Groton – Even the most ardent optimist in the UConn-Avery Point baseball family might have seen all of Saturday's potential landmines. It began at 10 a.m. against  Westchester Community College, the nation's fourth-ranked team. It ended after 7 Saturday night with the tying run at the plate for Monroe Community College.

And nobody, really, had an inkling that Pete Aldrich, Fitch High School graduate, would have been so responsible for such a productive day.

But it was Aldrich, despite fewer than 20 innings pitched all season, whose five magnificent innings of relief pitching allowed the Pointers to remain the only undefeated team remaining in the National Junior College Athletic Association East District Tournament at Washington Park.

The Pointers (33-10) defeated Westchester 5-3 in the morning and Monroe 11-7 at night, advancing to today's championship round, one win away from their fifth trip to the World Series. Monroe must defeat Avery Point twice today starting at 11 a.m.

Aldrich entered the second game with Avery Point trailing Monroe 5-4 in the fifth inning. He allowed two unearned runs in five innings, striking out six.

"This was a must win game or they go 2-0," Avery Point coach Roger Bidwell said. "We knew Pete was live in the pen, but we weren't sure when we'd bring him in. He was absolutely the key to the game. It gave us a chance to come back. The game was getting away from us."

Aldrich escaped a jam in the fifth, after allowing a walk and a hit. He retired nine straight hitters thereafter, while his teammates scored five times in the seventh.

"The first inning I was definitely a little jittery," Aldrich said. "I haven't played in a game this big in my entire life. I was shaking. After the first couple pitches in the second inning, I settled in a little. I didn't expect to go the whole way. But it just so happened I was cruising."

Garrett DeLotto, whose three-run homer helped win the first game, singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning of the second game, giving the Pointers the lead for good. DeLotto, Avery Santos and Ledyard graduate Jordan Kowalski had three hits apiece.

Doug Domnarski pitched seven innings and allowed a run in the victory over Westchester, which defeated Avery Point earlier this season. Westchester finished 43-6.

"I knew we could compete with them, but statistically they've blown us away this season," Bidwell said. "Games aren't played on statistics. But I thought we could compete. Doug didn't have his best stuff by far, but gave up one run at the end of the day."

Bidwell said Chris Gonnelli, who played at Lyman Memorial will start in today's championship round opener.

"We have to get our sleep in. It could be a long day," Aldrich said. "It's going to be tough. They're a good team."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter:@BCgenius