Local roundup: Waterford still perfect in N.E. Babe Ruth tourney

Quincy, Mass. - Waterford is one win away from playing for the New England Babe Ruth 15-year-old baseball championship.

The District 6 and Connecticut champions won their second straight game in the New England tournament on Saturday, routing Maine champion Portland, 14-4, in a game called after six innings due to the mercy rule.

Waterford, 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament, advanced to Monday's winners' bracket final against Keene (N.H.) at 5 p.m. The Waterford-Keene winner will earn a spot in Wednesday's championship round.

Connor Lewis earn the pitching win for Waterford, working five innings while allowing five hits and striking out eight.

Lewis was also part of a balanced Waterford offense, finishing with three hits, including a double, and three RBI. Other offensive stars were Adam Goss, who had three hits (one a double) with three RBI and three runs scored, Jesse Coates (single and double), Kyle Chung (two RBI) and Tommy Pezzolesi (double).

Waterford also stole six bases.

Junior League softball (13-14)

• Mystic opened pool play at the Eastern Regional tournament in West Haven with a 5-4 loss to Maine champion Biddeford. Mackenzie Aldridge singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in two for the District 10 champions and Jackie Lewis and Lauren Szczsney each had a hit and scored a run. Caroline Taber doubled and drove in a run and struck out four batters in four innings on the mound, allowing three hits and a run.

Sutera baseball (11-12)

• Kyle Whipple hit a two-run homer to help lead Pawcatuck to an 8-5 win over East Lyme in the championship game. Parker Foss earned the win, striking out eight. Andrew Field, Ben Dellacono, Harrison Hoops and Whipple had two hits each for Pawcatuck. Trevor Deslesdernier homered twice for East Lyme.

Sutera baseball (9-10)

• Giovanni Valentine had three hits to help lead Mystic to a 9-3 win over East Lyme in the championship game. Andrew Kerst was the winning pitcher, striking out six. Tyler Cady and Pacey Steele had two hits each for Mystic. Noah Connolly, T.J. Horner and Nathan Diaz had two hits each for East Lyme.

• Nolan Connolly's two-run double lifted East Lyme to a 4-3 win over Mystic, which forced the deciding game. Luke Leonard struck out five and Owen Robbins had two hits for East Lyme. Giovanni Valentine had two hits for Mystic.

Conn's Hunter, Lampley honored

• For the second consecutive year, Connecticut College's Emily Hunter and Kristin Lampley have been named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American Team.

Hunter and Lampley both garnered honorable mention accolades from the ACWPC. Both Camels were recognized for their academic excellence on the New England Small College Athletic Conference Spring All-Academic Team.

A three-year captain for the Camels, Hunter netted 29 goals to go along with nine assists and 20 steals in a stellar senior campaign. Hunter helped lead the Camels past higher seeded Macalester College as well as Wheaton College of Illinois at the Division III Championship, netting four goals in the team's surprising third place finish. Connecticut College won five of its last seven matches to finish 6-4 in divisional play.

Hunter scored 72 goals over her final two seasons in the pool. During commencement weekend, she was honored as the female co-recipient of the Brown/Brooks Award. The accolade is given to the outstanding male and female student-athletes who best represent the graduating class in scholarship, leadership, and sportsmanship.