Niantic, NL begin play in state Legion tourney today

The Connecticut American Legion tournament, which includes four teams from Zone 6, begins Saturday with first round games, including a pair of local programs.

Niantic will host Windsor Locks at East Lyme High School while New London will host New Britain at Bates Woods. Both games start at 1 p.m.

The single-elimination portion of the tournament continues on Sunday with the second round, also at 1 p.m. The Niantic-Windsor Locks winner will visit West Hartford, the New London-New Britain winner will play at South Windsor and Waterford, which received a first round bye, will host the Enfield-Winsted winner.

Willimantic, the Zone 6 champion, has a bye into the third round when the tournament shifts to a best-of-three format starting Tuesday, July 18. Willimantic will host the New London, New Britain, South Windsor survivor. Should Niantic make it to the third round, it will visit defending state champion Rocky Hill/Cromwell/Portland on July 18 and should Waterford win its second round game, it will play at Tolland.

State Babe Ruth (14)

• Trumbull will play host Waterford for the Connecticut Babe Ruth 14-year-old baseball championship. Trumbull advance to the title round with a 2-0 victory over Stamford in Friday's losers' bracket final. The game, suspended Thursday night because of rain, resumed Friday in the third inning.

Waterford, which beat Trumbull 3-2 on Sunday, is unbeaten and must beat Trumbull just once on Saturday to advance to the New England Regional. The two teams will play at 11 a.m. with a second game, if necessary, to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

State LL softball (11-12)

• Waterford's opening game in the Connecticut Little League (1112) softball tournament was rained out for the second day in Rocky Hill. The District 10 champions will play Windsor today at 4 p.m.

Gene Sutera (11-12) baseball

• Chris Clousan singled to score Jackson Poulton in extra innings as Ledyard defeated Waterford 4-3 on the opening day of the Gene Sutera baseball tournament. Derek Kennedy got the win in relief and Ayus Solanki struck out six for Waterford. Poulton had two hits, including a triple ,for Ledyard and Nic Pisani hit a two-run home run for Waterford.

• Gavin O'Brien had eight strikeouts as East Lyme defeated New London 9-5. O'Brien doubled and Drew Beckham added two hits to pace East Lyme. Anthony Martinez homered for New London and Randy Vidal had two hits, including a double.

Sutera (9-10) baseball

• Waterford defeated Salem/ Bozrah 7-3. Colby Sheehan pitched three innings and had six strikeouts to earn the win. Zach D'Aiuto hit a double for Salem/Bozrah and Carmine Michech had two hits for Waterford, which turned two double plays.