Post 75 takes two, earns spot in tourney

MIDDLETOWN — Post 75 hit, pitched and defended like a team that is headed to the American Legion state tournament, sweeping Madison in a Zone 3 doubleheader at Palmer Field.

In Sunday’s opener, righthander Luke Garofalo allowed two hits and a run in the first inning and, with the exception of four walks, nothing else the rest of the way. The 75ers piled up 15 hits in an 11-1 victory in six innings.

In the second game, Sean Lenehan scattered five hits in going the distance. The right-hander benefited from the 75ers’ outstanding defense and was finally rewarded with run support — a five-run sixth inning — that carried him to a 6-1 win, Middletown’s fifth victory in a row.

“I like what everyone did today,” Middletown coach Jay Famiglietti said. “I think we played smart baseball. It was nice that the bats broke out and we did the little things, like making plays and taking bases. Those things were really helpful.

“The kids know it’s very simple for us: throw strikes, make plays, swing the bats and score runs.”

Middletown did all of that well to finish 16-12 in Zone 3 play and secure the No. 3 seed in its four-team pod when the state tournament begins Saturday. The 75ers won seven of 10 in July to play themselves into another appearance, which will start on the road. Tournament matchups will be available later this week.

The top four teams in each zone advance to the state tournament. Cheshire (24-2) and Southington (19-8) will be the top two seeds out of Zone 3, with Guilford and Meriden (both 14-14), who split their season series, likely headed to a play-in game.

Tim Dickson had himself a day at the plate for Middletown — a triple, two singles, two RBIs and two runs scored in the opener, and a triple and run-scoring double in the second game. On top of that, his mother won the raffle for season ticketholders on Fan Appreciation Day at the ballpark.

“It helps a lot going into

the tournament to be playing this well,” said the center fielder and No. 3 hitter. “It’s all about getting hot at the right time. My junior year at Xavier, we got hot going into the state tournament and made it to the quarterfinals. This team reminds me of that team —

a lot.”

Madison, a young team, finished its zone season with a 6-8 record. Its best moments Sunday came from left-hander Brian Dowling, who had five Middletown runners picked off first base (only two were caught). The 75ers stole four bases on the day, bringing their season total to 84.

After falling behind 1-0 in the opener, the 75ers scored

four runs in their half of the first and another four in the third to secure Garofalo’s fourth win of the season. The Coginchaug graduate, who will pitch for Division I Bryant University next year, struck out six.

Cal Pitruzzello, Ryan Hurlbert, Tyler LeMay and Garofalo had two hits each, with Hurlbert driving in three runs and Pitruzzello two.

The 75ers did not make an error in either game. They also turned two double plays, and in the second game right fielder Connor Rulnick caught up to a would be-triple over his head and started a textbook 9-4-5 relay for the out. On the receiving end of the throw from second baseman Connor Cardi was LeMay.

“Our season has turned

around because of our defense,” Famiglietti said. “LeMay moving to third has been instrumental in our success.”

Madison tied the second game at 1 in the fifth before the 75ers broke it open in the sixth. A sacrifice fly from Cole Niedmann, a run on a wild pitch, a two-run single by Garofalo and Dickson’s RBI double accounted for the rally.

Lenehan, who leads the 75ers in innings pitched, improved to 3-4. The righthander, Garofalo and Chris Mormile will be part of the rotation come tournament time.

“I was glad to see us give Sean that five-spot,” Famiglietti said. “We’ve really let him down with run support this season, so it was exciting to get him those runs.”