Simsbury, Farmington open play in Legion state tournament

SIMSBURY, July 20, 2026 – A 10-run lead was a bit too much for the Simsbury American Legion baseball team to overcome Monday night in the first round of the 19-and-under state tournament at Memorial Field.

Visiting Tri-County (14-10) raced out to a 10-0 lead after 3½ innings in a 10-7 victory in Group D and moved one win away from earning a spot in the next round of the state tournament.

Simsbury (14-7) rallied with two runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth inning but that is all they could muster.

Simsbury hosts No. 15 seed Norwich (7-11) in an elimination game on Tuesday at Memorial Field beginning at 5:30 p.m. The loss snapped Simsbury’s four-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

Will Vincent led Simsbury by going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Jay Morales and Tim Beaulieu each had a hit and drove in a run.

Farmington earns spot in tournament
WATERFORD, July 20, 2026 – The first season for an American Legion baseball team in Farmington since 2017 is one that will end in the 19U state tournament.

Farmington (8-13) secured the final spot in the 2026 state tournament with a one-game playoff win over Middletown on Monday in Waterford before dropping a shutout decision to Post 161, the defending state champions.

In the 5-4 win over Middletown, Farmington pitcher Zac Jainchill threw his first complete game of the summer, scattering seven hits, striking out seven and walking just one. Jainchill (2-3) gave up just one earned run as Farmington, consisting of player from Farmington and Avon, made six errors in the game.

Trailing by two runs, Farmington took the lead in the fifth inning. Michael Prisco (2-4) doubled to lead off the inning. Catcher Reyan Fawad struck out but reached base safely when the catcher dropped the third strike and threw the ball away. Prisco scored from second to cut the lead to 4-3.

Fawad tied the game, scoring on Noah Bydlak’s RBI single to left field. Bydlak moved to second a throw to the plate. With two outs, Bydlak moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on Ethan Lavore’s RBI single to center field for a 5-4 lead.

Waterford pitcher Colby Sheehan pitched six innings, gave up two hits and struck out eight as Post 161 rolled past Farmington, 8-0. Prisco doubled and Ethan Lavore singled for Farmington.

Farmington will travel to Muzzy Field to face Zone 1 rival Bristol on Tuesday in an elimination game beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The most recent American Legion baseball team from Farmington was Unionville in 2017. Avon’s program disbanded after they won the state title in 2021.

After first Zone title in 45 years, Torrington wins opener
TORRINGTON, July 20, 2026 – With eight wins in their final nine games including two shutouts to close out the season, the Torrington American Legion baseball team won their first Zone 1 championship and their first zone title since 1981 when they won a Zone 6 championship.

Justin Dattel was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a home run as the P-38s opened the state tournament with a 12-4 win over Berlin. Torrington (16-5) had 18 hits. Eight of the nine players in the lineup had two or more hits for Torrington. The P-38s had seven doubles, a triple and a home run in the game, including Jack McCoy with two doubles

Brody Nadeau pitched six innings, striking out five and scattered nine hits for Torrington, which hosts Zone 1 rival West Hartford on Tuesday night beginning at 7 p.m. at Fuessenich Park.

2026 Connecticut American Legion state tournament results 19U

Waterford 8, Farmington 0
At Waterford
Farmington (8-13)                   000  000  0  — 0-2-2
Waterford (18-0)                      000  215  x  — 8-4-1
Reyan Fawad, Noah Bydlak (4), AJ Zappone (7) and Zappone, Fawad (7); Colby Sheehan, Martinez (7) and Gordy; WP: Sheehan; LP: Fawad (0-1); 2B: M Shampine (W), Michael Prisco (F); Of note: Farmington had just two hits – a double from Prisco and a single from Ethan Lavore. Two Waterford pitchers combined to strike out 10. Waterford is the defending state champion and the No. 1 seed in the tournament

Farmington 5, Middletown 4
At Waterford
Middletown                               211  000  0  — 4-7-3
Farmington (8-12)                   200  030  x  — 5-6-6
Marica, Salafia (6) and Langer; Zac Jainchill and Reyan Fawad; WP: Jainchill (2-3); LP: Salafia; 2B: Michael Prisco (F), J Salafia (M); Of note: In a one-game playoff to earn the No. 16 seed, Jainhill allowed 7 hits, struck out 7 and walked none. Prisco (F) 2-4, 2 runs scored, Koi Samples (F) 1-3, 2 RBI. Jainchill gave up just one earned run as Farmington committed six errors

Tri-County 10, Simsbury 7
At Simsbury
Tri-County (14-10)                  303  400  0  — 10-8-3
Simsbury (14-7)                       000  250  0  — 7-7-3
Nick Chalifoux, August Ricco (5) and Beckett Asklar; Ryan Marella, Jay Morales (2), John Mascaro (3), K Altiere (4) and T Seidel; WP: Chalifoux; LP: Marella (3-1); 2B: Seidel (S), Will Vincent (S), J Bucior (T); Of note: Vincent (S) 3-3, 3 RBI, Seidel (S) 1-3, 1 run scored, double; Tri-County won their third straight game and stole six bases. The visitors were up 10-0 before Simsbury scored a single run

2026 Connecticut American Legion state tournament results 19U