TRUMBULL — Another giant step forward.

The District 4 champion Max Sinoway Little League Baseball All-Stars from North Haven advanced to the Connecticut Section 1 tournament championship final Saturday morning by defeating District 1 champ Darien, 9-3 at Unity Park.

The win means that Sinoway (8-1 postseason, 2-0 Section 1 play) are in Monday’s Section 1 final at 5:30 p.m. at Unity Park. Sinoway will face the winner of Sunday’s 10 a.m. battle between Darien and District 2 champ Fairfield American for the Section 1 title and a berth in the Connecticut Little League baseball state tournament (four CT section champs) in Willimantic.

“The theme of our postgame talk was simple,” Max Sinoway manager Angelo Romano said. “Believe this! This is real! It is happening! Our job is to keep fighting together as a team.”

LITTLE LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

Sinoway’s second victory in a span of 17 hours was all about team. Defense, pitching and offense blended into a fist that kept Darien at bay.

Due to the early 10 a.m. start time, there was a breeze at Unity Park Diamond No. 1 that fought against the 90-degree temperatures.

Sinoway took a 5-0 edge in the top of the second. With one run in, one out and the bases loaded, Jaden Wells clubbed a grand slam homer on a 1-and-2 pitch.

“Being down in the count, I thought they would try to blow a fastball past me,” Wells said. “I got the bat barrel on it.”

To its credit, Darien answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning off Sinoway starter Joe Mastroianni.

Tom Karczewski’s leadoff single, Ted Smosky’s HBP and Chase Dolan’s successful bunt loaded the bases. Jack Nee’s RBI groundout and Leo Zawacki’s two-out two-run double plated the runners.

Sinoway right-hander Mastroianni settled in thereafter. Darien managed two Taylor Campbell singles, one walk and one foul flyout over the next three innings.

Mastroianni (80 pitches, five innings) finished with five strikeouts including fanning the side on curves in the fifth.

“It was hot out there. But I’m used to it since I also play football,” Mastroianni said. “The plan was to let Darien hit the ball. And let our defense (no errors) work. The curve was the key. It’s a pitch I added this season.”

Sinoway settled the issue thanks to a pair of Chris Cretella RBI singles and a two-run, fifth-inning homer by Wells.

“I felt the pitcher was trying to get ahead in the count,” Wells said. “I was looking fastball in my zone. I squared it up just right on the bat.”

As for Darien, having four of its five pitchers Saturday throw 23 or fewer pitches, it will have arms available for Sunday’s battle with fabled Fairfield American (seven Connecticut State LL crowns since 2010).

The question for Sunday’s winner will be: Who is left to pitch on Monday?

“It’s a clean slate on Sunday. Win and you’re in Monday’s final,” Darien manager Wes Yusko said. “We know Fairfield American has history on its side. Our job is clear. Just win, period.”

MAX SINOWAY 9, DARIEN 3

MAX SINOWAY 051 030—9 10 0
DARIEN 030 000—3 6 1
Batteries: MS—Joe Mastroianni (W), Chris Cretella (6) and Chris Cretella, Jaden Wells (3). D—Merritt Hole, Will Barber (2, L), Tom Karczewski (2), Tyler Easterbrook (5), Leo Zawacki (6) and Jack Nee. HR—Jaden Wells (MS) 2.

BRISTOL — Connecticut champion Milford took a firm hold with a six-run first inning and defeated Vermont, 10-0, in an East Region Little League 10-run rule game at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center’s J. Breen Field on Saturday night.

“I talked to the girls about what it took to get this far,” Connecticut manager Scott Worzel said. “We got to watch some of the earlier games on TV and we felt that we belonged.”

New Jersey kicked off play with an 8-2 victory over Rhode Island. New York next defeated Maryland, 12-2, in a 10 run-rule five innings. Massachusetts held off Maine, 8-4.

Connecticut will play either New York or Delaware (playing Sunday) on Monday at 7 p.m. at Breen.

The winners used 10 hits to shorten the game by two innings in a game that took only one hour to complete.

Mya Dawid had three hits, including a triple, and drove in four runs.

“It feels good to know people count on you,” Dawid said of batting with runners on base. “Most pitchers, because I’m a lefty, try to pitch me outside so I just go with it.”

Talia Salanto reached base three times, scored three runs, and pitched three innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. She struck out five.

“I was nervous,” said Salanto, who found out she would start the game during pre-game warmups. “I got excited when my fastball and drop pitch were working. I got momentum after the strikeouts (in the first inning).”

After a strikeout/passed ball allowed Teagan Garfield, Connecticut came up with four consecutive singles in its first at bat.

Included in the rally were two-run singles from Dawid and Avery Falco. Madyson Bull (RBI), Salanto, Grace Hess (RBI) and Emily Krauss added singles.

Vermont pitcher Kenna Lovelette struck out four batters in the home first.

Dawid tripled home Salanto (walk) in the second and scored on Angie Robinson’s run-producing fielder’s choice grounder to make it 8-0.

LITTLE LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

Salanto singled to open the fourth, went to second on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate on Dawid’s fourth RBI hit of the game. Dawid advanced two bases on pitches that went to the backstop, before Hess ended the game with an run-scoring single.

Salanto struck out the first two batters she faced in a perfect first inning. The righty added two more K’s in the second and had a hand in all six outs. Salanto struck out the side around a single by Addyson Longe in the third.

Judy Tarczali came in to pitch in the top of the fourth for Connecticut and promptly set three batters down on strikes.

Vermont’s leftfielder Chloe Comstock took a single away from Kelsea Flanagan in the second. Shortstop Ruby Dasaro robbed Bull of an RBI single in the third with a catch in the tip of her glove.

The double-elimination phase ends in the final, where it is winner takes all. The title game is scheduled for Thursday at 12 p.m. The East Region champion will compete for the World Series crown in Portland, Ore.

EAST REGION NOTEBOOK

Missisquoi Little League from Franklin County went 4-0 in District play and swept through state competition in three games. They outscored their opposition 74-13. Vermont will play Rhode Island Sunday at 4.

Milford Little League brought an 11-1 record into the East Region. They lost their first District game 3-0, before winning five consecutive games by a combined 48-4. They won Sectionals in three games (18-7 run differential) and matched that feat in the state tournament (29-2).

Pennsylvania won the 2018 East Region title and placed second at the World Series.

Waterford, in 2007, is the last Connecticut champion. Orange won the title in 2005 and were runnersup at the World Series.

Home team is decided by coin flip.

william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com

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CONNECTICUT 10, VERMONT 0

VERMONT 000 0—0 1 0
CONNECTICUT 620 2—10 10 0

Batteries: Connecticut – Talia Salanto (WP), Judy Tarczali (4) and Mya Dawid; Vermont- Kenna Lovelette (LP) and Grace Burnor
Records: Connecticut 1-0; Vermont 0-1

WASHINGTON DEPOT — Hamden Post 88 turned Washington’s Saturday American Legion baseball state tournament first-round win on its head in a 6-2 Washington nightmare in a second-round game at Ted Alex Field Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, Washington put Ridgefield away in a first inning followed by great pitching and defense.

Sunday, Hamden — first-round Saturday winner over Greenwich — took control in the second inning in what Washington coach Mike Kersten called “our worst inning all season.”

The game began as a classic battle between strong lefty starters — Hamden’s Ryan Doherty and Washington’s Dom Perachi.

Perachi, who threw a one-hitter in Washington’s Shepaug Valley CIAC Class S final, mowed down Hamden’s first three batters on a called third strike, a groundout and a fly to center field.

Doherty, a Hamden Hall graduate headed to Division I Manhattan College, threw a popup, strikeout and hit by Joe Brunelli, gunned down trying to steal second in the bottom of the inning.

Then the second inning tumbled in on Perachi with an opening double by Tyler Osborne, single by Henry Bielen (2-for-2, RBI, run scored) and walk to Doherty.

Bases loaded, no outs.

Saturday, Washington pitcher Tim Cianciolo came away from the same dilemma unscathed in the first inning.

Sunday, Perachi was buried by a couple of pitches that got away for runs, two errors and a single by Mike Aceto (2-for-4, 2 RBI) for four runs.

Saturday, Coach Kersten praised Washington’s season-long defensive prowess and pitching.

Sunday, “Our defense let (Perachi) down,” Kersten said. “It just snowballed.”

Washington closed to 4-2 in the second and third innings on a pair of Hamden errors after the first of two Cianciolo doubles and a throwing error in the second inning and a walk and a three-base throwing error for Owen Hibbard in the third.

Doherty and Hamden got over the misfires. Washington and Perachi never really did.

Bielen and Doherty were back with a leadoff walk and a hit in the third inning. Hamden tacked on another run in the fourth on a two-out hit by Jake Pisano (2-for-4, run), another Washington error and an RBI single by Bielen, then put it away for good in the seventh on a double by Ethan Shepard (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs), a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout by Aceto.

“This is (Doherty’s) first year with us,” said Hamden coach Ray Guarino. “It was a pleasant surprise — and even more pleasant when we discovered he could hit.”

But despite Washington’s misery (19-7), it was a tough day for Hamden (22-6) as well.

“It was a battle,” said Doherty. “They hit my fastball well.”

“He used all his (Legion-limit) 105 pitches and they forced him into a lot of full counts,” said Guarino.

Still, the edge so far for Hamden might just come from the coach himself.

“I was diagnosed with multiple myelitis and the team’s been great fighting it with me,” Guarino said. “The doctors caught it early, but the chemo’s been rough.”

Call that perspective for another steaming-hot day in Washington Depot.

Washington hosts Greenwich Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for a knockout game in the double-elimination tournament. The winner plays at Hamden High School Wednesday for the chance to move on to the tournament’s final phase at Ceppa Field in Meriden beginning Saturday.

Hamden 6, Washington 2

At Ted Alex Field

Hamden 040 100 1 — 6 9 2

Washington 011 000 0 — 2 6 3

WP: Ryan Doherty. LP: Dom Perachi. 2B: H — Tyler Osborne; Ethan Shepard. W — Tim Cianciolo 2.

Records: Hamden 22-6; Washington 19-7.

STAMFORD — Joey Skarad had already played catcher for nine innings on an oppressively hot day and had enough of it.

To avoid having to go out for the 10th inning and more time in the gear, in the sun, Skarad did the one thing he could do.

He hit a two-out, walk-off home run, giving Stamford a 5-3 win over North Haven in Pod G of the Southern Division Sectional of the Senior American Legion state tournament.

“That’s the biggest (home run) I ever hit,” Skarad said. “I was thinking that we had Jaden (Dawkins) on and I was trying to drive something hard. I didn’t really expect that to happen. I just wanted to hit something in the gap to get him home and get us home.”

Stamford moves on to the Pod final Wednesday at Cubeta Stadium.

North Haven will face the winner of the Orange/Oakville in an elimination game Tuesday in North Haven.

The winner of the Pod advances to the Southern Division Super Regional.

Dawkins led off the bottom of the ninth by reaching on an error.

After two batters failed to move Dawkins along, Skarad came to the plate.

After taking the first pitch high and tight, Skarad unloaded, sending the ball deep to left and over the wall for the win.

North Haven had a golden opportunity to win in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs on a walk, a single by Kevin Lucey and an intentional walk to David Christoforo.

Stamford pitcher Matt Wirz was able to escape the jam, getting a force out at home and finishing the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

“It was a good game all around, on both sides but we had four innings of opportunity in this game where we didn’t cash in and that, right there, is the game,” North Haven coach Tim Binkoski said. “Going against the No. 1 seed and they gave us opportunities but we failed to take advantage of them. I felt like we should have had the game in seven but we didn’t and it went to extras and it didn’t go our way.”

Stamford scored first with two runs in the bottom of the third with TJ Wainwright driving in one with a double down the left-field line and Reid Gesualdi plating another with a single to right.

North Haven wasted no time tying the game on a two-run blast to right by Christoforo in the top of the fourth.

Stamford went back up 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Dawkins, scoring Shane Hackett from third.

North Haven would tie it in the fifth.

Owen Silk singled to right and Mason Balmer followed with a single of his own to right but the ball got past the rightfielder for an error, allowing Silk to sprint all the way around the bases and score.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Jaden Dawkins, Stamford: The leftfielder bunted for a single, scored two runs and drove in another for Stamford.

QUOTABLE

“(Skarad) is a competitor. He got a good pitch to hit and he turned on it,” Stamford coach Kevin Murray said. “That’s a great baseball game. Hats off to North Haven. They battled, their kids threw strikes and (Christoforo) is a game-changer. Anybody makes a mistake, you are going to lose that game. We had to gamble and we did by walking (Christoforo) to load the bases with no outs. It was a huge gamble but it paid off and worked out for us, today.”

Sericson@stamfordadvocate.com; @EricsonSports

STAMFORD 5, NORTH HAVEN 3

North Haven 000 210 000—3 6 2

Stamford 002 100 002—5 9 2

Batteries: NH—Dan Meyers, Jason Massaro (L, 8) and David Christoforo; S—Matt Tiplady, Chris Candito (5), Matt Wirz (W, 7) and Joey Skarad

TRUMBULL — Naugatuck’s Derrick Jagello threw two-hit ball to lead Post 17 to a 4-0 victory over Trumbull on Sunday. With the victory, Naugatuck advances to the American Legion 19U state tournament Pod H winner’s bracket finals at Naugatuck High on Wednesday.

Trumbull, which opened with a 3-1 win over Meriden. will play host to Wallingford at Trumbull High on Tuesday at 4:30. The winner will need to defeat Post 17 twice (game times 1; if game at 8) to move onto the Super Regionals in Meriden.

“We play as a team,” said the right-handed Jagello, a rising senior at Naugatuck High. “I throw three pitches and I was able to get them over today for strikes. My guys got me the runs I needed and played great defense.”

Naugy scored two unearned runs in the second inning and added single runs in the third and fifth innings.

“Derrick pounded the strike zone and got first-pitch strikes,” Naugatuck manager Mark Nofri said. “He was getting his curve and changeup over, and then keeping Trumbull off balance with his fastball. Nathan Deptula is our ace and shutout Wallingford 5-0 on Saturday. Nathan is 1; Derrick is 1A and our defense played well behind them both.”

Zach Bedryczuk led off the Naugy second with a single, the first of eight hits for the Zone 5 Southern Division runners-up. Jagello then reached on the first of two Trumbull errors in the inning. Mark Nofri singled home a run.

Post 141, the Zone 4 Southeast Division champs, looked to get out of the jam when catcher Kevin Bruggeman took a return throw from shortstop Chis Brown on a double steal try and tagged out Jagello for out number two. Mike Natkiel reached on an error and the second run crossed the plate.

Nick Bruno opened the Naugy third with a single and was sacrificed into scoring position by Justin Marks. Ryan Vawter had one of his four strikeouts, but the first of two singles by Austin Verab took the lead to 3-0.

Naugatuck strung together two-out singles from Jagello, Verab and Mark Nofri (RBI) and it was 4-0 midway through the fifth.

Jagello no-hit Trumbull for five innings, giving up a second-inning walk to Dan Massaro and hitting Greg Kaufmann with a pitch with one out in the fifth.

After the walk in the second, Chris Briganti reached on a fielder’s choice that failed to register an out. Jagello notched one of his six strikeouts and then started a 1-6-3 double play turned by Bedryczuk. With Kaufmann on first in the fifth, Bedryczuk went deep into the hole at shortstop and threw to Mark Nofri for the force out at second.

Tim Lojko led off the home sixth with a double down the left field line to break up the no-no. Jagello got the next three outs, the second when Zack Graveline gloved Bruggeman’s low liner to third.

Kaufmann registered Trumbull’s second hit with two out in the seventh.

“I just told the kids that this is why the Legion tournament is better than the CIAC’s state tournament. It is double elimination. Today we didn’t bring our bats and their pitcher did a great job. We have our pitching lined up for Tuesday and (hopefully) Wednesday.”

william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com

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NAUGATUCK 4, TRUMBULL 0

NAUGATUCK 0201 010 0 — 4-8-0

TRUMBULL    000 000 0 — 0-2-3

Batteries: Naugatuck- Derrick Jagello (WP), and Mike Natkiel; Trumbull- Ryan Vawter (LP), Matt Delaney (7) and Kevin Bruggeman

Records: Naugatuck (2-0 (15-11); Trumbull 1-1 (19-7)

TRUMBULL— Cinderella will definitely be dancing at Saturday’s Connecticut Little League Baseball State Tournament in Willimantic.

The question is which Section 1 Cinderella will it be?

District 1 champion Darien earned its way into Monday’s Section 1 Little League Baseball Tournament final by eliminating District 2 champ Fairfield American, 7-4 on Sunday at Unity Park.

Waiting for Darien in the 5:30 p.m. battle at Unity Park is District 4 titlist Max Sinoway (North Haven). History weighs heavy as Darien last won a District crown in 1998. Sinoway’s last District championship banner came in 1967.

“This is crazy,” said Darien closer Aidan Elders. “Winning the District 1 crown was great. To be in the Section 1 final is hard to contemplate. But we know that we’ve beaten the best to get here.”

Indeed. There will be no shot at an eighth Connecticut State Little League baseball title since 2010 for Fairfield American.

True to their motto, Fairfield American never gave up in the 100-degree heat Sunday. Fairfield American was simply beaten by a better squad in Darien.

“Our kids worked so hard all summer. I am so proud of everything they accomplished this postseason,” said Fairfield American manager Dan Seek. “To be District 2 champs and beat great programs like Trumbull and Westport along the way was an amazing step. Today, Darien played a big, big game.”

Darien had control of the emotional tiller in Sunday’s contest.

Carson Dodder’s double and Cooper Seek’s RBI gave Fairfield American a 1-0 edge in the top of the first.

But Darien answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Will Barber’s RBI single and Tyler Easterbrook’s run-scoring squeeze bunt were the key hits.

Darien made it 5-1 against Fairfield American starter Seek in the third. Legs were key as Darien had two delayed steals, scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in the uprising.

Darien starter Merritt Hole was valiant until two outs in the top of the fourth.

Hole (56 pitches) allowed a run-scoring wild pitch, a walk along with Dodder’s RBI single and Seek’s RBI double. That brought Fairfield American to 5-4.

Darien manager Wes Yusko turned to his closer, Aidan Elders.

A strikeout left the two men stranded in scoring position. Elders stranded two more runners in the fifth. Elders’ infield hit led to two Darien runs in the bottom of the fifth for 7-4.

Still Fairfield American (nine runners left on base) brought the potential tying run to the plate with two outs in the sixth. However, Elders induced a game-ending fielder’s choice to secure Darien’s victory.

The bad news for Darien is since Elders threw more than 20 pitches to get the final seven outs, he is unavailable to pitch in Monday’s final against Sinoway.

rdepreta@stamfordadvocate.com

DARIEN 7, FAIRFIELD AMERICAN 4

At Unity Park, Trumbull

FAIRFIELD AMERICAN     100 300—4 8 2
DARIEN                             302 20x—7 7 1

Batteries: FA—Cooper Seek (L), Will Kane (5) and Jackson Frame. D—Merritt Hole (W), Aidan Elders (4, save) and Jack Nee.

A 90th birthday part for former legendary Wilbur Cross boys basketball coach Robert Saulsbury will be held Aug. 4 at Cascade in Hamden from 2 to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $65 per person. Tables of 10 will be available to be reserved in advance at a reduced price. Checks can be made out to: Nuts About Health, Inc., which is a 501(c) 3 non-profit Proceeds will benefit the Robert H. Saulsbury Scholarship Fund.

For more information, contact Sharon Bradford at (475) 220-7527, Neil Richardson at (203) 376-1385 Dwight Ware (203) 410-8912 or Reggie Hayes (203) 865-4270

Hand HOF

Ten people will be inducted into the Madison Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Madison Beach Hotel.

The 10 people are: Jan Carroll (honored posthumously as an exemplary contributor); Michael Ciotti (1986) football and baseball and coached football from 2006-2017; Sarah (Ellis) Enos (1997), former standout in soccer, basketball and track and field; Larry (Buddy) Hall (1968) for basketball and baseball; Shane Kokoruda (1991), ex-lacrosse standout; Becky (Lutz) Hall (2007), also an ex-lacrosse standout; Ryan Nizolek (2006) for both football and lacrosse; Brian Parri (1987) and Stephen Parri (1987), both for soccer; and Blythe (Wygonik) Pariseault (1997), a former swimming standout.

Inductees will also be honored the following evening at the halftime of the home football game at Strong Field. Tickets for the induction ceremony are $50 and can be reserved at www.madisonhalloffame.org. For additional questions, contact Chris Lena at cdlena63@gmail.com.

Amity HOF

The Amity Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame will induct six new members at the annual Amity Hall of Fame/Hall of Honor Dinner on Oct. 24 at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange at 5:30 p.m.

The 2019 inductees include: Gary Lindgren, former ice hockey coach and school counselor; Patricia Mascia, former girls basketball and field hockey coach and physical education teacher; Dawn Stanton (1986), ex-girls indoor and outdoor track & field standout; Ted Czepiga (2004) former football standout and coach who also played lacrosse; Chris Diette (2004), who participated in swimming and lacrosse; and Amanda (Vargo) Zapatka (2004), a former standout in both soccer and basketball.

Dinner tickets are $50 in advance with a purchase deadline of Oct. 8. Make checks made payable to the Amity Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame and send to Amity High School Athletic Department Att. Lori Bonney 25 Newton Rd. Woodbridge CT 06525.

Shelton HOF

Seven people will be inducted into the 2019 Shelton High School Hall of Fame on Oct. 20 at The Stone Barn Restaurant in Monroe.

The inductees are: Bill Banfe, former housemaster and headmaster of Shelton Intermediate School and was involved in high school football for over 20 years; Elaine Biercevicz-Piazza (1964), a former softball standout who pitched for the Raybestos Brakettes, has been inducted into several other halls of fame and was Lyman hall’s athletic director for 27 years; Ken Bobowick, a longtime science teacher and golf coach; Ed Finn, a legendary football and track coach who has the school’s stadium named in his honor; Maurice “Moe” Martin (1952), who helped the Gaels win their only CIAC state boys basketball championship in 1952; John McNamara, a longtime teacher and marching band leader; and Don Ramia (1964), a former standout football player.

The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Checks can be made payable to Shelton High School Hall of Fame and sent to: Shelton High School Hall of Fame, 120 Meadow Street, Shelton, CT 06484, c/o John Niski. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Oct 10.

For more information, contact Niski at jniski@sheltonpublicschools.org.

GREENWICH — Played under ominous dark clouds with clashes of thunder in the distance, Monday’s Junior American Legion State Tournament game between Greenwich and Orange surprisingly made it to the sixth inning, as heavy rain eluded the area in the early evening.

Then came the rainfall that was expected.

With Orange Legion Post 27 holding a 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning of the opening round of the Connecticut American Legion 17-Under State Tournament at Greenwich High School, play was suspended due to steady rain that hit the area. The game is scheduled to be completed Tuesday in Greenwich and will be picked up with Orange batting in the sixth inning.

There was discussion as to whether the game would be continued, or if Orange would be declared the winner, since five innings were completed. Both coaches made calls to league officials, but nothing was immediately confirmed after play was suspended.

Cannons co-coach Phil Tarantino confirmed with American Legion officials Monday night that a postseason game that followed this type of scenario must be completed.

Orange scored one run in the first inning two in the third and added one more in the fourth. Right-hander Owen Leszczak scattered five hits in five innings for Orange.

“He did well, throwing strikes throughout,” Orange coach Joe Kiwanis said of Leszczak said. “All year, he has consistently been our No. 1 pitcher. He always hits spots low in the zone and makes guys work. He doesn’t leave anything up and he works in the curve ball well.”

Tarantino, who coaches the team with Frank Carbino, liked how his squad swung the bat.

“I thought we swung the bats aggressively and made good contact,” Tarantino said. “We played good defense as well. Their pitcher threw strikes and did a good job of changing speeds.”

Orange’s first run came when Cannons left-hander Carson Bylciw was charged with a balk with runners on first and third in the opening inning. Luke Hauser, who led off the inning with a walk, scored on the balk, making it 1-0.

Bylciw pitched out of a second-and-third jam in the second inning, before Orange extended its advantage in the third inning. Leszcak helped his own cause, lining a two-run single to right center field, scoring Benjamin Daddio and Drew Visnic and giving Orange a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Visnic delivered an RBI single, putting the visitors ahead, 4-0.

“Everyone came up to the plate with a good approach,” Kiwanis said. “Their pitcher threw strikes and we were able to put it in play.”

Cannons pitcher Shane McLaughlin relieved Bylciw with one out in the third inning. He was effetive, yielding one run in three innings.

“Shane pitched very well, he kept us in the game and mixed his pitches really well.”

Miles Walker singled twice, while Michael D’Arcangelo, Nick Alonzi and McLaughlin had one single apiece for Greenwich. Hauser and Visnic each doubled, while John Turski, Leszczak and Aidan Altorelli singled for the victors.

“We are down only four runs and we’ve scored a lot of runs so far this season, so tomorrow (Tuesday) is a new day,” Tarantino said.

If the game cannot be completed Tuesday due to inclement weather, it will be finished on Wednesday.

dfierro@greenwichtime.com

Evan Kelley feels like he was born to coach girls basketball at Norwalk.

His pedigree with the Bears runs deep as his mother, Robin Peoples, played for the girls team, winning a state championship as part of the 1981 squad.

Kelley’s connection to the school continued as a player at Norwalk, graduating in 2010 as one of the team’s all-time leading scorers.

Last season, he joined coach Ricky Fuller’s staff as an assistant on the girls team which won the CIAC Class LL state championship.

Now, Kelley is the new head coach of the Norwalk girls basketball team, taking over for Fuller, who resigned this spring.

“It means a lot to get this job with the team coming off such a great season. It’s a great job to walk into,” Kelley said. “Norwalk basketball means so much to me. Not just because I played here but my mom played for the girls team at Norwalk. She graduated in 1982. That makes getting this job even more special. Norwalk basketball has always been a big part of my life.”

With the team winning the FCIAC and Class LL last season and plenty of talent returning for this upcoming season, the job posting drew a good amount of interest from coaching hopefuls.

“We had a very strong candidate pool,” Norwalk athletic director Doug Marchetti said. “Ultimately, the committee thought Evan had a terrific interview and was the selection. He did a great job with the team last year, he has a strong connection to the school and a familiarity with the kids. We needed someone strong. The girls know they will have targets on their backs after such a great season and we needed a coach that understood that.”

Kelley understands that not only will the players carry a target, but so will he as a former Norwalk legend on the court.

“That will be more pressure on the girls and more pressure on me as a new coach,” Kelley said. “The girls are ready for it. I saw how well they handled pressure last year. We will work on it in practice though and be ready for everyone’s best game. They know I want to push them so we can get back.”

Kelley said he feels the valuable time spent working with the players last season will make the transition a smooth one.

As a player, Kelley scored 1,202 points in his high school career, including averaging 25.6 points per game as a senior, being named First-Team All-FCIAC and Class L All-State.

He then scored 1,194 points, playing in 117 games at Sacred Heart University.

After graduating from Sacred Heart, Kelley played in the Latvia Basketball League for a year before moving into the coaching ranks.

This is Kelley’s first head coaching job.

He was an assistant coach for two seasons at St. Luke’s before joining the Norwalk girls staff last season.

Sericson@stamfordadvocate.com; @EricsonSports

Mike Masse, who coached at Manchester from 1989-2003, has been hired as interim coach for the RHAM football team, according to the Journal-Inquirer of Manchester.

Masse, 71, will coach for just one season, while RHAM searches for a replacement for Rob Rubin. Masse served as an assistant under Rubin.

Rubin left in June to take a position as running back’s coach at American International College, a Division II program competing in the Northeast-10 with the likes of New Haven and Southern Connecticut.

RHAM was 8-2 last season.

Masse led Manchester to a 10-0 regular season and a Class LL state title appearance against Naugatuck in 1993.

JI: Masse to be RHAM interim coach

BRISTOL — There are four teams battling for a spot in the Little League Softball World Series — and no one is in better position to advance to Portland, Oregon than Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania handed Connecticut champion Milford its first defeat, 10-0 in five innings, in the fourth game of the day at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center’s J. Breen Field on Tuesday night.

Alizabeth Schuler was the difference maker for Pennsylvania. She slugged three long triples, scored three runs, including the 10 run-rule decisive tally in the bottom of the fifth.

Schuler also handcuffed the strong Milford lineup from the pitching circle.

After Rhode Island ousted Massachusetts 11-1 to earn a spot in the final four, New York had to come back and play New Jersey in the day’s second knockout game. New Jersey shut down New York, 5-0, after Ozone Park had scored 12, 10 and 12 runs in their first three outings.

Rhode Island (3-1) will take on New Jersey (3-1) on Wednesday at 1. NJ defeated RI 8-2 in the first game of the regional. The winner advances to play Milford (3-1) at 4.

The winner of that game will meet 3-0 Pennsylvania for the title on Thursday at noon.

Schuler launched a leadoff triple to start a four-run first-inning that saw the club from South Williamsport send nine batters to the plate. Sage Lorson doubled home a run. Two more crossed on pitches to the backstop, and the fourth came home on Lacey Kriebal’s sacrifice fly.

“Getting a lead like that (six runs) takes all the pressure off,” said Schuler, who struck out four. “Hitting was contagious once we went through the lineup.”

Schuler’s drive to the fence in left-center field was good for three bases to start the second. That brought about a pitching change with Talia Salanto coming in for Madyson Bull. Lily Reidy drove home Schuler with a double. Salanto struck out two around an RBI single by Kendall Cardone and it was 6-0 after two.

“I’ve never seen a softball hit like that (at a youth level),” Pennsylvania manager Cory Goodman said of Schuler’s second triple.

Schuler continued her stellar pitching as well. She limited Milford, which was batting .422 as a team, to one hit. In the first two games, Schuler gave up eight hits and two earned runs. She struck out 13 batters and didn’t allow a walk.

“That team can hit, boy,” Milford manager Scott Worzel said. “We’ve been dominant on the mound, but tonight we struggled. Today was an emotional rollercoaster. I think maybe it was too much in one day. I’d rather be blanked like this 10-0 then lose a close one in three hours. We’ll be back tommorow.”

Pennsylvania scored three times in the fourth.

Schuler tripled into the left-field corner to begin the fifth. She hustled home on a fielder’s choice putout at first.

For Milford, Bull singled with one out in the top of the first.

Avery Falco drew the first walk in the regional off Schuler when she took a 3-2 pitch for a free pass to open the third. Kriebel made a fine playing coming in on Judy Tarczali’s liner into the gap for the first out. Falco went to third on a fielder’s choice grounder and a wild pitch. But Chelsea Harrison stayed with a curving fly ball to left by Bull to end the inning.

Angelina Robinson reached on an infield error with two down in the fourth, as Schuler set down 9-of-10 batters.

EXTRA-INNING EXTRAVAGANZA

Milford had defeated New York, 12-10, in the morning. Milford took a 6-1 lead and then rallied back from a 9-9 tie after regulation to win with three runs in the top of the seventh.

Judy Tarczali, who had started the game, came back in relief in the final frame. New York had a run across and the tying run on second base when Tarczali put the last out in the book. Tarczali had a hit and drove in two runs.

Talia Salanto led an 11-hit attack with three singles, good for two RBIs and two runs scored. Grace Hess, who had a key RBI single in extra innings, and Mya Dawid (run scored) had two hits each.

Avery Falco had five quality at bats, including a hit, three walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Teagan Garfield scored a run and had a big two-out run scoring single.

Madyson Bull stroked an RBI double and scored a run. Kelsea Flanagan drove in a run, scored a run and had a base hit. Angelina Robinson scored two runs. Emily Krauss and Haley Stroffolino each crossed the plate once.

New York’s Alexa Nolan had three hits, with two doubles and three runs scored from the leadoff position.

william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com

PENNSYLVANIA 10, CONNECTICUT 0

CONNECTICUT 000 00—0 1 1

PENNSYLVANIA 423 00—10 12 1

Batteries: Connecticut – Madyson Bull (LP), Talia Salanto (2) and Mya Dawid; Pennylvania – Alizabeth Schuler (WP) and Lily Reidy

Records: Connecticut 2-1; Pennsylvania 3-0

WASHINGTON DEPOT — Washington’s Austin Swanson put an end to a day of teases, if not outright frustration, with a line drive to right center field that brought C.J. Brito racing in for a 4-3 walk-off win over Greenwich in the bottom of the seventh inning at Ted Alex Field Tuesday evening.

The third-round American Legion State Baseball Tournament game followed a steaming-hot first two rounds producing 1-1 records for both teams in the double-elimination tournament.

So, in this knockout game, while undefeated Hamden waited for the winner today, weather was the first tease, dropping 20 degrees with just enough rain to make playability uncertain.

Washington’s Ted Alex Field passed the weather test while Swanson endured his own personal frustration with a lost set of car keys at work.

“I got here late, so coach told me he’d try to put me in at the right spot,” said Swanson, Washington’s leadoff hitter over the weekend.

That spot looked a long way off after Greenwich (15-11) started the game with three runs in the top of the first inning, on hits by Sean Pratley (run scored); Harrison Feinberg (2-for-4, double, triple, RBI, run); Ian Colalucci (RBI, run) and a Washington error.

But the bottom of the inning locked Greenwich into the frustration game along with Washington (20-7).

The Zone 5 champions answered Greenwich with two runs on a leadoff hit by Connor Gannon (4-for-4, 2 runs, double); two walks and a Greenwich error, then evened the score in the third inning with a leadoff hit by Gannon and an RBI single from Joe Brunelli.

Meanwhile, Washington pitcher Zach Prahach recovered from the rocky start, zipping through the next three innings with just one more Greenwich hit along with five strikeouts before nearing his Legion pitch limit at the end of the fourth.

Greenwich complete-game pitcher Alex Roath sailed past the third with the help of the Cannons’ second double play, then stranded Washington chances in the fifth and sixth innings on a leadoff double by Gannon in the fifth and Tim Cianciolo’s efforts in the sixth when a single, sacrifice and steal got him to third.

Still, Washington’s frustrations in the 3-3 struggle paled in comparison with the teases for Greenwich.

Washington reliever Gannon took the mound in the fifth. Feinberg blasted a one-out triple to the right centerfield fence, then licked his chops while Hunter Gruenstrass drew a walk only to wither as Washington pulled out a 6-4-3 double play to leave him rooted on third.

The next inning seemed even worse for the Cannons. With two outs in the sixth, Ben Nash hammered a double, then took off for home as Miles Langhorne lofted a long hit to deep center field.

Washington’s Chance Dutcher threw on a line to the plate, nailing Nash by three feet.

With so many lives, Washington seemed certain to live with destiny — or die from it. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Gannon smacked his fourth straight hit, then lost a stealing race to second on a throw from catcher Gruenstrass.

C.J. Brito and Brunelli walked.

At last, Coach Mike Kersten had the right spot for Swanson, sending him up to pinch hit.

Swanson’s line drive to right center field brought Brito home to a dancing Washington team.

“He put the bat on the ball,” Kersten said.

“Both sides played well. Both sides had opportunities. They cashed theirs in,” Greenwich coach Rich Abate said. “It was baseball the way it should be played.”

Now Washington faces its biggest challenge yet. Kersten pressed hard for commitments from 11 team members for today’s possible doubleheader at Hamden High School, thanks to work and other commitments in the dwindling head count.

After losing to Hamden 6-2 Sunday, Washington must win twice today to move on to the tournament’s next phase, beginning Saturday. The do-or-die first game begins at 1 p.m. If Washington wins, the second game follows shortly after.

WASHINGTON 4, GREENWICH 3

GREENWICH 300 000 0 – 3 7 1
WASHINGTON 201 000 1 – 4 9 1

WP: Connor Gannon. LP: Alex Roath. 3B: G – Harrison Feinberg. 2B: G – Feinberg; Ben Nash. W – Gannon.
Records: Greenwich 15-11; Washington 20-7.

CHESHIRE — The Cheshire Senior American Legion team could not have dreamed about how smoothly the Pod E final would go.

Cheshire scored four times in the bottom of the first inning and cruised from there, beating Danbury 10-0 in 5 innings Wednesday afternoon.

Cheshire advances to the Southern Division Super Regionals at Ceppa Field in Meriden beginning Saturday.

With the easy win, Cheshire avoided an “if” game against Danbury later in the day.

It also wrapped up its pod a day before most teams will play their finals since Danbury was able to get in its game against Stratford the night before while most games were rained out.

Cheshire will be the top seed in the Southern Division Super Regional.

The tone was set for Cheshire right away in the first inning.

With the bases loaded and one out, the Danbury pitcher uncorked a wild pitch for ball four to Andrew Declement, forcing in Ben Schena from third.

On the wild pitch, Ryan Strollo never stopped running, sprinting to third and rounding the bag before deciding to go for home.

Strollo dove head-first into home ahead of the tag, putting Cheshire up 2-0 and sparking some excitement in his teammates.

“I knew it was ball four and I was going to third anyway, so, I might as well sprint to third and see if I had a chance to go home. I did and I went for it,” Strollo said. “It can get a lot of people going. I know when I came into the dugout, all the kids were excited. We got a lot of momentum after that.”

Ian Battapaglia would score on another wild pitch in the inning and Declement came in on a sacrifice fly by Paul Villecco.

Cheshire scored two more in the second on a RBI-single to right by Strollo, scoring Schena and Eli Battapaglia.

They got one more in the third when Eli Battapaglia drove in Villecco with a single to left-centerfield. Cheshire put up three more in the fourth on RBI-hits by Villecco, Ben Shadeck and Luca Raccio.

For Danbury, the magic, and pitching, finally ran out in the Pod final.

Still, Danbury came a long way from 0-24 in 2018 to a Pod final in 2019.

“We had a great year. Our primary objective was to turn the program around knowing where it has been the last few years and we accomplished that,” Danbury coach Dave Simone said. “Tough day, here but we just ran out of pitching. That’s a good ball club over there and they play the game the right way. From 0-24 to a pod final is something to be proud of.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Michael Bankowski, Cheshire. With his offense scoring away, Bankowski was on point. He allowed just one hit over five innings, striking out four to earn the win.

QUOTABLE

“Bankowski pitched great and we put the bat on the ball and took advantage of some miscues on the bases,” Cheshire coach John Escoto said. “That’s what (Strollo) does. Battapaglia too and Schena. They are aggressive on the bases and they make teams pay. They know how to take advantage.”

CHESHIRE 10, DANBURY 0 (5 INNINGS)

DANBURY 000 00—0 1 1
CHESHIRE 421 3X—10 8 1
Batteries: D—Ryan Dilillo (L), Frailyn Rodriguez (2), Chris Marmolejos (4) and Josh Lopez; C—Michael Bankowski (W) and Andrew Declement

HAMDEN — Hamden’s Tyler Osborne was the final, most convincing hero in a long string of them through an American Legion Baseball state tournament seventh- and eighth-round doubleheader Wednesday at Hamden High School, sending Hamden Post 88 to the tournament’s next phase at Meriden’s Ceppa Field this Saturday.

Osborne, a rising sophomore at Division II College of Saint Rose in Albany, hammered in three of Hamden’s second-game runs to finally send Washington home with its second loss, 4-1, in the tournament’s double elimination play-in phase.

The star third baseman’s two-run triple and solo moonshot homer were part of Hamden’s return to form after Washington (21-8) stunned Post 88 (23-7) with six seventh-inning runs in an 8-5 win in the first game.

Before that, Hamden sailed through two rounds undefeated, including a 6-2 win over Washington.

Wednesday, one win would punch Hamden’s ticket to Meriden, but Washington, Zone 5’s champions, came with a depleted team that wasn’t prepared to lie down.

Nevertheless, Hamden starter Brendan Kirck threw three no-hit innings after Hamden scored twice in the first inning.

“We’re sitting in the dugout saying, ‘We just can’t get no-hit or shut out,” said Washington leadoff hitter Austin Swanson.

Meanwhile, Washington’s C.J. Brito, making his first start of the summer, trucked on for four shutout innings of his own after the first.

“C.J.’s an athlete,” said Washington coach Mike Kersten. “Whatever he’s going to do, he’s going to do it well.”

Washington ended the no-hitter and the shutout with a run in the fourth, on a double by Tim Cianciolo and a pair of Hamden errors helped Joe Brunelli around the base paths after a walk.

They tied it in the top of the sixth on a single by Brito and another Hamden error, but Hamden took back the lead with a clutch sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Julian Vivenzio after walks to Osborne and Henry Bielin.

“With our seven, eight nine hitters coming up, I was ready to let the other kids play,” said Kersten.

But suddenly, Washington turned into murderers’ row, with six hits and an error, starting with Dom Perachi through doubles by Swanson, Brito, Cianciolo and Connor Gannon.

Two more Hamden runs just dented Washington’s 8-3 lead.

If the real Washington stood up in the first game, the real Hamden was ready for the second.

Chance Dutcher, another first-time starter, took the ball for Washington. Zach Hazan, part of the first-game Washington pounding got the call for Hamden.

“They’re the best team I’ve pitched against all year,” Hazan said. “They were hitting my fastball in the first game when I was just trying to get it over. In the second game, I had to really pitch.”

“I believe in what we do,” said Hamden coach Ray Guarino.

Belief paid off in the top of the third after two scoreless innings. Cullin Florio walked; Jake Pisano singled; Osborne batted them home with a two-run triple to the right field wall.

“I know how much this means to everyone — especially our coach,” said Osborne, who wears a T-shirt under his uniform, along with the rest of the team, inscribed, “Win it for Coach Ray.”

Guarino is battling multiple myelitis and his team battles it right alongside him.

A groundout by Bielen got Osborne home with Hamden’s third run. Osborne put it over the left center field fence in the top of the seventh for the fourth.

Washington put up a run in the fourth inning on hits by Ganon and Perachi and a sacrifice fly by Owen Hibbard, but Hamden was also ready to show its defense this game.

In the sixth inning, Washington’s Swanson hit a bomb to left field with Nick DiCandido on second. Hamden left fielder Florio crashed into the fence making the catch, got up as DiCandido tagged up for third, and made the throw through shortstop C.J. Kusellias to catch DiCandido at third.

“Our defense has been tremendous all year,” said Coach Guarino. “We don’t just want to win the game. We want to do much more. We want to develop the kids for bigger things.”

WASHINGTON 8, HAMDEN 5

At Hamden High School

Washington 000 101 6 — 8 8 2
Hamden 200 001 2 — 5 8 3

WP: C.J. Brito. LP: Mike Aceto. 2B: W — Austin Swanson; Brito; Tim Cianciolo; Connor Gannon. H — Jake Pisano.
Records: Washington 21-7; Hamden 22-7.

Hamden 4, Washington 1

At Hamden High School

Hamden 003 000 1 — 4 10 1

Washington 000 100 0 — 1 6 0

WP: Zach Hazan. LP: Chance Dutcher. HR: H — Tyler Osborne. 3B: H — Osborne. 2B: H — Henry Bielen; Ron Desroches.

Records: Hamden 23-7; Washington 21-8.

TRUMBULL — An excellent summer just became an unforgettable one for the Max Sinoway of North Haven Little League Baseball All-Stars.

Sinoway captured its first Section 1 Little League title Wednesday night as it defeated Darien 7-1 at Unity Park.

District 4 champion Sinoway advances to the state tournament in Willimantic, where it will battle District 6 and Section 2 champ Simsbury Saturday at 5 p.m. in the four-team, double-elimination bracket.

“It feels great to be making the first trip ever for our league to the Connecticut state tournament,” Sinoway hitter extraordinaire Alex Bowery said. “It’s great to be a part of history.”

After waiting through two days of rainouts, Sinoway and Darien battled through a dramatic final Wednesday night.

Scoreless through four innings, the Sinoway offense broke out with four runs in the top of the fifth and three more in the sixth to secure the triumph.

Sinoway right-hander Jordan Higgins kept Darien (6-3 in the postseason) at bay. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth before Leo Zawacki’s opposite-field, leadoff single to right.

Higgins struck out six and walked one in an economical 60-pitch performance.

“I don’t get nervous in the big games. My curve and fastball were working. My changeup was my out pitch,” Higgins said. “I was thinking about a no-hitter in the sixth.”

To make sure Higgins had the Little League mandated rest for the states, Sinoway turned things over to closer Chris Cretella.

Darien managed two more hits and its lone run, but Cretella got the final three outs (two strikeouts) to kick off a grand North Haven celebration.

Sinoway lefty pinch-hitter Alex Bowery was in the middle of both late rallies. He stroked two doubles to right field good for three RBIs.

“I try to hit the ball hard every time up,” said Bowery, a Red Sox fan. “If the first pitch is in my zone, I try to drive it.”

The seeds of Sinoway’s success (9-1 this postseason) came out of a bit of disappointment last summer. Sinoway lost in the District 4 final.

“We had a great team last year,” Bowery said. “We knew that we’d come back strong this summer. It’s so cool to be part of Connecticut Little League Baseball’s Final Four (Section champs). Now we want to do our best in the states.”

Sinoway played errorless defense Wednesday night. Darien, which had been fundamental sound in its postseason run, hurt itself with four errors in the last two innings. Darien starter Tom Karczewski had four scoreless innings with four strikeouts in 62 pitches.

“We played every game cleanly in the field to get here. Tonight things just got away from us,” Darien manager Wes Yusko said. “It’s baseball. It happens. It was an amazing run. I loved every second of it. These kids gave me so much. They are down right now. But they will realize what a bright baseball future they will all have.”

rdepreta@stamfordadvocate.com

MAX SINOWAY 7, DARIEN 1

At Unity Park, Trumbull

MAX SINOWAY 000 043—7 7 0
DARIEN 000 001—1 3 4
Batteries: MS—Jordan Higgins (W), Chris Cretella (6) and Chris Cretella, Jaden Wells (4). D—Tom Karczewski (L), Aidan Elders (5), Taylor Campbell (6) and Jack Nee.

BRISTOL — Pennsylvania scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and completed its unbeaten run through the regional with a 3-2 victory over Connecticut champion Milford at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center at Leon J. Breen Field on Saturday.

Pennsylvania will compete in the Little League World Series in Portland, Ore. from Aug 7-14.

Milford had last swings and had hope after Madyson Bull was hit by a pitch leading off the sixth.

Talia Salanto then ripped a line shot that was snared by Pennsylvania second baseman Gianna Goodman, who doubled the speedy Bull off first. Pennsylvania ended pitcher Alizabeth Schuler ended the drama with a strikeout.

“I told the girls that they made our town and state proud,” Milford manager Scott Worzel said. “We had the leadoff runner on. If that ball gets through. … Hats off to Pennsylvania, that was a great defensive play.”

Pennsylvania (4-0) broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth.

Schuler doubled, and an error put runners on second and third. Sage Lorson lofted a fly ball to left field. Schuler scored, but Milford pitcher Judy Tarczali cut off Grace Hess’ throw and fired to Salanto covering second to double off the runner.

Aggressive baserunning has been a staples for Milford throughout the postseason, and Thursday was no expection.

Bull turned a Mya Dawid single into the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. Bull used her quickness to beat out a one-out bunt single. Dawid singled up the middle, and when the ball was bobbled, Bull took off for third. Sliding in safely, she scored when the ball got away.

“The first day I got to watch all the games and I saw Connecticut was a great team,” Pennsylvania manager Cory Goodman said. “We came out firing on all cylinders in that first game (a 10-0 win). Today, they played back (in the outfield), but we snuck a few in.”

Pennylvania had defeated New Jersey 4-2 and Massachusetts 5-1 to open the regional before putting together a 10-hit attack when Schuler one hit Milford on Tuesday night. Milford was coming off a 12-10 extra inning victory over New York earlier in the day.

Tarczali struck out two batters in Pennsylvania’s two-run second inning. A pair of one-out walks, an error on a fielder’s choice, and Gianna Goodman’s RBI single to right made it 2-1.

The toughest out for Tarczali came when she enticed Schuler to pop out to Bull at first with two down and two runners in scoring position. Schuler had hit three triples the first time the teams met.

“Judy did a great job mixing pitches and her spots,” Worzel said. “We won a lot of games by being aggressive and we didn’t change our approach. The girls played awesome.”

Milford’s Angelina Robinson delivered home the tying run in the bottom of the fourth.

Dawid walked. Taking the extra base again proved vital for Milford, as she went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third when the ball was misplayed. Robinson ground out to the right side to plate the run.

Milford’s Teagan Mulvihill singled to open the second and Haley Stroffolino bunted her to second. Schuler kept the ball in the infield to leave her stranded.

Robinson in center field made a great catch in the gap after Lily Reidy had singled in the third.

Tarczali allowed one earned run, gave up four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Schuler, who had struck out 13 batters and walked only one in her first two games in the circle, struck out three and walked one.

In the third, Salanto singled with two out and then stole second. She was called out on a steal of third. Milford had challenged a call on Bull’s bunt attempt earlier in the inning. It was ruled that there wasn’t enough video evidence to overturn the out call. He chose not to use his second video-review request on Santo’s play at third.

william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com

PENNSYLVANIA 3, CONNECTICUT 2

PENNSYLVANIA 020 010—3 4 2

CONNECTICUT 100 100—2 4 3

Batteries: CT — Judy Tarczali (LP) and Mya Dawid; PA — Alizabeth Schuler (WP) and Lily Reidy

Records: Connecticut 3-2; Pennsylvania 4-0

BRISTOL — Milford manager Scott Worzel liked the way his Connecticut state champions had taken to being the visiting team this summer. The plan was always to get the first crack at the scoreboard, then tack on runs from there.

That was the case when Milford put up a three-spot in the top of the first inning and defeated New Jersey 6-2 in the loser’s bracket final of the East Regional at Leon J. Breen Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Milford (3-1) will play unbeaten Pennsylvania (3-0) for the title on Thursday at noon. The winner advances to the Little League Softball World Series (Aug. 7-14) in Portland, Ore.

“The players ask ‘Are we home or away’ — I always say away. “They say ‘coach you stink at the coin flip,’ ” Worzel said. “We never get to choose because the team that calls it is the one that traveled furthest to the field. Districts were in Orange. We were always the closest team.

“Today, we had a clean game on defense, we threw strikes, and we got the hitting going early.”

Milford’s Judy Tarczali was a warrior in the pitching circle. Her only strikeout came in the sixth inning, but the right-hander made all the big pitches and let <FZ,1,0,63>her defense do the rest.

“At our meeting at the end of the game, I was going to mention that (one strikeout),” Tarczali said. “I wanted to tell them I rely on them. You don’t need strikeouts to get outs.”

Avery Falco had a hand in six outs from her third base position to lead a stellar infield performance from Talia Salanto at shortstop, Teagan Garfield at second and Madyson Bull at first base.

“Before every pitch, I just think about what I’m going to do if the ball is hit to me,” Falco said. “That way I’m not nervous. I just react to where the ball is hit.”

Garfield got the first-inning rally started with a single to right field. Mya Dawid, after a one-out walk to Salanto, grounded a single to center that scored Garfield. Salanto followed her home and slid under the tag on a wild throw. Grace Hess’ run-producing out, a grounder to the right side, plated Dawid. Teagan Mulvihill singled but was stranded.

New Jersey manager Scott Veisz saw his squad put up seven runs in the top of the first in their 9-4 elimination-game victory over Rhode Island earlier in the day. New Jersey won the coin toss and this time chose to get last ups. New Jersey had twice left foes on the field to advance out of its district tourney.

New Jersey’s Caroline Walls singled to lead off the home first, but Tarczali put two outs in the book. Dawid then made a strong throw to second to get Walls attempting to steal, with shortstop Bull making a quick slap tag.

The tack-on runs for Milford came in the third, and it was reserves producing the runs. Bull and Salanto began the frame with singles. Angelina Robinson’s knocked home Bull, who had singled, and Kelsea Flanagan plated a pair with a base hit to center.

New Jersey turned two hits and a walk into a run in the second. Lily Ondy had the RBI. Dawid-to-Bull ruined a double steal try with Bull’s tag coming before the run could cross the plate.

Milford’s infield continued to make plays in the bottom of the third. Falco accounted for her third assist with a strong throw to Garfield covering second for a force out. Bull went into the shortstop hole with two runners aboard and made a quick toss to Falco for the last out.

New Jersey loaded the bases in the fourth. But Bull at first base made a highlight-reel diving grab on a foul pop. Tarczali then popped up the next two batters.

Ziliani accounted for New Jersey’s second run when she doubled home Haley Krebs, who had a base hit to begin the fifth inning.

Garfield, Dawid (RBI), Mulvihill, Bull, Salato, Robinson (RBI), Grace Hess, who singled in the fifth, and Flanagan (2 RBIs) had hits for the balanced Milford roster.

CONNECTICUT 6, NEW JERSEY 2

CONNECTICUT 303 000—6 8 0
NEW JERSEY 010 010 —2 7 1

Batteries: Connecticut — Judy Tarczali (WP) and Mya Dawid; New Jersey — Katie Ziliani (LP), Sorella Gallucci (4) and Abby Veisz
Records: Connecticut 3-1; New Jersey 4-2

KILLINGWORTH — It may have taken more than 48 hours to complete, but Madison finished off its 6-3 victory over Mystic and clinched the Section 3 Championship on Wednesday night.

The game originally began on Monday and was postponed in the top of the fourth inning due to rain and lightning with Madison leading 6-0.

Johnny Reh started the game on the mound for Madison, firing three perfect innings with four strikeouts before having his start cut short by the weather.

Opposing Reh on the mound was Mystic Ace Trace Morales, a tall hard throwing right-hander with a history of dominance.

“We knew just by reputation that he was going to be a really great pitcher and we were going to be up against a great challenge,” Madison Manager James Maynard said. “Our kids have been battle tested in our district. We faced a lot of good pitching in order to win our district championship, so I told the boys to approach the game like we would any other game, and I told them we couldn’t go up there afraid even though he through hard. We have seen it before and the outcome was excellent.”

Excellent may even be an understatement as the Madison lineup put up one run in the first inning, taking advantage of an error before a five-run eruption in the third.

Reh led the inning off with a double and was driven in on a single by Chase Geremia. A batter later, William Patia drove in the third run of the game on a ground out to second base.

With one out and two on, Morris Selmani came off the bench as a pinch hitter and roped a triple to put his team ahead 5-0. He would score on a double by Shailen Pathy, who also came off the bench to pinch hit as Madison showed off how good of an offense it has.

An inning later the skies opened up and the players packed their bags for what would be a long two-day wait.

“Even though we were up 6-0 it was still very agonizing,” Maynard said. “It felt like torture this last day and a half just sitting around and waiting. We brought the kids in for batting practice today, spoke to them about the lead, we told them that we have to pretend it is a 0-0 game and not a 6-0 game and go into it with that kind of mentality.”

Chase Geremia took over on the mound for Reh once the game was resumed Wednesday, and he continued the dominating pitching performance, taking a combined no-hitter into the 6th inning.

Mystic rallied in the final inning, pushing three runs across on three hits before Geremia was able to record the final out, closing the book on the long awaited 6-3 victory.

“We are excited (for the next round),” Maynard said. “We were in the state final four as 10 year olds and we won the state championship. It was the first state championship in Madison Little League history for baseball and that was in the summer of 2017 so we are excited for the challenge and we’re hoping we can make another run.”

GREENWICH HIGH FALL SPORTS PRACTICE STARTING DATES

FOOTBALL: All football players will begin practice on Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. on Greenwich High’s field No. 7.

FOOTBALL: All freshmen football players will begin practice Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. on Greenwich’s field No. 6.

BOYS WATER POLO: Tryouts for all players will begin on Aug.19 at 8:30 a.m. and at 3 p.m. at the GHS pool.

GIRLS SOCCER: Tryouts for all sophomores, juniors and seniors will take place on Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at Greenwich High’s field No. 3. The tryouts will continue on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 on field 3.

GIRLS SOCCER: Tryouts for all freshmen will take place Aug. 31 and will continue Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. on Greenwich’s field 3.

BOYS SOCCER: Tryouts for all sophomores, juniors and seniors, will be held Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 at 5:15 p.m. and will continue Aug. 31 at 7:45 a.m. at Greenwich High’s field 6 and 7.

BOYS SOCCER: Freshman tryouts will take place Aug.31 and Sept. 1 at 7:45 a.m. at Greenwich’s field 6 and 7.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Tryouts are scheduled to be held Aug. 29 and August 30 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12 p.m. at the GHS gymnasium.

FIELD HOCKEY: Tryouts will take place Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 at 3:45 p.m. and again Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on field 4.

FIELD HOCKEY: Freshman tryouts are scheduled for Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m. and Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at 10:45am on field 4.

GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING: Tryouts are scheduled for Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. and Aug. 31 at 8:30 at GHS pool.

CROSS COUNTRY: Opening practice will take place Aug. 22nd at 8 a.m. at Cardinal Stadium.

CHEERLEADING: Opening practice for varsity, junior varsity, and freshman cheerleaders is slated for Aug. 19th at 9 a.m. and will continue Aug. 20-22 in at Greenwich High’s gymnasium.

DANCE: Tryouts for all varsity and junior varsity candidates will be held Sept. 5-6 at 3:30 p.m. in the GHS dance studio.

Please be reminded in order to participate: A student-athlete must be registered on the GHS Athletic Website by a parent/guardian. A parent/guardian must provide all emergency contact information, review the concussion management protocol and agree to follow the athletic code of conduct. The Greenwich High School health office must stamp and sign a health verification card to certify a current athletic physical examination is on file. The summer hours for the GHS health office are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CROMWELL — Right-hander Tyler Baldwin was back on the field for the top of the seventh inning before any of his Rocky Hill-Cromwell-Portland teammates could cross the first-base line.

The 5-foot-7 pitcher’s determination was on full display. All he wanted was to toe the rubber for three more outs and finish what turned out to be perhaps his best performance in a baseball uniform.

Baldwin fell one batter short of a perfect game in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Berlin at Fran Monnes Field. He allowed only a sixth-inning single, then got the next five outs in succession to keep RCP alive in the American Legion tournament’s sectional round.

“He’s been a rock the whole year,” RCP coach Paul Francis said. “It’s been a pretty unbelievable ride for him. He just fights and fights. He’s not the biggest kid, but he locates it well, and he’s not going to give in or let guys intimidate him.”

It was a study in economical pitching over 1 hour and 18 minutes. Baldwin threw 59 pitches. He allowed a grand total of five balls out of the infield. He induced 11 grounders, and RCP fielded each without an issue. He also struck out four.

Baldwin’s only close call with a walk occurred in the fifth inning, when the count went full on Ryan Smith. He struck him out on a fastball. Outside of that at-bat, Berlin did not face a hitter’s count better than 2-1.

“The kid did a very good job,” Berlin coach Gary Van Etten said. “He changed speeds well, but the best thing he did was he kept the ball down.”

RCP (16-9) continues its quest to advance out of pod play Thursday when it visits Southington (19-7) for possibly two games. Southington hasn’t lost in this stage of the tournament, meaning RCP would need to beat the 2018 state champion twice to keep its summer going.

“Last year we were in the same situation with Bristol,” Baldwin said, meaning Post 105 needed to win twice — and did — to extend its season. “This year, it’s Southington.”

After not reaching base in the first three innings against big Berlin right-hander Adam Bilinsky, RCP got on the board in the fourth.

Grant Collins led off with a line-drive single to center, the team’s first hard-hit ball off of Bilinsky. Nick Polizonis drove a 1-2 fastball deep into the gap in left-center, a hit that likely would have scored Collins if he better anticipated the ball falling.

Instead, Collins was held at third. Didn’t matter. He scored a few pitches later when Bryan Dinnis stroked a single into center field.

Austin Roy grounded to third for the first out. Berlin made the call to put Brett Thivierge on intentionally to load the bases and play for an out at home, but Bilinsky couldn’t find the plate. He ended up walking Cade Palladino on four pitches to force in RCP’s second run.

“Dinnis hit the ball hard,” Francis said. “We were ready to sacrifice after that, but Gary walks Thivierge. We had timely hitting, although tomorrow we’re going to have to hit a lot better than we did today.”

Baldwin got the first out of the sixth before Gianni Fanelli, one of team’s top players whose season was derailed by injury, was sent in to pinch hit. He saw a ball over the plate and drove it into center, where it fell in front of David Dewey and gave Berlin its only base runner of the game.

“I was glad with how he (played) it,” Baldwin said. “I’d rather have the ball drop than him stretching for it and it getting past him. That hitter is fast. It could have been worse.”

Fanelli was forced at second when the next batter, Cam Murphy, grounded to Roy at short. Baldwin got another ground ball, a roller to second off the bat of Justin Piskorski, to end the inning.

“Obviously, the whole game was about protecting the lead, and nothing changed with the hit,” Baldwin said. “The next batter, I stayed in the same rhythm and did the best I could with him.”

Bilinsky allowed only seven baserunners and four hits, two by Polizonis.

Van Etten lamented a rash of injuries that knocked out three of his best hitters for almost the entire season. Berlin finished 14-13.

“I’m happy with the year we had with the players who were healthy enough to play,” he said. “We got into the tournament and won a game. We’ll reload for next year.”