South Portland American Little League had their valiant run ended on Saturday afternoon in the New England Regional final at the hands of Fairfield American out of Connecticut by a score of 10-0 in front of 4500 fans at Breen Field in Bristol, Conn.
Fairfield (3-0), who defeated the So. Portland team 8-0 earlier in the regional, advances to the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Ethan Righter had nine strikeouts for Fairfield and only allowed four South Portland hits, with only two out of the infield, in his 4.1 innings of work. Tyler Bauer recorded last five outs to send Fairfield to Williamsport.
Fairfield blew it open by scoring seven runs between the third and fourth innings. Michael Iannazzo led the Fairfield offense with a pair of two runs doubles, part of a 13 hit attack.
Andrew Heffernan started the game for Maine and was solid through the first two innings before the Connecticut champs broke through. Heffernan was relieved with two outs in the fifth when his pitch count had reached the maximum of 85. Richie Gilboy finished up in relief.
Aiden Lee had two of So. Portland four hits, and the Maine champs finished the regional with a record of 4-2, playing their sixth game in seven days.
