Middletown – Cleaning out the notebook after the state high school baseball tournament ...

• Mad props and bon mots to Phil Orbe (Montville) and Jack Biggs (East Lyme) for getting their teams to the finals. Orbe and the Indians came from 6-0 down in the semifinals and then ran into first-rate pitching in the championship game. And Biggs? Darn near became one of the unique coaches in the history of this region to win a state title with boys (baseball) and girls (volleyball). Said it before: You can go to Dr. Phil for advice on the sexes if you want. I'll take Dr. Jack.

• Tremendous job, Montville people. Not two seconds after the final out of a hideous loss Friday, the entire rooting section – and it was large – gave the kids a standing ovation for a wonderful run. Loved the orange shirts and the passion. Once again, we see how sports unite a town. Doubtful a crowd of 1,500 would show up to watch the kids take trigonometry. Just sayin.'

• More consternation from CIAC suits about allowing the media on the field after games. Because, of course, half of us would commandeer one of the tractors from the grounds crew and pop wheelies in the outfield. This just in: We're there to do a job. Respect that. And get off the power trip. It's unbecoming.

• I'll miss you, Jordan Zeppieri. Or as the Montville student section called him: "Jay-Z." Kid is a hoot. As he said after Friday's game, "the funk lives on."

• Yes, it was difficult to hold back laughter listening to some dweebs from the other end of the state bellyaching about the trip to Dodd Stadium for the semifinals. Been there, done that, folks. Besides, Dodd and Mohegan Sun Arena are two of the best venues in Connecticut. Get over it. We're the show now.

• I'll miss you, Connor Lewis. Even though Waterford went out in the second round – and how Siena-bound right-hander Thomas Sutera never pitched in the state tournament is a really good question – Lewis was timely as ever. He leaves Waterford with two buzzer-beaters in the state basketball tournament and a no-hitter in the state baseball tournament. His last at-bat in this tournament with his team down 3-1? He homered.

• Scott Chaisson at Ledyard is the region's next coaching star. The Colonels made the quarterfinals. Won't be long until he's accused of recruiting, which is what happens now when you dare win a few games at Ledyard.

• Best thing I saw: Middletown athletic director Elisha DeJesus, whose staff did a magnificent job all weekend, retrieved a home run ball hit by North Haven's Mike DeRosa. DeJesus went into the grandstand and presented it to DeRosa's mother. She nearly cried. We all cheered.

• Tough losses for the ECC, true. But at least our teams lost to two of the good guys. Sheehan's Matt Altieri is one of the best coaches in Connecticut. And a good man. Bob DeMayo at North Haven has been there since 1959. Maybe the state's best high school baseball coach ever. Still a hilarious quote.

• Once again: We may carp over what we perceive as bad officiating here in our corner of the world. But we learned once again the greatness of our board, especially when watching umpiring from other parts of Connecticut. Nolan Cloutier of Sheehan hit a home run that was called foul. Jeremy Sagun of Montville was absurdly safe on a play at first base. The home plate umpire in the East Lyme-North Haven game had a floating dime of a strike zone. The same applies to football and basketball, too. Our guys are good. So go give Sarge Pasqualini, Kevin Moreland, Leo Bawza and their colleagues a great, big hug.

• Second best thing I saw: A few Waterford baseball players walked into Palmer Field Friday night and ... walked right past the Montville rooting section. They sat on the Sheehan side, thus fortifying how the Montville-Waterford rivalry beats all around here.

• High school sports, save for a season-ending track and field meet in New Britain, are finito for the school year. Lots of fun. Happy summer. Now go watch the Connecticut Sun. Off to a great start.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius