MIDDLETOWN, July 29, 2022 – The Danbury American Legion baseball team took advantage of three walks and a hit batter in the top of the tenth inning to beat Waterford Friday night at Palmer Field, 8-5 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three state championship series.
Game two is Saturday at 1 p.m. and game three, if necessary, will follow immediately after game two. Danbury is seeking their first-ever American Legion state championship while Waterford is looking for their first Legion state title since 2008.
Danbury snapped Waterford’s 17-game winning streak with the victory. Post 60 had captured their previous six state tournament games with three shutouts and three one-run victories.
Tied at 5-5, Danbury (24-8) loaded the bases in the top of the tenth inning thanks to a pair of walks and a hit batter from Waterford reliever Charles Macpherson. Sean Salvador came on in relief but walked two batters to force in two runs. A sacrifice fly pushed in a third run to give Post 60 an 8-5 lead.
Waterford (27-4) took a 4-1 lead in the first inning powered by a three-run triple from Evan McCue, who was 2-for-4 with four RBI in the contest. Preston Tabor had a single and a triple for Post 161 while Salvador was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Danbury was led by Owen Hibbard, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Casey Katz had a double and three RBI for the winners while Jackson Ciccone was 2-for-5.
Danbury 8, Waterford 5 (10)
At Middletown
Danbury (24-8) 131 000 003 — 8-7-0
Waterford (27-4) 400 100 000 — 5-7-0
Will Granata, Casey Katz (7) and unknown; Aidan Whitten, Charles Macpherson (6), Sean Salvador (10) and Ken Miller; WP: Katz, LP: Macpherson; 2B: Casey Katz (D); 3B: Evan McCue (W), Preston Tabor (W)
2022 Connecticut American Legion state tournament results
