Even In Defeat, Fairfield American Showed Its Fighting Spirit

Entrenched in the batter's box, wielding determined bats, they were sent to the dirt due to body-bound fastballs on three separate occasions on Tuesday night.

However, despite trailing late and facing elimination, the Fairfield American 12-year-olds All-Stars wouldn't allow anyone to throw in the proverbial towel on the best run any little league team from the town had ever made.

Relief pitcher Eddie Magi replaced starter Jack Quinn on the mound during the fifth inning and took a scorching line drive off his hip on a comebacker.

Earlier in the game, teammate Nate Klein was drilled with a fastball while batting in what proved to be this fearless team's final night under the bright Little League World Series lights.

Officially listed as the second-smallest player on any of the teams in the LLWS, Klein symbolized the collective grit of his club. After getting drilled by a wicked inside fastball, he rose like a battle-tested boxer from the canvas and soon returned to action.

The  9-5 loss to Auburn, Washington ended a dream that enthralled many Fairfield residents for the past month.  This was the strongest  - and most resilient -  Connecticut team to play in Williamsport since 1989,  when a future captain of the New York Rangers named Chris Drury pitched Trumbull National to a 5-2 victory over Taiwan in the championship game.

"Those types of plays just show how much determination, toughness, and pride this entire team has shown all along," said Fairfield First Selection Ken Flatto, who was among a strong contingent of fellow Fairfield fans who passionately watched Tuesday's game at the Colony Grill  in Fairfield.

"They get back up every single time they get knocked down, and that shows a lot of guts," Flatto added.

And the memories this team has etched within the minds of kids and adults in the town should live for generations to come.

"This is a great team for the kids coming up to watch," said Fairfield resident Lou Zuckerman, on hand with wife Claudia and their three sons, Izaake, Ben, and Noah, who each play for promising Fairfield youth baseball teams. "All the kids that play baseball in Fairfield can dream that they achieve so much like this team has."

During the game while Fairfield American battled to keep alive the dream, Selectman Jim Walsh marveled at what the club had accomplished.

"It's truly phenominal to watch this team," he said. "The success they have achieved, and the pride and support that our town has shown for them is tremendous."

After the final out was recorded, Flatto reflected on the magnitude of the's team's success this summer. Indeed, Fairfield American became the first squad from the town to play in Williamsport in the 64-year history of the LLWS.

"In a decade of watching amazing achievements in this town, this easily ranks in the top three," Flatto said. "(Fairfield resident) James Blake advancing to the quarterfinals (of the U.S. Open)  is up there, and these kids are right there with him.

"It is the type of achievement that this town will remember forever. They had an incredible, record-breaking run."