Exchange Club Rallies To Beat Clairol 13-12 To Win Stamford TOC Title

Throughout the season, The Exchange Club showed an ability to come from behind, so it was unfazed after giving up five runs in the top of the first inning to a Clairol club that was 20-0.

Nico Laveris capped an impressive comeback with a game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday as the Exchange Club rallied to defeat Clairol 13-12 in the championship game of the Stamford Little League tournament of champions.

The hit was especially sweet for the 11-year-old Laveris because he gave up 10 runs over 2 2/3 innings as Stamford American's starter.

"It means a lot," said Laveris, who drilled his game-winning hit into the right-center field gap. "Our coaches were saying that we'll remember this forever. Because I did that, I'll definitely remember this forever."

Leading 12-10, Clairol had the Nos. 9, 1 and 2 hitters up in the top of the sixth, but was retired in order by 10-year-old Lewis Baer, who earned the win by allowing only two runs and four hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

The Exchange Club, representing Stamford American, started the bottom of the sixth with its eight and nine hitters, but Danny Callazo and Matthew Wirz
walked to ignite  a three-run rally.

Leadoff hitter Nick Frattaroli, who had four hits and two RBI, ripped a run-scoring double to center to make it 12-11.

With runners on second and third, Clairol intentionally walked Nick DiPreta to load the bases. It was the right move strategically but gave Laveris even more motivation.

"You walk someone in front of me, I'll just make them pay," he said.

Mark Semmicchio (two hits) and Jonas Harper (three hits) each homered and drove in three runs for the Clairol Club while Nico Kydes and Zachary Putt plated two runs apiece for the Springdale Little League champions.

DiPreta, Laveris (three RBI) and Brandon Parrott (two-run triple) contributed two hits apiece as the first four hitters in the lineup for the Exchange Club combined for 10 hits.

"The Exchange suprised me with the way they could hit the ball," Clairol manager Joe Dileo said. "I didn't think they had that many hitters, but they did, and it was a battle.

"When our pitcher (Kydes) lost a little control there and walked the first two batters, I knew we were in trouble and then especially when you get to the top of their order because their one, two and three (hitters) were exceptional."

After falling behind 5-0, the Exchange Club answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Harper's solo homer in the top of the second made it 6-3, but the Exchange Club tied it in the bottom of the second as Parrott's two-run triple highlighted another three-run inning.

"We knew that we hit," Exchange Club manager John Frattaroli said. "It didn't matter how many runs we got down.  The important thing, I believe, was the bottom of the first. After we trailed 5-0, we came back with a three-spot.

If we didn't do that in the bottom of the first, our morale would have been down. We were like, 'Okay, it's going to be one of the types of games,' so keep hitting, keep hitting. The bunt sign went away and we just started trying to tattoo the ball."

Semmicchio's three-run blast and Kydes' RBI single put Clairol back ahead 10-6 in the top of the third. But the turning point of the contest may have occured when Baer worked out of a first-and-third jam to keep The Exchange Club close.  

"The bravery of a 10-year-old to come in and be put in this spot," Frattaroli said. "We knew we had something  special. He's a big boy and he can really let the ball go. He did his best and that's all we can ask."

The Exchange Club got two back in the home third on RBI singles by Frattaroli and DiPreta. Baer did give up a  two-run double to Harper in the fourth, but again The Exchange Club answered, pulling within 12-10 on Wirz's two-run double in the bottom half.

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