Tides, Clams play for the ECML title

Groton — The top-seeded Tides and the No. 3 Clams each won games in the Eastern Connecticut Major League playoffs on Thursday night at Washington Park, wrapping up semifinals series and advancing to the championship.

The teams open the best-of-three finals today in a doubleheader starting at noon. Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday at 11 a.m.

Roland Thivierge pitched a complete game as the Tides beat the Pirates 5-4 to win the best-of-three series 2-1. Dougie DeLaCruz homered and scored three runs for the Tides and teammates Ben Jerome and Steve Cochrane each had a double. Tyler Nelli homered for the Pirates in the bottom of the seventh to get his team within a run. Nelli also doubled.

The Clams beat the Knights 2-0 to win the other semifinal series 2-1. Connor Lewis and Thomas Dooley combined to pitch a one-hitter, striking out 12 between them. Eddie Kaftan took the loss despite allowing only one hit over six innings.

Black Wolves trade

• The New England Black Wolves traded for goalie Alex Buque on Thursday, getting him from the New York Riptide in exchange for a 2022 draft pick. The move is pending approval from the National Lacrosse League. Buque played for the Black Wolves in 2019, before being selected by the Riptide in the 2019 expansion draft.

In 11 games for the Riptide last season, Buque made 368 saves for a percentage of .742. He allowed 13.67 goals per game. He made 242 saves with the Black Wolves into 2019 for a .763 percentage.

Calendar

• The Shoreline Sting Girls Fastpitch Softball program is looking for softball players to add to their 18u, 16u, 14u 12u and 10 u teams. Open tryouts will occur on August 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Old Lyme Little League Complex at 22 Cross Lane. Offers to play will be made at the field. Please follow social distancing protocols and bring only one parent or guardian to tryout. For further information please call Ed Hobson (203) 5303964.