In a seesaw battle, came from behind to beat Stamford 8-6 on Thursday.
The Blue Wave displayed some power, stroking two home runs, two doubles, and 10 hits in all. Darien started the scoring playing small ball.
Thomas Carruthers led off the game by beating out an infield hit, stealing second, and advancing to third on an errant pickoff attempt.
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After Sam Gillespie walked, Alex Yergey drove in Carruthers on a fielder's choice. Darien starter Dillon Duncan sailed through the first two innings with the help of catcher Gillespie.
Duncan threw out a runner attempting to steal third in the first inning, and shortstop Carruthers threw out a runner who had strayed too far from third base on a ground ball in the second.
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Darien scored two more in the third inning on a walk to Andrew Malley and a home run over the left field wall by Carruthers.
Stamford struck back in their half of the third. A walk, a double, and a single brought in two runs. Darien threatened in the fourth inning when Mike Stovall walked and Tucker White was hit by a pitch.
With two outs Malley drove the ball to deep center field but the center fielder Palumbo tracked it down to end the inning. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Stamford scored four runs.
They loaded the bases on two singles and an error. A ground out to shortstop brought in one run. Three consecutive singles brought in three more runs but Johnny Dehlin, who came on in relief, struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
The seesaw tilts
Down 6-3 going into the sixth inning Darien was running out of time. Tommy MacLean lined a single to left and Stovall doubled to right. White deposited a single to center driving in MacLean and putting runners on first and third. Darien executed a double steal on a pickoff attempt at first as White slid under the tag at second and Stovall scored the fifth run.
With one out Malley drove the ball over the center field fence for a two run homer giving the Blue Wave a 7-6 lead. Darien loaded the bases when Carruthers singled, Bryan Previte doubled off the wall in left, and Sam Gillespie was hit by a pitch. Carruthers scored on a passed ball to make the score 8-6.
Carruthers moved from shortstop to pitcher to get the last six outs. He gave up a double but struck out two in a scoreless bottom of the sixth. He hit a batter and gave up a single with one out in the seventh.
He then got a called strike three on a full count for the second out and induced a pop foul which he caught for the final out of the game. In addition to getting the save, Carruthers went 3 for 4 including a home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
In their quest to qualify for the State tournament Darien must win two of their last three games. The next game is 4 p.m. Friday at Fairfield Warde.
Editor's note: Clyde White is the father of a Darien High School baseball player.
