A dramatic finish in the NECBL finals
The Danbury Westerners entered the bottom of the ninth clinging to a 7‑6 lead after a fourth‑inning surge that featured Ryan Preisano’s two‑run single, which plated Aiden Stern and Kyle Garbowski and gave the team a brief five‑run cushion.
Sanford’s reliever Samuel Young struck out Preisano, but Ronan Donohue’s solo homer over the fence tied the game at 7‑7, igniting a frenzy among the home crowd and forcing a decisive third game.
Garrett McGovern, a Brookfield native now at Longwood, stepped onto the mound and delivered the winning pitch, ensuring that the series will continue at Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine.
The twin brothers Ronan and Gavin Donohue, seniors at Sacred Heart University and natives of Melrose, Massachusetts, had earlier combined for a sacrifice fly that scored Gavin, adding a personal storyline to the Westerners’ rally.
Meanwhile, Fairfield native Hayden Lee secured the win in Game 2 with two scoreless innings, while Danbury’s Charlie Hale shut out Sanford for the first five frames, allowing just two runs and striking out seven batters.
Garrett Snyder contributed five strikeouts in 2 ⅓ innings but yielded two runs on three hits and three walks, underscoring the competitive nature of the pitching staff.
The upcoming Game 3, scheduled for Wednesday night at 6:35 PM and streamed on ESPN+, promises another high‑stakes showdown as the Westerners seek to clinch the NECBL championship.