Waterford Claims State Title with Win Over South Windsor

MIDDLETOWN - The Waterford American Legion baseball squad dominated in Zone 6 competition this summer and performed exceptionally well throughout the state championship.

And the athletes claim they aren't finished yet.

Trace Morales pitched a complete game shutout, while Alex Dreyfus hit three times safely with three RBI and two runs driven in, helping the number one seed Waterford secure its first state title in 17 years with an 8-1 victory over second-seeded South Windsor at Palmer Field on Wednesday.

Our team performs better when faced with pressure," Dreyfus stated. "Many of us came back from last season, and we did quite well then. We really excel when competing against strong opponents.

Waterford moves forward to the eight-team, double-elimination Northeast Regional taking place at Fitton Field on the Holy Cross campus in Worcester from August 6th to 10th, where they will play against the host team Shrewsbury in the last match of Day 1. The Legion World Series is set to occur from August 14th to 19th in Shelby, North Carolina.

Waterford has secured its second state championship, following their initial win in 2008.

That's massive," Morales remarked. "Everybody contributed. We played with even more determination here. We united as a single team.

Morales, currently enrolled and playing for Southern Connecticut State University, was honored as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The right-handed pitcher didn't issue any walks, recorded five strikeouts, and got the final 11 hitters he faced out. His team's defensive performance, highlighted by shortstop Alex Picardi, was exceptional.

His pitches were always accurate," said Waterford coach Joe Mariani. "He successfully delivered his fastball and left them guessing. Also, our team executed several good defensive plays behind him. As the match progressed, he improved further. He performed exceptionally well this evening.

South Windsor's achievement of finishing in second place marks the highest position ever recorded for the program. Previously, it secured third place in 1998.

Zone 3 champions' offensive efforts took them far, but Morales remained dominant as Waterford beat South Windsor for the second time in three days.

I was aware they were a tough and determined team," Morales stated. "I knew they were eager to win, so I suppose I desired victory even more. We had a strategy going into the game, and we carried it out effectively.

The game began 45 minutes late because of the rain. Waterford quickly took the advantage.

In South Windsor, Jake Gombotz started the competition with two clean sheets against Glastonbury and Ridgefield, but allowed a one-out triple from Matt Shampine, who then came around to score on a hit by Dreyfus. Following a base knock by Martin Light, Picardi’s single brought Dreyfus home, giving his team a 2-0 advantage.

"we experienced significant momentum heading into the game, but maintaining that energy was crucial," dreyfus remarked about the strong beginning.

Nate Jolly helped South Windsor take the lead with an RBI double in the second inning. In response, Waterford scored in the third when Donte Valentine's double allowed Dreyfus to come home. Waterford extended their advantage to 4-1 later in the fourth after Dreyfus recorded his third hit of the game with a soft single. They sealed the win in the sixth inning, scoring four runs off reliever Sam Balducci, with three of those runs coming without error thanks to two defensive mistakes.

Picardi contributed two hits and two runs batted in during the game for Waterford.

Logan Sinacola from South Windsor received recognition as the best batter of the tournament, whereas Shampine from Waterford was chosen as the top pitcher.

Waterford struggled during non-league games this summer but enters the tournament in Worcester with momentum. It has six days to get ready.

Take some rest and keep your focus," Mariani mentioned regarding the key actions his team should take during their downtime. "We'll let the players have a few days off. I enjoy how we've been performing. We've been playing exceptionally well. I'm really pleased with our current standing, so I believe we have a strong chance.

Before the game, South Windsor's Balducci received a $1,000 scholarship from the American Legion. Balducci, who will graduate from South Windsor High in 2025, plans to enroll at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford this autumn.

Player of the game

Trace Morales, Waterford. South Windsor limited opponents to just one run and four hits in a full game performance. He recorded five strikeouts.

Quotable

"In my view, Legion represents the essence of baseball. Each game holds significance. This tournament is amazing. The children fight for every pitch in each inning. It’s different from any tournament you've experienced before. Winning this competition isn’t easy. It's an authentic achievement," – Waterford coach Joe Mariani.