Kerlejza Leads Unionville Over Ridgefield 6-3

On Saturday, July 21, the boys from Unionville Post 32 were on the road for their first play-in game of the Senior Legion Tournament at Ciuccoli Field in Ridgefield.

David Kerlejza hurled a stellar nine inning complete game for the win. He shut out Ridgefield for the first six innings, faced 36 batters, struck out three, walked three and allowed 6 hits. 

Devin Martin, Colin Virag and Alex Tuccio shared the pitching duties for Ridgefield. 

Unionville got off to an early start when the first two batters, Johnny Arcidiacono and Jimmy Mulpeter both singled. Next up, Jeff Schweighoffer worked a walk.  However, Unionville was not able to plate a run and Martin escaped the first inning unscathed.  Unionville plated two runs in the second and the score remained 2-0 for six innings.  In the seventh with Virag now pitching for Ridgefield, lead off batter, Travis Kozak, reached on a dropped third strike, Arcidiacono singled, Mulpeter reached on an error and with the bases loaded Schweighoffer drove a triple to the centerfield fence to clear the bases.  Schweighoffer scored on a sac fly by Mac Crispino.  Score 6-0 Unionville.

In the bottom of the seventh Ridgefield battled back and plated two runs on a double by Colin O’Meara and scored another in the eighth when Alex Tuccio was singled home by John Olszewski. Score 6-3 Unionville.

Kerlejza made short work of the three batters he faced in inning nine and sealed the win for Unionville.

Offensive contributions by Unionville:  Jeff Schweighoffer 3RBI triple, run scored; Johnny Arcidiacono 2 singles, RBI, run scored; Travis Kozak single, RBI, run scored; Jimmy Mulpeter single, run scored; Mac Crispino single, sac fly; Jack Roy single. 

Unionville is on the road Sunday, July 22 for a 1 p.m. game with New London at Sal Amanti Field. 

Submitted by Unionville Legion Baseball.