Groton – It took a late rally, but the Danbury Westerners found their way back into the win
column, taking down the Mystic Schooners 8-7 in seven innings.

Danbury could not find a hit through the first three innings of play against Mystic starter Trey
McLoughlin. McLoughlin was cruising until Matt Zaffino stepped to the plate in the fourth
inning. He ripped a pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run, giving Danbury the lead.

But the Schooners would answer in a big way in the bottom half of the inning. Behind home
runs from T.T. Bowens and Brian Maycock, Mystic took a 4-1 lead after four innings. The teams
would exchange runs but Mystic would find themselves in the lead with the ball in Nick
Rubino’s hands. Rubino, who was named the closer for the Southern Division for Sunday’s All-
Star game had been dominant on the mound.

Trying to preserve a 7-6 lead, the Mystic closer allowed a single to Sonny Ulliana, bringing Nick
Lorusso to the plate. Lorusso, an All-Star himself would take the closer deep to left centerfield
to give Danbury the 8-7 lead, leaving them three outs away from a come from behind win.

They would hand the ball to Eli Oliphant, a closer at Fairfield University who had been utilized
as a starter most of the summer. Back in his natural position, Oliphant would strand the tying
run at third base with a pair of strikeouts, sealing the win for the Westerners.

Danbury returns home for a doubleheader with the Winnipesaukee Muskrats, beginning at
4:00.