Local roundup: Whelen Modified Tour returns to Speedbowl tonight

Waterford - NASCAR's Whelen Modified Tour returns to the Waterford Speedbowl tonight for the first time since 2006 as part of its weekly Saturday racing event.

The grandstand gates open at 1:30 p.m. today for Mr. Rooter 161 practice. The main events begin at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the track's weekly SK Modified race.

A detailed event schedule for the Mr. Rooter 161 can be found online at Speedbowl.com.

The Speedbowl and Mr. Rooter of Connecticut have also announced a partnership with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, founded by late actor and auto racing enthusiast Paul Newman. Saturday's racing event at the Speedbowl will welcome representatives from The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and provide an opportunity for race fans to support another of Newman's passions - providing seriously ill children the fun-filled experience of camp.

Saturday's partnership is centered around raising awareness for the Camp in addition to a fundraising challenge to patrons of the Speedbowl.

Tigers rained out

• Friday's Connecticut Tigers game against the Tri-City ValleyCats was rained out and will be made up today as part of a doubleheader (6:05 p.m.) Fans that held a ticket to Friday's game may exchange their tickets for seats to any remaining home game in the 2012 season of equal or lesser value based on availability. The ticket exchange must be made at the Dodd Stadium box office.

American Legion Zone VI

• Gage Griffin had two hits, including a bases loaded triple, as Moosup beat Montville 3-1 in a game played under protest. Steven Jankowski had two hits and scored for Moosup (4-4) and winning pitcher Mike Esposito scattered four hits over 5 2/3 innings with one run, three strikeouts and two walks. Brandon Haas scored twice for Montville (6-2).

SEC 16-18 Babe Ruth

• Nick Lehert had four hits and two RBI as Waterford rallied from an eight-run deficit to beat Groton late Thursday 13-12. Waterford trailed 10-2 in the fifth inning. Matt Johnson pitched the win for Waterford (4-1).

Junior Legion

• Matt McElwee pitched a seven-hitter to lead Ledyard-Pawcatuck to an 8-4 win over New London Thursday. McElwee struck out five with one walk. Clayton Levis had three hits and Duane Shea and Nate Williams had two hits each for Ledyard-Pawcatuck. Mike Barstow singled twice for New London.

• Greg Benjamin pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead Montville to a 5-1 win over Moosup Thursday. Kyle Williams was 3-for-4 and Mitchell Dole had two hits for Montville.