Printer Friendly Version - Madison Junior Legion Moving On in State Tourney

Will Kleinhenz and the Madison Junior Legion baseball team defeated Greenwich 6-2 in the opener of the State Tournament on July 18 before downing Milford 1-0 and Greenwich 4-2 to advance to the next phase.Photo by Chris Eadevito/The Source

The Madison Junior Legion baseball team won its first three games in the State Tournament last week to advance to the next stage of the bracket. Post 79 began states as the No. 12 seed in the Southern Division portion of the tournament and claimed victory in all three of its contests in a double elimination format to move on to this week’s single elimination phase. Madison prevailed at Greenwich 6-2 on July 18, edged out Milford by a 1-0 final on the road two days later, and then beat Greenwich 4-2 at home on July 23 to advance. Madison, Bethel, Stamford, and Fairfield are the remaining teams in the Southern Division, while Wallingford, Rocky Hill-Cromwell-Portland, Tolland, and Cheshire are alive in the Northern Division. The winners of the two divisions will play for the title at Palmer Field in Middleton on either Saturday, July 30 or Sunday, July 31. Madison now has an overall record of 22-12 on the season.

Post 79 opened postseason play on July 18 with a 6-2 win over No. 5 seed Greenwich at Greenwich High School. Madison opened up a 6-0 lead after its half of the sixth inning before the hosts plated a pair for the sixth and seventh. Ian Butler pitched 5.2 innings for Post 79 and was also 2-for-4 with two RBI to help his cause. Phoenix Billings hit 2-for-3 with a walk.

Next on July 20, Madison dispatched No. 4 seed Milford 1-0 behind seven shutout frames from Graeme McGivern at Foran High School.

“Graeme McGivern threw an excellent game, kept the hitters off-balance, and executed in many clutch situations to maintain the shutout and give our team and opportunity to win,” said Head Coach Matt Sommo on the Milford victory.

Hosting Greenwich at Polson Middle School on July 23, Post 79 was again victorious, this time by a 4-2 final. Will McIntosh and Michael Elias pitched for Madison in the win. McIntosh threw 6.2 innings and was 2-for-3 with two runs scored to knock Greenwich out of the tournament and send Post 79 on to the next round.

“We played great defensively and capitalized offensively with two outs to score a few insurance runs to hold on for win,” said Coach Sommo.

Clay Knibbs and the Post 79 Junior Legion baseball squad won their first three State Tournament games last week and are now 22-12 on the season.Photo by Chris Eadevito/The Source