Zande, South Windsor hammer East Lyme in U-10 state final four tourney

Kyle Maher, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·4 min read

Jul. 28—FAIRFIELD — Jacob Zande has been one of the South Windsor U-10 Little League All Stars' most consistent hitters and run producers this summer, racking up base hit after base hit through their run to the District 8 and Section 4 tournament titles.

He continued to swing a scorching hot bat Wednesday in the opening round of the state final four tournament.

Zande finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs and produced a two-run double in South Windsor's decisive five-run bottom of the fourth inning as it topped East Lyme 8-3 at Tunxis Hill Field.

"That's what (Zande) does, he answers the call every single time we need him," South Windsor manager Seth Falco said. "You need kids who have that heart and that confidence. When he gets to the plate, he knows he can get the job done no matter what the circumstances. I know how advanced he is and I knew he would be one of our top players and it's great to see him showing it. I'm proud of him."

South Windsor will play Hamden in a winner's bracket game today at Tunxis Hill Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The victor will advance to the state championship series beginning Saturday.

Hamden beat Avon 16-5 in five innings in its opening round game Wednesday at Mill Hill School in Fairfield.

East Lyme will play Avon in an elimination game today at Mill Hill School. First pitch is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

South Windsor is making its second straight appearance in the state final four. Last year, it was ousted in two games with losses to East Lyme and Shelton.

East Lyme took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Brayden Santos RBI triple to the fence in right, but Zande answered with a run-scoring double to right center in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at one.

East Lyme reclaimed its one-run lead on an error in the top of the third but South Windsor knotted the score at two on a Zande RBI groundout in the bottom of the frame and plated five runs in the home half of the fourth to surge ahead for good.

The first three South Windsor batters reached base on a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a single. Dom Caputa then worked a bases-loaded walk to force home a run and give South Windsor a 3-2 lead.

Two batters later, Weston Durbois drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk. East Lyme then got a force out at home on a ground ball to second, but Zande followed with a two-run double to right to extend South Windsor's lead to 6-2. It would tack on another run on a passed ball.

"I went up (to the plate) saying, 'I'm not going to strike out, I'm going to try to rip it,'" Zande said. "It felt really good to knock in some runs and help us get the win."

Corbyn Falco produced a RBI single to left in the bottom of the fifth to expand South Windsor's lead to 8-2.

"We just started killing the ball, it was great," Powers said. "We had the big inning and then just kept scoring. We're a tough team when we're hitting that well."

Zande took the mound in the top of the sixth in relief of starter Zack Powers and allowed a run on an Alec Couture RBI single to left. But he struck out the next batter, Owen Ament, to close out South Windsor's victory.

Powers earned the victory. He allowed two runs—one earned—on three hits while striking out five and walking two in five innings of work. Couture took the loss.

"I talked to (Powers) after he gave up the runs and got into him a little bit to bring the confidence out of him and he responded," Falco said. "I think it was a comfort thing. This is a big stage. You're talking about nine and 10-year-old kids, and they're competing at a very high level and it's fantastic."

For daily updates on high school sports in JI's coverage area, follow Kyle Maher on Twitter: @KyleBMaher, Facebook: Kyle Maher, and Instagram: @KyleBMaher.