Waterford — Should the Waterford 15-year-old Babe Ruth team win one more tournament, the Connecticut state tournament being held beginning Friday in Waterford, it would accomplish something no other team in town has ever done.

That would give this particular group of Waterford players the 13-year-old state title, the 14-year-old state title and the 15-year-old state title, all under manager Dave Laffey.

"They're a fun team to coach ... like driving a Cadillac," Laffey said. "They all get along great. They all have outgoing personalities. You don't get any lip from them. They're so deep; they're interchangable. I tell them, 'be honest with me.' They're honest with me."

First things first. Waterford won the District 6 championship Sunday, beating Pawcatuck 10-1.

The day wasn't the most ideal for baseball. Temperatures crept into the 90s and felt steamier. But perhaps it was because Waterford has done this a time or two, it still made the championship run seem effortless.

Ryan O'Connell, without his best stuff due to illness, Laffey said, pitched four innings, allowing three hits, striking out six and walking two. Trevor D'Amico closed, throwing three innings, striking out four, to earn the save.

Waterford, meanwhile led 6-0 after two innings, scoring five in the second by virtue of four hits and three hit batters. Mike Marelli broke things open with a two-out, two-run single to make it 5-0 and Owen Coderre drove in the sixth run by beating out an infield single.

Waterford added one in the third on an RBI single by Ryan Bakken and three in the fifth, including an RBI single by O'Connell and a sacrifice fly by Anthony Tonucci. Sam Lanuza, O'Connell, Marelli and Robbie Zawacki each had two of the team's 11 hits.

Waterford will next play in the state tournament Friday. The team won the 13-year-old tournament in 2016, reaching the World Series in Ottumwa, Iowa. It took the 14-year-old state title last year before falling in the regional. Several of the players on the team also won the Little League state title as 12-year-olds.

"Hopefully, we go all summer again this year," Laffey said.

"It was really hot," said Bakken, the Waterford catcher, who had perhaps the toughest job Sunday. "I had a (cool) towel between innings. But I had sweat running down my face the whole time; that was not easy to block out. ... We're kind of used to it. We've been in these situations before. We kind of expected to win, but we know we can't take it easy."

For Pawcatuck, it reached the championship game with an 8-7 victory over Groton in nine, long innings Saturday night.

That game was a big one, assuring Pawcatuck of a state tournament berth, as well. Because Waterford will participate in the tournament as the host team, Pawcatuck earns a bid representing District 6. Brandt Ogden pitched six innings and had four hits against Groton.

"Our team is made up of kids from all different schools; a couple of the kids are still in middle school," Pawcatuck manager Bob Dimock said. "I think they're developing leadership. I'm proud of their effort and attitude. We can't wait to play again."

Waterford took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by O'Connell. Trey Brennan was hit by a pitch and stole second before O'Connell laced the first pitch he saw to left field.

v.fulkerson@theday.com