With a four-run victory, defending state champion Waterford forced a decisive contest for the 2026 American Legion 19-and-under state championship on Friday night at Palmer Field in Middletown.
Waterford (23-2) erased a four-run deficit to take a one-run lead in the third inning. But South Windsor scored a pair of unanswered runs in the fourth and sixth inning to beat Waterford, 6-5, and win their first American Legion state championship.
The game was a rematch of last year’s state title game that Waterford won by an 8-1 score.
South Windsor (24-7) will advance to the Northeast Regional in Worchester.
South Windsor took a 4-0 lead on a RBI single from A Jackson in the first inning , a two-run single from Torin Edwards in the two-run single in the second inning and a Waterford error.
Waterford scored five runs in the third inning to take the lead.
Post 161 loaded the bases thanks to a walk, an unsuccessful fielder’s choice and a walk. Alex Picardi reached on an error allowing two runs to score. An RBI single from Jace Wolfradt and an RBI double from Brooks Lane gave Waterford a 5-4 lead.
South Windsor tied the game at 5-5 in the fourth on a two-out single to left field from Torin Edwards.
South Windsor took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brayden Childree led off the inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Liam Davis.
Davis successfully stole second base and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt from AJ Bryson. Davis scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Torin Edwards for the 6-5 lead.
With two strikeouts and a ground ball out, South Windsor pitcher Bennett Durbois got the save as South Windsor secured the state championship.
Waterford forced the decisive championship game with a 5-1 win over South Windsor.
Waterford turned a one-run lead into a four-run lead with three runs in the sixth inning. Zaydin Martinez walked and moved to second base on a successful sacrifice bunt from Gordy. Matt Shampine reached with a single with Martinez moving to third bases.
Alex Picardi drove in two runs with a double for a 4-1 lead and scored on a double from Jace Wolfradt for a 5-1 lead.
Waterford 5, South Windsor 1
At Middletown
South Windsor (23-7) 000 100 0 — 1-6-4
Waterford (23-1) 100 103 x — 5-4-0
Brayden Edwards, B Childree (6) and Aiden Jackson; Colby Sheehan, Brooks Lane (7) and Kian Gordy; WP: Sheehan; LP: Edwards; 2B: Alex Picardi (W), Jace Wolfradt (W), Edwards (SW); Of note: Edwards struck out 4 and walked six. He gave up one hit; Sheehan struck out six and allowed six hits; Edwards (SW) 3-3, 1 run scored
South Windsor 6, Waterford 5
At Middletown
Waterford (23-2) 005 000 0 — 5-7-3
South Windsor (24-7) 130 101 x — 6-4-1
A McElwee, Zaydin Martinez (5) and Kian Gordy; Aiden Jackson, Bennett Dubois (6) and Torin Edwards; WP: Jackson; LP: McElwee; Save: Dubois 2B: B Lane (W); Of note: South Windsor scored with one out in bottom of the sixth to win the game and first Connecticut American Legion state championship
