Pickens' Perspective: Fairfield's youth baseball success is impressive

Fairfield's Little League programs are on fire.

Fairfield claimed the district championship at all three baseball age groups-- with National serving as District 2 champions in 10 and 11-year old-- and American playing two games already in the sectional championship.

Fairfield Little League softball has won three of the five district championships this summer, with the 12-year-olds taking the state championship as well.

Needless to say, youth baseball and softball are on a roll.

But this roll is not just reserved for this year. As you may know, Fairfield American is the two-time defending state champions at Little League baseball and the three-time defending state champion at 11-year old baseball, National Little League can keep the 11s state flag in Fairfield for a fourth straight year if it can win the title and a Fairfield softball team has won a state crown four straight years.

That's impressive.

This town's run has been so prolific, there's not even any one-- in this district, at least-- to compare it to this decade. Assistant district commissioner Rob Bleggi can only think of the 1990s Trumbull National teams, and their last state championship was 18 years ago.

"It's crazy," Bleggi said of Fairfield's run. "I can only compare it to Trumbull National in the 1990s, and that was just the one league. Here it's both."

Fairfield softball has no such rival, but continues to roll. The girls are earning some serious frequent traveler points, having earned their second straight trip to "Camp Bristol" after reaching the East Regionals in Fleetsville, Pa. in 2010.

But the 12s aren't the only girls deserving of headlines. Junior League -- the 14 and under team, many of whom won the New England regional title a year ago -- are in the sectional tournament and the 10s.

It may be American getting the headlines and upperhand with its consecutive 12-year-old district wins over National, but National's 10s played North Stamford for the Section 1 title last night, and it's 11s are closing in on the state finals as well.

A recent Warde graduate told me last week that the Ludlowe vs. Warde rivalry starts in Little League, with National vs. American.

That rivalry is getting hotter as National creeps up on American's success. Despite two losses at 12s, National dealt American its only loss, 10-8, in the 10-year-old losers bracket final, before stunning Trumbull National twice.

Most impressively, Fairfield's never had this much consistent Little League success. There were scattered district championships in 10s or 12s, but never this domination.

To witness a run like Fairfield is having must not be taken for granted. Winning one-game district or sectional championships in baseball or softball is tough work, and it is not like teams travel to these tournaments simply to lose to Fairfield teams.

No matter what side of the rooting you're on, if you're a Fairfield resident, you should marvel at these teams' success.

Soon enough, it'll pass.

ppickens@bcnnew.com; twitter.com/Pat_Pickens