Southington Sets Sights on American Legion Championship

Southington's American Legion Post 72 baseball team hasn't won a state championship in decades, but the team is just two victories away from that prize heading into the finals this weekend.

Southington (24-5), which finished the regular season as Zone 1 runner-up, will face Branford (30-1), the Zone 2 winner, in the best-of-three state championship series at Stamford's Cubeta stadium. The first game is Friday at 6:30 p.m., and game 2 is Saturday at 11 a.m., to be followed by game 3 (if needed) Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Most of the players on the Post 72 roster are from the Southington High School team, which has lost in the finals of the Class LL state championships in two of the last three years. Legion Coach Marc Verderame told the Hartford Courant that the winning the Legion title would also be "redemption" for the talented squad. 

Southington's road to the American Legion finals included victories over New London (4-1), Montville (10-5), and Enfield (12-2) in regional championship action.