Groton — Dan Santos swears that his Waterford Babe Ruth 15-year-old team didn’t hit well a summer ago.

No, seriously — a Waterford baseball team that didn’t hit enough.

“Not many people would (believe it),” the head coach said after Waterford erupted for 11 hits and thumped East Lyme, 12-2, to win the District 6 championship in a five-inning mercy rule game at Washington Park.

“They’re an aggressive team. They compete with each other every day, and when they get on the field, it’s a competition still. They love it. They thrive on it.”

Waterford advanced to the state tournament … at East Lyme. The tournament runs July 9-16.

Bobby Silva had two hits, including a bases-clearing double, and scored two runs for Waterford. Nick Porazzi went 3-for-4, including a double, with two runs and an RBI.

Dylan Bosco added two hits, including an RBI double, and scored for Waterford.

“An average hitting day?,” Bosco said. “It’s got to be at least 10 runs. … On a good day.”

The neighboring teams have gotten to know each other pretty well the previous two summers. East Lyme beat Waterford to win the district title as 13 year olds. Waterford beat East Lyme en route to winning the state tournament.

Waterford beat East Lyme in last year’s 14-year-old district final. East Lyme avenged that defeat with a state semifinal win and went on to win the championship.

“It’s a rivalry ever since I’ve been playing,” Santos said. “I grew up in Waterford, and playing East Lyme, you always get up for it. Every time we play these guys, we have a good game.”

East Lyme coach Chris Holloway added, “Anybody from this area, whether it’s Waterford or East Lyme, has the potential (to win states).”

Ryan Ramella singled and scored for East Lyme and Liam Holloway hit an RBI single. Eric Patterson also scored.

East Lyme had ample chances to score in the first three innings but stranded seven.

Waterford took a 5-2 lead into the fifth inning when it batted around to end it. Sean Cioci hit a leadoff single and scored when Noah Speller followed with a double.

Liam Spellman reached on an error and Joey Scotti singled to load the bases with no outs.

J.J. Brennan continued the assault with an RBI single. Silva’s three-run double pushed Waterford ahead, 10-2.

Nick Porazzi hit an RBI single with one out, went all the way to third base on two wild pitches, and scored the game-ending run on an error.

“Our hitting, we worked on it a lot,” Santos said. “Last year we couldn’t hit anything. This year, we focused mainly on hitting, hitting, hitting. Every day. We hit a least one a day, which I think really drove that aspect home to the kids; that we needed to be better at it.”

n.griffen@theday.com