Living in New London and observing its daily rhythms sustains the classic old joke about the guy banging his head against the wall.

"Why are you banging your head against the wall?" they ask him.

"Because it feels so good when I stop," he says.

It's a New London thing.

Happily, this is an occasion to mimic the guy in the joke and give a respite to the self-torture. Because we must celebrate quite the sports summer so far in the 06320, what with an Olympian and two state championship baseball teams. And so we salute India Pagan, the New London Babe Ruth 15-year-olds and the New London "50-70" intermediate baseball team for bringing some hardware and renown home.

Pagan, who starred for the Whalers and brought home a high school basketball state championship in 2017, played for Puerto Rico in the Olympics. The world got to see this young woman who was part of such a vibrant piece of our sports history in her high school days.

India Pagan got to win a state championship with her sister, Tai, also playing on the team. The championship game at Mohegan Sun — still the largest crowd ever to watch a girls' basketball game in Connecticut history — became an infomercial for New London's spirit and diversity, told through the eyes of the Pagans.

"I think I need a defibrillator," India and Tai's dad, Moises, said after the game, still among the best quotes ever.

It was pretty easy to see how the rhythms of family that pulsate through the Pagans applied to the rest of the 2017 Whalers, who finished No. 1 in the state. They were just a group of girls doing what family and friends always do — hang out, have fun, make fun of each other, be themselves, show off, and find some sort of conflict on which they could all be on the same side, which was the game in question.

So congrats to all the Pagans and thanks for representing us so well.

The Babe Ruth 15s won the state championship and went to the championship game of the New England tournament. Their impact was perhaps best illustrated in the bleachers at Trumbull High School in the game that would decide the New England champion. Many kids already playing youth baseball on other teams showed up wearing their green and gold, sustaining "Whaler Pride," which, sadly, has gone quiet in recent years with high school programs not as successful as they used to be.

And then the team that went largely overlooked: the champs of "50-70," a division of Little League for kids 11-13 that offers a transition for players between the standard Little League field size of 46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths. New London, with nine of the 13 players hailing from the city, defeated Fairfield in the finals.

"Just a great group of kids," said assistant coach (and old friend) Isaak Lazarou. "They really rooted for each other."

Ja Clinton managed with the team with coaches Lazarou, Jevon Clarke and Joe Dougherty. The players: Jackson Carberry, Yadiel Echevarria, PJ Evans, Raymer Guzman, Jacoby Lafleur, Johnny Lazarou, Lou Lugo, Andrew McElwee, Cameron Murch, Desmond Powers, Cayden Simonds Gaskin, Edward Torres and Elijah Vaughan.

"Ja Clinton brings everything together as the manager. I can't stress how important he is to our program," Lazarou said, also mentioning that Matt Greene, who recently completed his first year as the high school varsity coach, was very supportive all summer. Greene clearly understands the way to build a program.

There will be no proclamations here about how Pagan and two baseball teams will somehow usher New London's renaissance. There will be no NEW LONDON IS BACK, BABY. This is simply in appreciation of the present moment and maybe a little flirtation with the idea that better days might be coming.

As stated many times here: Sports are better and more fun around here when New London teams win. It's been a great summer.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro