Cheshire vs Ridgefield - CIAC Class LL

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Palmer Field) -- For the first time since 1993, Cheshire Baseball is on top of the baseball world. After beating Ridgefield, 1-0, Saturday they were crowned Class LL Champions. And starter Ben DeLaubell was front and center.

DeLaubell pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout and was responsible for the only run of the game, a seventh inning RBI groundout that plated Ian Battipaglia.

“This team’s amazing,” DeLaubell said. “We play for each other and there’s just nothing like this (experience). This is so much better than a dream.”

To get here, Cheshire had to get by Fairfield Prep. That game last Wednesday took 10 innings and they took care of business, 5-4.

“I’m ecstatic right now, I’m speechless,” their head coach, Bill Mrowka, said. “[Ben]’s our guy. Four year starter and he battled. He just had to control his emotions out there and he did and it was awesome.”

Mrowka said the team was unable to play small ball in some spots, at times where he wished the game could have broken open a bit more, but he was proud of all the effort.

“You gotta stay the course. We were fortunate to get one more run then them,” Mrowka said. “I think we’re the best team in the state. I’m not gonna beat around the bush. We had to beat Staples, Ridgefield, Fairfield Prep. New Canaan was a good team, Glastonbury wasn’t easy but if you’re gonna win it you may as well be playing good teams and going out in the right way.”

On the other side, Ridgefield also had opportunities, including two hits from Matt Costello. They threw Matt DeLuca on the mound and he was strong in six and a third innings of four-hit, six strikeout ball.

Cheshire finished with one run on four hits and no errors while the Tigers countered with no runs on three hits and two errors.

“This was a long time coming,” DeLaubell said. “But it was worth it.”