South Windsor Escapes Late Jam, Holds Off Glastonbury For Class LL Baseball Championship

MIDDLETOWN, CT —For a few minutes Saturday night, it appeared Cinderella would return home from the ball ... errr, ballfield ... with the glass slipper. Instead, the clock struck midnight for Glastonbury in the form of a double play by the South Windsor defense, staving off a bases-loaded rally and enabling the Bobcats to hang on for a 1-0 victory in the CIAC Class LL championship game at Palmer Field.

South Windsor pitcher Robbie Wunsch entered the final inning having allowed just a lone infield hit in the previous six frames. However, he walked Anthony DuBaldo to open the seventh, and John Timko followed with a screaming line drive single off the glove of third baseman Sam Balducci to place runnersat first and second. Evan Davis attempted to move the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, but a late throw to third found the Guardians with the bases loaded and no outs.

With Jack Westergren at the plate, the runners broke from their bases as Glastonbury tried a squeeze bunt, but a high pitch caused Westergren to pop the ball into the air. Balducci made a diving catch near the third base line, then threw to shortstop Justin Dittmar covering third to double off DuBaldo.

The Guardians still had a chance with the tying run at second base, but Bennett Bedard flied out to center fielder Braden Edwards to secure South Windsor's second state title in school history, and first since 1993.

South Windsor, seeded No. 2, tallied the only run of the game in the fourth inning. Wunsch led off with a single to center off Glastonbury starter Daniel Wallace. He moved to second on a walk to Jake Palombizio, stole third and, after a strikeout, crossed the plate on a run-scoring single to left by Tyler Poland.

On the mound, Wunsch fired a two-hitter, walking two and striking out seven. He ended his senior season with a perfect 10-0 record.

Glastonbury, which was the final team added to the tournament field as the No. 32 seed, saw its magical postseason run end in its first appearance in a state title contest.