Darien Advances To Little League Metro Region Championship

DARIEN, CT — Darien is now one win away from the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after they defeated Port Washington, N.Y., 8-4 on Wednesday in Bristol.

Darien was powered by Hugh Butler, who went 3-for-3 with two homers, a double, four RBI, and three runs scored.

Butler set the tone in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to give Darien a quick 1-0 lead.

Port Washington tied the game in the third, but Darien responded immediately with a five-run bottom half.

After Wells Johnson reached on an error that scored Johnny Huntington, Luca Hidaka singled in Logan Masi to put Darien ahead 3-1.

Butler doubled in Johnson, and Chase Sutter ripped an RBI single. Hidaka then came around to score on a Port Washington error to make the score 6-1.

Port Washington scored a run in the top of the fifth, but Butler launched a two-run homer in the bottom frame to put Darien up 8-2.

Port Washington scored two more runs in the top of the sixth and continued to threaten, but Rex Paquette came on in relief with one out and induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Darien will now play Bayonne, N.J., in the Metro Region championship game on Friday at 7 p.m. with a trip to Williamsport, Pa., on the line.

Darien lost to Bayonne 8-2 on Aug. 8 in the first game of the tournament.