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posted 07/26/2010 Windham's 9/10 year-old all-stars and District 1 Champions defeated District 2 Champions Rye last weekend in Laconia to win Windham's first ever Little League State Championship.
Windham shutout Rye 6 to 0 in Game 1 on Saturday July 24th and "mercy-ruled" Rye 13 to 3 in five innings on Sunday. Collectively, Windham out-hit Rye 29 to 5 over the weekend, holding Rye completely hitless in Game 2.
Game 1: Windham 6, Rye 0
Windham's starting pitcher Ryan Faria was brilliant, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing no runs, scattering just 4 hits, while striking out 11 Rye batters. Windham took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Zack German and Jack Swarbrick both singled. Steven Koza walked to load the bases before Jacob Sprague's grounder scored German from third. While Faria shut down Rye in the 2nd, Windham added a run as Sawyer Strong singled to right and scored on a German double. Swarbrick stayed locked-in in the 3rd, doubling to center and scoring on a Sprague single to up the Windham lead to 3 to 0. After Faria stuck out the side in the Rye 3rd and 4th innings, Windham struck again in the 4th as Faria walked and Kyle Rembis singled. A German single and Tommy Costa double provided 3 more runs, upping the score to 6 to 0. Steven Koza relieved Faria in the top of the 5th and gave up no runs on 3 strikeouts as he reached his alloted pitch count in the 6th. Tommy Costa took the ball to close out the game in the top of the 6th.
Game 2: Windham 13, Rye 3 (5 innings)
Windham's starter Steven Koza had to battle through an unorthodox fake bunting strategy by Rye, whose batters for the 2nd straight day had no answer for Windham pitching. Down 1 to 0 in the bottom of the first, Tommy Costa singled to left, Jack Swarbrick walked and Koza helped his own cause, singling and scoring Costa. After Rye again scored a run in the top of the 2nd, Windham answered with 2 runs as Ryan Faria lead off with a single, advanced to second and stole third base. Zack German singled to knock in Faria and knot the game at 2 to 2. Costa doubled and was plated by a Swarbrick single to center for a 3 to 2 lead. Rye tied the game 3 to 3 in the top of the 3rd, but Windham again battled back with a game-changing bottom of the 3rd as they batted around to score 4 times, featuring hits by Jacob Sprague, T.J. Langan, Costa and Swarbrick. As Koza reached his maximum pitch count, Jacob Sprague and the Windham defense shut the door on Rye the rest of the way, capped off by some great defensive work by Thomas Spagounias. Windham bats broke the game wide open in the 4th, batting around for the second consecutive inning as Sprague, Chris Houde, Faria, German and Swarbrick pounded out hits. After a Costa defensive gem at shortstop in the top of the 5th, the ten-run "mercy rule" was involved as Houde, Faria and Sawyer Strong hit 3 consecutive singles and Faria scored the winning run stealing home on a passed ball.
Players L to R: Zack German, Chris Houde, Tommy Costa, Donovan Hopkins (alternate), Jack Swarbrick, T.J. Langan, Steven Koza, Thomas Splagounias, Ryan Faria, Jacob Sprague, Sawyer Strong, Kyle Rembis
Coaches: L to R: Coach Steve Koza, Assistant Coaches, Stew Strong, Todd Rembis, Paul German and Tom Costa. Manager
