This story originally ran in The Standard-Times on June. 22, 2002.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

FAIRHAVEN — Fairhaven jumped out to an early 7-1 lead yesterday en route to an impressive 11-4 Legion win over visiting Swansea.

After giving up an early run on a passed ball and an error in the top of the first Fairhaven was able to bat around in the bottom of the second picking up four runs with two outs and chasing Swansea's starting pitcher in the process.

With Fairhaven (5-1) starting the second inning with two straight 6-3 groundouts starting pitcher Tim Schuyler helped his own cause and got things going with the first of six consecutive Fairhaven singles.

Fairhaven would add a run in the third on a sacrifice fly to right field by catcher Steve Affonse and two more in the fourth on a Justin Wotton double to center. Wotton was stranded at third.

"I was very pleased with the game today" said Fairhaven coach J.J. Scott. "We jumped out to an early lead got a little flat but we got the runs back and were able to straighten things out again.

"We're hitting the ball well and we're coming up with timely hits and you can't ask for much more than that from our standpoint."

After Schuyler gave up three runs off four hits and a walk in the top of the fifth Josh Fortin relieved to get out of the jam striking out two and getting one batter to fly to right.

With Swansea within striking distance Fairhaven put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning picking up four runs on two sacrifices an error a double and a single to put the lead at seven runs where it would stay.

"The defense is playing well the pitching has been solid and that's put us where we are now" Scott said.

Second baseman Tim Ferguson led Fairhaven batters with three hits in four at-bats two RBIs and three runs scored.

Schuyler allowed seven hits and four runs over four innings for the win. Fortin would ring up five strikeouts over the final two innings to seal it.

Fairhaven finished the day with 10 hits and two errors while Swansea wound up with eight hits and three errors.

Fairhaven closes out the week with a game against Fall River Post 314 at Maplewood Park today.

This story appeared on Page C4 of The Standard-Times on June 22 2002.