Norwalk Baseball Snags CIAC Quarterfinal Win with Walk-Off in Extra-Innings Pitcher's Duel Against Platt

NORWALK — The Norwalk baseball team only got one hit Saturday in its CIAC Class LL quarterfinal game against Platt but senior David Harry made sure that one hit would be all the Bears needed, winning 1-0 in eight innings on a walk-off by the senior first baseman.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Harry hit a hard ground ball to right field which scored Kevin Gordon from third base and sent the No. 3 seeded Bears to the semifinals, ending an epic pitchers duel between Norwalk starter Chase DePalma and Platt lefty Brandon Candelora .

"It feels amazing, I am just happy to give my boys a final four," Harry said. "It's crazy. I was just trying to get a single. I try to keep it simple and look for a fastball and fight off all the off-speed pitches."

Norwalk will play No. 2 South Windsor in the semifinals Tuesday at a neutral site to be determined. South Windsor beat No. 7 Naugatuck 4-2 in their quarterfinal.

After an out to begin the inning, Gordon reached on an error by the pitcher and advanced to second base on the wild throw. Antwan Cordona and Frank Bergin were hit by pitches amid a hard rain which began falling in the seventh inning.

Then on a 2-2 count, Harry came through with the biggest hit of the season for the Bears.

"That's Chase DePalma a senior who does not want to see it end and David Harry, another senior who doesn't want to see it end," Norwalk coach Ryan Mitchell said. "I don't know if there is another kid in the state of Connecticut that has gotten as many big at bats in game-deciding moments than our first baseman David Harry. Our mantra is that if you keep knocking on the door, it will bust open for you. The kids trusted it."

DePalma, who is committed to play baseball at Virginia Wesleyan, pitched eight innings for the win, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out 12 batters.

Candelora, who is committed to Central Connecticut State, matched him pitch-for-pitch, allowing just the one unearned run on one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts.

"(Candelora) is the best pitcher in the state," Platt coach Bryan McCarty said. "It was a tremendous job by him all four years. Their pitcher was dealing too and we had a hard time hitting his off-speed stuff. We couldn't execute a couple of bunts and right there at the end it got wet and the ball got away from our pitcher a little bit, but he was still dealing."

In the top of the eighth, Platt had the potential go-ahead run at second base with one out in Tyler Cioffi, who got on via a walk, but he was caught trying to steal third for the last out of the inning.

Player of the Game

Chase DePalma, Norwalk: The senior was dominant all day, throwing 95 pitches for the victory.

Quotable

"That kid (Candelora) is great and we knew coming into the game he was going to be very good and he went out there and dominated. I didn't want this to be my last game, especially here at home in front of a bunch of fans. I am glad we are moving on— Chase DePalma

CIAC CLASS LL QUARTERFINAL

Norwalk 1, Platt 0

Platt 000 000 00       — 0 2 2

Norwalk 000 000 01 — 1 1 1

Batteries: N--Chase DePalma (W) and Jacob Fields. P--Brandon Candelora (L) and Hunter Sincovic