Thursday, August 1, 2013 10:21 PM EDT
The Southington American Legion senior baseball team is taking a historic trip to Stamford this weekend.
For the second time in its history, Post 72 will play for the Legion state championship. Southington (24-5) opens a best-of-three series against a powerful Branford team (30-1) today at 6:30 p.m. at Cubetta Stadium. The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. If the third game is necessary, it will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Southington last reached the championship in 1993, when it beat Meriden Post 45.
?It means the world to me to be where we are,? Post 72 coach Marc Verderame said. ?It?s always been my dream to be in a state championship, and to have a chance to win one for our town is something we are all looking forward to.?
Southington started its run to the championship series with a 14-3 mercy rule win over Willimantic on July 22 in the second round of the Northern Sectionals, which were held at Fuessenich Park in Torrington. Post 72 advanced out of the sectionals by holding off RCP 7-6 on July 23.
Southington began play in the Torrington Regional with a 4-1 win over New London on July 27. Post 72 followed that victory up with a 10-5 win over Montville on July 28. Southington took the day off on July 29, then came back to blast Enfield 12-2 in a mercy rule-shortened contest on July 30 to advance out of the Torrington Regional.
Branford?s only loss this season was to Hamden in the second game of a doubleheader on July 6. Branford won a single game in the Southern Sectionals in Stamford before winning three straight in the Stamford Regional to reach the championship series. Branford has allowed just seven runs in four games.
Verderame said the key to Southington?s success this season has been good pitching and an aggressive offense.
?Our team ERA is under 3 and we have had 115 stolen bases in 26 games (3 wins were forfeits),? Verderame said. ?We have a great group of players who have performed really well. We struggled a bit closing out games during the season, but we are getting right at the right time.?
Southington has stolen 25 bases in 30 attempts in its first five postseason games. Ted Shaw and Brett Shaw each have five stolen bases. Ted Shaw?s ability to get on base has sparked Post 72?s offense.
?Ted Shaw has been our MVP,? Verderame said. ?He is in my opinion the best defensive shortstop in the state and he is batting over .450 this year.?
Ted Shaw has been even hotter during the postseason, hitting at a ridiculous .632 clip. He has 10 runs scored, along with two doubles, a triple, a home run, and three walks.
Ted Shaw isn?t the only hitter doing damage for Southington.
Brett Shaw is at .300 in the No. 2 spot in the lineup with two doubles, a home run, five RBI, six runs scored and four walks. Matt Sirois is hitting .474 with a double, eight RBI and five runs scored. Matt DiNello, the team?s No. 3 hitter, is right behind Sirois at .438 with seven RBI, nine runs scored, three stolen bases and six walks. Dave Palladino is hitting .316, but he leads the team with nine RBI and three doubles.
On the mound, Joe Rivera and Craig Frobel have two wins each. Brett Susi has the other victory while Andrew Goralski logged a save against New London. DiNello also saw time on the mound.
?You need to have at least four great pitchers to win this thing, and this year that is what we have,? Verderame said. ?Our fifth starter Joe Daigle threw a no-hitter this year. That?s how deep we are.?
Rivera has allowed just one run on six hits in 14 innings to go along with 14 strikeouts and seven walks this postseason.
Dealing with adversity has been key for Southington. Post 72 saw late leads get away in regular season losses to Avon and Bristol.
?For a lot of teams that might ruin a season,? Verderame said. ?For us it just made us stronger.?
In the RCP game, Southington saw leads of 5-0 and 7-4 trimmed to one run because of errors, but was able to hold on and move on in the postseason. Verderame believes the ability to persevere in close games could be a big key against a Branford team that outscored its opponents 151-15 during the regular season. Branford may be a very difficult opponent, but Southington is ready.
?I think that we have the best team in the state,? Verderame said. ?We have been through the ups and downs and we have battled back. I don?t think anyone expected us to win five games to get here, but here we are.?
The final leg of the championship race begins this evening.
Kevin D. Roberts can be reached at (860) 584-0501, ext. 7229 or kroberts@bristolpress.com.
On Twitter: @kroberts023
Our valued readers,
As you see we're now requiring anyone wishing to post a comment to register first. That registration includes first and last name, user name, and e-mail address. We will not send advertising or any other unsolicited material. We're simply working to curtail the number of comments that a reasonable person would find offensive or objectionable, such as ones containing profanity or threatening language. Please use our forum as an opportunity for spirited debate - just be civil and observe the golden rule.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: | Become a Registered User |
Source: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2013/08/02/sports/doc51fb173fb5351633225582.txt
atomic clock john mccain game changer corned beef recipe rpi dst friends with kids
No comments:
Post a Comment