Fairfield American Little League Team Prepares For Regional Tourney
FAIRFIELD, CT — For the second year in a row, the Fairfield American Little League 50/70 13-and-under Intermediate baseball team is heading to the East Regionals, after winning another state championship last weekend.
The “50/70” description represents the size of the diamond, 50 feet to the mound, and 70 feet along the base paths.
“It’s a nice step up from the Little League dimensions, 46 feet to the mound, and 60-foot base paths,” Assistant Coach Keith Connors told Patch.
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The team practiced Thursday evening at Gould Manor Park in Fairfield in preparation of this weekend’s East Regionals, which will be held in Dover, Delaware. Ten teams, a host team and nine state champions from the Northeast, compete in the tournament, and first up for Fairfield Saturday morning will be host team M.O.T. LL from Middletown, Delaware.
After practice, the team was going to have a barbecue cookout as a send-off at Saugatuck Sweets on Reef Road, in which some town officials were expected to attend to wish the team good luck.
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Both Connors and team Manager Chad Czapla said the age group and the dimensions of the field presents some challenges, because not all towns with Little League programs field 50/70 intermediate teams.
“We have to find competition where we can get it,” Connors said, adding the team plays games all over Fairfield County, and in parts of New Haven and Litchfield counties.
Czapla told Patch the age of the players means many of them are a bit more well-rounded as athletes.
“We have a lot of multiple-sport athletes, kids who play hockey, football, basketball, and that helps us. We can move our guys to different positions around the diamond, because they’re good athletes,” Czapla said.
The Fairfield team will play at least two games over the weekend, Saturday and Sunday.
“The East Region winner will have to win a total of five games in six days,” Czapla said. “It’s potentially a lot of work for the kids.”
A lot of work, but also with some fun downtime, such as swimming in the hotel pool between games, and attending the Delaware State Fair, which runs through the July 27.
“The kids are super excited,” Czapla said. “They’re good, young men.”
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