Clinton's Little League All-Stars Are District 9 Champs!

Not since 1997 has the town of Clinton celebrated a District 9 Championship for its 9 and 10-year old Little League All-Stars.

This year, it's time to celebrate as the boy's team won the District 9 championship July 9 with their win over Portland by a score of 19 to 3. The game was played in Cromwell.

The district 9 includes the towns of Chester, Clinton, Coginchaug, Cromwell, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Guilford, Haddam, Killingworth, Madison, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook. 

The team of 11 players is coached by Ed O'Sullivan with help from assistant coaches Kirby Burt and Rob Derry.

According to one of the coaches, the score was 7-3 in the fifth inning when Portland's pitcher ran out of pitches. A few pitching changes later and it was 19-3.

"We hit up and down the lineup. Defense was awesome. Double plays, long line drives caught deep in the outfield with runners on base, great footwork, players thrown out at the plate from deep infield positions, you name it," was the running commentary from the coaches.
 
The 9 and 10-year olds advance to the sectionals tonight which takes place in Guilford, then on to sectionals in Cromwell. If they win the sectionals, they advance to the state finals.

The road to the District 9 championship was a long one for the team, as they needed to advance out of their bracket to reach the semifinals. They beat Madison on July 7 which was a big win for the team leading them to the district finals.