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08/02/2021 12:00 AMThe District 9 Clinton Little League team recently made town history on July 24 when the team advanced to the sectional finals for the first time. Clinton won its district for the first time since 1993, and Clinton had only reached the sectional semifinals on one other occasion dating back to 1971.
Head Coach Todd Aiken’s squad was full of capable competitors, and their historic run came to an end against Waterford in an 8-0 sectional final.
Coach Aiken was so impressed by what his players were able to accomplish this year. Aiken knew he had some special players on his squad when he first coached them all as six-year-olds back in 2015.
“What they’ve done has been nothing short of remarkable. They’ve always exceeded expectations. No matter how hard we worked and the amount of time we put in, they always met and surpassed expectations,” Aiken said. “All the while they just kept an excellent attitude and showed phenomenal sportsmanship. It’s just a great group of kids, and they’ve been together since they were 6 years old.”
Clinton’s run to the sectional final began with District 9 pool play, in which the team had a 3-1 record. Clinton defeated Middletown, 11-1, Portland, 6-0, and then East Hampton, 11-0. Clinton lost to Madison by a score of 1-0. Clinton, Madison, and Guilford moved onto District 9’s championship round, where Clinton had a 3-0 record. Clinton defeated Guilford by a score of 10-0, Madison by a score of 4-1, and then beat Guilford for a second time by a 1-0 tally. In district play, Clinton outscored its opponents by a 44-3 margin thanks to phenomenal pitching, catching, and defense from the squad.
After winning District 9, Clinton moved on to the Section 3 playoffs and earned a 5-2 win over Waterford and a 6-0 win against Glastonbury. Clinton and Waterford then advanced to the final where Waterford topped Clinton, 8-0.
Coach Aiken knew that his squad would play its heart out as its players have been building toward a competition like this all through Little League and travel baseball. One of the players who set the tone for Clinton was Coach Aiken’s son Travis Aiken, who played catcher and first base on the team.
“Travis batted .400 for the team. He’s a critical part of the team beyond being our starting catcher. He has a great defensive skill set. Travis hit fifth in the order, as well,” said Coach Aiken. “He’s a great leader and balances out the dugout. He picks guys up when we need a boost, and he was the voice of reason with a good, even-keeled character. He never got too emotional. He was a great representation of what we wanted in the dugout.”
Another valuable voice for Clinton belonged to pitcher and second baseman Benji Brown. Brown also had plenty of talent to help bolster the squad.
“Benji was one of the most talented players on the team. He batted .412, and showed a great defensive glove on the field. He batted in the 3-hole,” said Aiken. “Benji always had a smile on his face and always battled through adversity. Everyone on the team looked up to him. His father Trevor Brown was the team manager.”
Another essential contributor for the team was ace pitcher and shortstop Jack Henry Palazzo.
“Jack Henry is right there with Benji in terms of talent. He was our biggest bat and hit .471 with multiple extra base hits,” said Aiken. “Jack Henry batted lead off, and he was an absolute beast on the mound. He threw a perfect game against Guilford in the district final. He’s one of those guys that are the are why we’re here.”
Another big bat for Clinton came from third baseman and pitcher Trevor Powell. He was the type of player who could really get behind a ball and send it a long way.
“Trevor was one of our big power hitters with a .389 average and multiple extra-base hits. He’s more of a soft-spoken kid, but big in stature. He’s a power hitter with a great attitude,” Aiken said. “The rest of the kids looked to him to do something special in a big spot. He rips the ball really hard, and he’s a great kid to have in the lineup.”
Clinton also needed stellar defense to reach the heights it did the season, and one of the key defenders in the outfield was left fielder Gavin Clow. As a bonus, Clow was a lot to handle on the base paths for opponents.
“Gavin’s a smaller guy, but always so great at getting on base. His batting average wasn’t huge at .367, but his on-base percentage was higher and more important. He drew walks, never swung at bad pitches, and he really built up the pitch count,” said Aiken. “He was also great on the base paths. He’s quick and can always run down the ball in the outfield. He’s also just a really smart player.”
Another big cog in the machine that was the Clinton team was pitcher and first baseman Nico Argarin. Argarin gave opponents a different look at the plate as a southpaw for Clinton.
“Nico hit for a .375 average and he was our No. 2 pitcher. He moved into town a year ago from the New London area, but his mother grew up in Clinton and came back to her roots. She played softball at Morgan. Nico was an awesome addition to the club,” said Aiken. Nico is another big guy with multiple extra base hits. He was sort of our left-handed ace to have balls coming to the plate from both sides of the bump. He shut down Madison multiple times in travel ball, and in district play. He also shut down Waterford in that first game of sectionals. Nico has a good attitude and a big smile.”
Another major contributor for Clinton was Zachary Veins, who played in centerfield and at third base. Coach Aiken enjoyed Veins’s versatility to be able to play as a starter or come out of the dugout when the team needed a different look or adjustment mid game.
“Zachary was a starter but also came off the bench depending on the situation. He batted .365 and made some outstanding defensive plays in the field in high pressure situations. He made a play on a dribbler down the line to win a game for us,” Aiken said. “He successfully laid down multiple bunts throughout the tournament as a speedy player. He’s one of the fastest kids on the team and a standout in that regard. He played so well.”
The Clinton roster also included AJ Brown, Jacoby Brown, Jacob Gilbert, Ryan Guth, Landon Johnson, and Julian Larabee. The team’s coaching staff also included Coach Rob Clow. Manager Brown and coaches Aiken and Clow all grew up in Clinton and played with the Little League All-Stars 1985, 1986, and 1987.
Coach Aiken knows that its hard to take a loss in a big game, but he is also encouraged by what Clinton was able to accomplish this year. Clinton obviously possesses a lot of talent, and the future looks bright.
“We’ve always put their development and future first, which is critical to their future success both on and off the field,” Aiken said.