations at a table near a TV screen at the Black Duck. “They did Westport proud.”
“I was great,” Stacie Curran chimed in.” It’s amazing to find so many great athletes in a small town.
“And the pitching was fabulous,” she added. “The pitcher Chad Knight, he’s the one to watch.”
Knight had 14 strikeouts in a one-hitter and drove in the only run.
Curran said she looked forward to seeing a sign on I-95 touting Westport as home to the 2013 Little League World Series champions.
At the Black Duck’s bar, Rennie Zwolinski, a lifelong Westporter, said he felt kinship to the players.
Westporter Rennie Zwolinski said he played Little League baseball as a youngster and the game brought back memories. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“I actually played Little league baseball growing up, and seeing them up there brings back childhood memories,” Zwolinski said. “It’s great they’ve come this far.
“Think about it,” he said. “They’re on ESPN. All we basically had were t-shirts. If they continue like this through high school, some day they’ll make it to the majors.”
Across town at the Shake Shack on Post Road East near the Fairfield border, Tom Lowrie, a 46-year town resident, was riveted to the TV screen in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“I’m surprised there aren’t more people here watching it,” he said. “The only reason I’m here is because I don’t have ESPN on my TV.”
At the top of the sixth, more people gravitated near the screen.
“They have a man on first and third and nobody out,” Lowrie said. “I think they’re going to load the bases.”
They did, and it did not take long before Knight batted Ricky Offenberg home, giving Westport a one-run lead before Lincoln had its last chance at bat.
With Lincoln’s final out, Westport’s players began hugging, jumping and piling on.
“They won,” said Fairfield resident Joanna Ebert, rooting for Westport even though her town next door had won the regionals in 2010 and 2012. “We love it.”
Back in Saugatuck, Eric Hanson of Norwalk said he had come in for dinner to become captivated by the game.
“I saw Connecticut was in it, and I thought, hey, at least we have something,” he quipped.
“I’m proud of Westport,” he said. “I’m from Norwalk, but we’re close to Westport.”
