Avon pitcher Connor Harris (62) was named to the Connecticut American Legion’s All-Tournament after Stamford swept West Hartford for their first state title since 1957. Harris (9-0) pitched two complete games in the tournament, striking out 13 in two games.
MIDDLETOWN, July 29 – Pitcher Aaron D’Annolfo gave up just four hits and struck out four as he led the Stamford American Legion baseball team to their first state championship since 1957 with a 3-0 win over West Hartford at Palmer Field in Middletown.
Stamford (29-6) won the best-of-3 series, 2-0 after a 6-2 victory on Friday. Post 3 had 20 hits in the series and limited West Hartford (24-11) to just eight hits and two runs in a pair of games.
D’Annolfo pitched all nine innings to earn the win for Stamford, whose general manager Chris Sabia died the day before the state tournament began due to cancer.
Stamford finished third in Zone 2 but earned a playoff berth and was outstanding, going 10-1 in the tournament to win the state championship. It was the third consecutive year that Stamford had earned a spot in the final. The previous two seasons, they lost to RCP (Rocky Hill/Cromwell/Portland). This time, they dominated.
On Friday night, Stamford had 11 hits in a 6-2 victory. On Saturday afternoon, Post 3 had nine hits, led by tournament MVP Michael Tufano, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI – a two-run double in the second inning that put Stamford ahead for good. Tufano led the tournament, hitting .471 in the final six games of the tournament.
Ruben Rodriguez’ RBI single in the third inning expanded Stamford’s lead to 3-0. It was good enough to beat West Hartford. D’Annolfo didn’t allow a walk the entire game. The only baserunners for West Hartford were Daniel Roth, Andrew Hungerford, Joe Celio and Maxwell Main with singles.
Stamford third baseman Conor Nicholson was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and he was one of six Stamford players to earn All-Tournament honors. Stamford pitcher Adam Stone, who had seven strikeouts in six innings work to win game one of the championship series, was named the outstanding pitcher of the tournament.
Five West Hartford players – first baseman Joe Celio, second baseman Luke Fox, shortstop Danny Roth, pitcher Michael Matthews and outfielder Max Main were named to the All-Tournament team.
Both teams will advance to the Northeast Regional tournament in Shreswbury, Mass.,beginning on Wednesday, August 2. Connecticut has two entries in the tournament this year.
Avon pitcher Connor Harris was one of two players not playing in the finals that made the All-Tournament team.
Harris pitched a complete game, one-hitter in a 6-1 win over Waterford, striking out six. He came within one strike of a no-hitter, giving up a single with two outs and two strikes on the batter in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Harris had a win over Southington in the best-of-three series, throwing another complete game, striking out seven in a 3-0 victory. Harris was 9-0 this season for Post 201, with three wins in relief out of the bullpen.
Stamford 3, West Hartford 0
At Middletown
Stamford (29-6) 021 000 000 — 3-8-2
West Hartford (24-11) 000 000 000 — 0-4-2
Aaron D’Annolfo and Tim Mera; Ben Kreidel, James Gaude (3) and Sean Langan; WP: D’Annoflo; LP: Kreidel; 2B: Conor Nicholson (S) 2, Michael Tufano (S); 3B: none; HR: none
2017 State Tournament awards
MVP: Michael Tufano, Stamford
Batting Average: Michael Tufano (.471), Stamford
Outstanding Pitcher: Adam Stone, Stamford
All Tournament
Catcher: Tim Mira, Stamford
First Base: Joe Celio, West Hartford
Second Base: Luke Fox, West Hartford
Shortstop: Danny Roth, West Hartford
Third Base: Connor Nicholson, Stamford
Utility: Andrew Lojko, Trumbull
Outfield: Anthony Frangiose, Stamford
Outfield: Max Main, West Hartford
Outfield: Michael Tufano, Stamford
Pitcher: Adam Stone, Stamford
Pitcher: Aaron D’annolfo, Stamford
Pitcher: Connor Harris, Avon
Pitcher: Michael Matthews, West Hartford
2017 Connecticut American Legion state tournament
Saturday, July 15
Single elimination
Stamford 7, Oxford 3
Middletown 5, Norwalk 0
East Haven 3, Guilford 2
North Haven 2, Bethel 0
Niantic 2, Windsor Locks 1
New Britain 3, New London 1
Winsted 2, Enfield 0
Bristol 3, Berlin 2
Sunday, July 16
Single elimination
South Windsor 14, New Britain 0
Southington 5, Bristol 0
Waterford 6, Winsted 1
Stamford 11, Orange 3
Middletown 9, Monroe 0
Trumbull 3, North Haven 0
Meriden 1, East Haven 0
West Hartford 2, Niantic 1
Tuesday, July 18
Best of 3 series, Game 1
Southern Regional
Stamford 6, Oakville 0
Greenwich 8, Middletown 1
Cheshire 1, Meriden 0
Trumbull 3, Stratford 2
Northern Regional
West Hartford 2, RCP 1
Avon 3, Southington 0
Willimantic 3, South Windsor 2
Wednesday, July 19
Best-of-3 series
Southern Regional
Stamford 5, Oakville 4, Stamford wins series, 2-0
Greenwich 2, Middletown 1, Greenwich wins series, 2-0
Cheshire 3, Meriden 0, Cheshire wins series, 2-0
Stratford 6, Trumbull 1
Trumbull 8, Statford 4, Trumbull wins series, 2-1
Northern Regional
RCP 3, West Hartford 2
West Hartford 4, RCP 1, West Hartford wins series, 2-1
South Windsor 12, Willimantic 4
South Windsor 3, Willimantic 2
Southington 1, Avon 0, forfeit
Avon 4, Southington 3, Avon wins series, 2-1
Waterford 6, Tolland 1
Thursday, July 20
Northern Regional
Waterford 3, Tolland 1, Waterford wins series, 2-0
Northern Division Regional final
At Muzzy FIeld, Bristol
Saturday, July 22
Game 1: West Hartford 7, Avon 2
Game 2: South Windsor 4, Waterford 0
Sunday, July 23
Game 3: Avon 6, Waterford 1, Waterford eliminated
Game 4: West Hartford 16, South Windsor 7
Monday, July 24
Game 5: Avon 4, South Windsor 2, South Windsor eliminated
Tuesday, July 25
Game 6, Final: West Hartford 6, Avon 2, Avon eliminated
Southern DIvision Regional finals
At Palmer Field, Middletown
Saturday, July 22
Game 1: Stamford 4, Greenwich 1
Game 2: Cheshire 1, Trumbull 0
Sunday, July 23
Game 3: Trumbull 8, Greenwich 1, Greenwich eliminated
Game 4: Stamford 4, Cheshire 1
Monday, July 24
Game 5: Trumbull 2, Cheshire 1, Cheshire eliminated
Tuesday, July 25
Game 6: Trumbull 3, Stamford 2
Wednesday, July 26
Game 7, Final: Stamford 4, Trumbull 1, Trumbull eliminated
State championship series
At Palmer Field, Middletown
Best of 3
Friday, July 29
Stamford 6, West Hartford 2
Saturday, July 30
Stamford 3, West Hartford 0
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