Barrington All-Stars top Darlington in thriller

Majors Division team wins 1-0 in dramatic fashion

By Josh Bickford
Posted 7/13/21

Rocco DeFonseca stole home in the bottom of the sixth inning for the only run in Barrington’s 1-0 victory over Darlington in a Majors Division All-Star game on Sunday night at Chianese Field.

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Barrington All-Stars top Darlington in thriller

Majors Division team wins 1-0 in dramatic fashion

Posted

Rocco DeFonseca stole home in the bottom of the sixth inning for the only run in Barrington’s 1-0 victory over Darlington in a Majors Division All-Star game on Sunday night at Chianese Field.

Barrington and Darlington were knotted 0-0 through the first five and a half innings of the elimination bracket game. But DeFonseca led off the bottom of the sixth with a ground ball single to third, and Brooks Mello then delivered a double down the right field line, to put runners at second and third. Darlington walked James Palmieri to load the bases. 

After a pitching change, the Darlington ace delivered a wild pitch. DeFonseca broke for home and slid just under the tag, giving Barrington the walk-off win. 

“All at once, it was just mayhem,” said Barrington Manager Will LoVerme. “They tackled each other.”

The victory advanced Barrington into another must-win game against Warren on Tuesday at Jannitto Field in Warren.

Coach LoVerme said stellar pitching from Tommy Coutant and strong defense by the Barrington infield played key roles in the victory. Coutant tossed a no-hit shut-out, allowing just four Darlington players to reach base. 

“Tommy threw an absolute gem,” Coach LoVerme said. “He was mixing up pitches.”

Coach LoVerme said Zach Sheinberg made four key plays at second base while Anthony Fede (third base) and Finn LoVerme (shortstop) came through in clutch situations. 

Barrington’s offense threatened throughout the game. In fact, Barrington loaded the bases in the first inning and put runners on second and third in the second. In both innings, Barrington was unable to plate a single run. 

Coach LoVerme said he was very proud of his team’s effort. He said two weeks ago he was not sure what his team was made of, but on Sunday night they showed grit and determination.

“Today’s one of the days we became a family,” Coach LoVerme said.

Win over Middletown

It took two days, but eventually Barrington defeated Middletown in a Majors Division All-Star showdown. 

The game started last Tuesday, but finished a day later because of a weather delay. Middletown opened the game with a 1-0 lead, after scoring a run in the top of the first inning. But Barrington battled back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Miles Dolan and DeFonseca hit back-to-back doubles to score one run. Mello then drove in DeFonseca. 

Middletown drew even with Barrington with a run in the top of the third inning, and threatened to score a go-ahead run in the top of the fourth but thunder and lightning forced the umpires to halt the game.

A day later, the two teams resumed play. Barrington’s Coutant pitched out of the jam and in the bottom of the inning Barrington loaded the bases but was unable to score.

Middletown had a runner on base in the fifth, but catcher Henry Alfonso threw him out on an attempted steal. 

Barrington then took the lead when Alfonso singled, advanced on a hit by DeFonseca and scored on a grounder by Coutant. Coutant then struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth to lock up the win. 

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