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By STEVE GEOGHEGAN

Times Staff Writer


It was a wonderful summer for the Stamford 15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars.

It didn't matter that they didn't ultimately capture the World Series championship, they learned a great deal about themselves and what they can accomplish as a team, said manager John Calo.

"The kids can take what they learned, such as perseverance, hard work and dedication, and apply it to life," he said. "This is a good foundation, not only from a sports perspective but a life perspective."

Stamford wasn't given anything easy during its run to the World Series. It had to knock off defending state (Norwalk) and New England Regional (Cranston, R.I.) champions just to make it to Monticello, Ark., site of the World Series.

The all-stars overcame an 0-2 start in pool play and by sweeping a doubleheader, including beating the host team Monticello, they found themselves in the playoff round against Bryant, Ark., in the first round.

Stamford played one of its best games of the season, according to Calo, but suffered a 2-1 setback in eight innings to Bryant to unfortunately end its postseason run.

But what a postseason run it was. The all-stars wound up with 13-3 overall record and finished fifth in the World Series competition.

"It was a little unexpected but once they got on a roll, their confidence grew," Calo said of his team's run to the World Series. "They never quit and they kept exceeding our own expectations. Team chemistry has a lot to do with it."

Jason LoRusso, the starting catcher and leadoff hitter who suffered a hip injury in the Monticello game and couldn't start against Bryant, said things began to turn around following a players only meeting after the team's second straight loss.

Kyle DiVico, who suffered an ankle injury against Saginaw Valley in the opener and missed one game but returned to the lineup for good in the team's third game, spoke to his teammates during the meeting and that spurred on the team, LoRusso said.

"We came to the conclusion that we weren't the same team we were in the first two games," said LoRusso, who hurt himself in a pinch-hitting appearance against Bryant and had to be helped off the field. "We knew we were better than what we showed and we went out there and won our next two games."

LoRusso said it was a matter of teammates picking each other up, just like they did when he couldn't play.

"I was up yelling and screaming (during the Bryant game) and I was supporting the team any way I could," said LoRusso, who will be on crutches for the next six weeks due to the injury. "My teammates did everything I asked of them. They tried their hardest and that's all you can ask for."

Despite the loss of LoRusso and a nicked up DiVico, Stamford was one out away from advancing to the World Series semifinals but Bryant scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning off ace reliever Luis Lopez to tie the score at 1-1 and send the game into extra innings.

"Not only the coaches but all the kids wanted him out there," Calo said. "It's a situation where if you're going to get beat, you want to get beat with your best. I tip my cap to him (Bryant's Hayden Daniel) for getting the hit to tie the game."

The loss doesn't take away what Stamford accomplished this season, including winning district, state and New England Regional titles. The all-stars had three walk-off victories in the New England competition, including two by Jeff Cortese.

"I think we had a great season," said Matt Green, who along with Cortese won World Series Gold Gloves in right field and first base, respectively. "We never let up and came together as a team. I'll never forget the experience of playing in the World Series."

Green also said he was surprised to receive a gold glove and noted teammate Travis Docimo should have been recognized for his flawless play at shortstop. Calo said Docimo made some great plays in the field the entire tournament.

When it comes down to it, Calo said running the team wasn't a one-man operation, far from it.

He was very appreciative of his assistant coaches, John Rivera and Buddy Moynihan, as well as Nick Cortese and Gary DiVico, who would throw batting practice, and Steve Green, communications director and scorebook keeper, and all the families of the players.

"Hopefully the kids will use this experience as a way to take leadership roles with their new teams," Calo said. "They can share what they learned with their teammates. They learned that no matter what the situation, you can fight through it and succeed."

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