Fairfield Softball Advances to East Region Finals

Apparently, dreams really do come true.

Brittany Romero, who rejoined the team Friday after a family vacation at Disney World, tossed the final two innings as the Fairfield softball squad rallied for a 7-6 victory over Harmon, Maine in the championship game of the New England Regionals at the Giamatti Little League Complex in Bristol.

"I came back and pitched my heart out and my team really backed me up," said Romero, who returned to the mound after pitching the first two innings.

With her family staying behind in Florida, Romero flew home by herself into Westchester Airport, where she was picked up by another family and driven to Bristol. She arrived at the Giamatti Center around 4 p.m. and was a last-minute addition into the starting lineup.

"She's got a heart of a lion, there's no doubt about it," Fairfield coach Jarry Rasmussen said. "It was a little rough early in the game. We had to do what we had to do and we came through."

Perhaps still fatigued by jet lag, Romero allowed five hits over the first two innings and was replaced by Alice Nelson to start the third.

Maine rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 5-1 to grab a 6-5 lead in the fourth, when it took advantage of Nelson's five walks to score three runs without a hit. It wasn't the same team that lost to Fairfield 17-3 in pool play seven days ago.

But Anna Rasmussen - the daughter of the coach - put Fairfield back up 7-6 with a two-run double in the top of the fifth.

"The score (of the first contest) was not reflective of the game," Rasmussen said. "We thought it would be a one- or two-run game. We made some adjustments and Brittany found the groove and got rid of the jet lag and here we are."

Fairfield is now one win away from matching the accomplishment of last year's Fairfield American boys, who became the first team from the town to reach the Little League World Series.

The softball team will play New City, N.Y., on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the East Region championship game with the winner advancing to the Little League Softball World Series set for Aug. 11-17 in Portland, Ore.

New York defeated East Windsor, N.J.,  5-3 on Friday in the Mid-Atlantic Region final.

Despite managing only two hits, Fairfield score four runs in the top of the first, but its offense went quiet after the second inning and Maine battled back.

After Sydney Addessi's two-run single made it 5-3 in the second, Maine (4-2 in the tournament) took a 6-5 lead on Alexis MacManus' run-scong groundout in the fourth.

"There was no panic," Rasmussen said. "We score must of our runs in the fourth, fifth inning, so the team does not get too upset or rattled. We'll keep going until the last out, and that's what we do."

Fairfield (5-1) responded in the fifth with Nelson and Sarah Cotto reaching on infield singles to start the rally. After the runners advanced on a comebacker, Rasmussen's shot up the middle hit pitcher Karli Theberge's glove and caromed into right field, enabling both runners to score.

"I was kind of nervous because you feel that weight on you, but the hit just changed everything, just running to second and seeing that run score," said Anna Rasmussen, who also drove in a run in the first. "I just jumped up and down on the base."

Romero was much sharper when she returned, giving up only one hit over the final two innings to record the save. She finished off Fairfield's New England Regional-clinching victory by getting three groundball outs.

Romero left the team after tossing two scoreless innings in Fairfield's win over Maine last week.

"We appreciate Brittany getting back," Jarry Rasmussen said. "The rest of the family is still down there. "