Tolland Juniors are Connecticut State Champions

Both teams gave their top efforts in Tuesday night's battle for the State Championship title.  This was the last game in the teams' "best of three" series.  Tolland and Edgewood were well-matched, but after seven innings, the final score was Tolland 9, Edgewood 8.

On the mound for Tolland were Vinny Farrell, Sean Kelly, and Matt Curtis, who kept the heat coming to head off the team's defense.

The game was scoreless until the top of the third, when Edgewood pulled ahead with five runs.  In the bottom of the inning, Corey Domingos hit a single to put Tolland on the board with one run.

In the bottom of the fourth, hits from Domingos, Devin Aldrich, and Curtis sent their teammates home to put Tolland in the lead with six runs.  Then in the fifth, Edgewood retaliated, scoring three more runs and once again taking the lead.

Another run in the bottom of the sixth gave Tolland the push they needed.  They held Edgewood in the top of the seventh with three quick outs, and in the bottom of the inning came back to rally.  Eric Gottier hit a single, and with no outs, it was a tie game.  With both teams at eight, Dan Steiner hit a fly ball, allowing teammate and five-year All-Star Thomas Slane to go home for the winning run.

After the team was presented with their championship banner, family and players gathered on the field to take pictures and celebrate the victory.

"It's just amazing," said Tolland manager Steve Paasch, who had nothing but praise for his team.  "This group, you can tell...they don't have quit.  They are the best teammates to each other, and they never let down."

Regional play will begin on Saturday in New Jersey, where Tolland will be representing the state of Connecticut and competing to go national.  Paasch says the team is ready.

"It's been a month and a half of non-stop baseball, but I told [the team], coming back and winning like they did, I've got so much energy now.  I feel like I can play baseball for another month."