AAU Baseball Team Reaches Final In Iowa Journal Inquirer Staff Writer (As originally published in the Journal Inquirer) Connecticut is making waves this week at the national AAU baseball tournament in West Des Moines, Iowa. Team Connecticut reached the winners bracket final with a 5-2 nine-inning triumph over the defending national champion New England Mariners. Southington's John Orefice pitched a one-hitter and Wendell Anderson of East Hartford had a game winning two-run double in the top of the ninth. Next up for Team Connecticut will be the California Yankees, which along with Connecticut is the one remaining undefeated team in the 36-team tournament. The game is scheduled to be played tonight at 9 p.m. A Connecticut win sends it to the championship round which begins Saturday at 2 p.m. A loss means a losers bracket final Saturday at 10:30 a.m. "It's our first time in the tournament and we were not expected to go far," Connecticut manager Rich Armstrong said. "People said we were in a weak pool. But our record is 8-0, we're working hard, and we are having a great time showing people we can play." Connecticut won the game in the top of the ninth as Mike Panaroni smacked a one out double. Orefice was intentionally walked and Anderson smacked a two-run double to gain a 4-2 advantage for Connecticut. Chip Rourke of Jewett City singled home Anderson with an insurance run. "Wendell is having an awesome tournament," Armstrong said. Connecticut rebounded from a 1-0 deficit with a second-inning run on consecutive doubles by Brett Burnham and Orefice. After the Mariners moved ahead 2-1 in the fifth on their only hit, Connecticut tied the score in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Hadfield of Glastonbury which scored Bob Tyler. The win did not come easy for Connecticut, however. There was a protest of a batting out of order call in the sixth that was eventually disallowed after a one-hour delay. "There were some anxious moments after the game," Armstrong said. "We would have had to continue the game in the sixth but the protest went in our favor. Orefice pitched such a great game. He broke down and cried because it was such a big win for us." Connecticut needs only one more big win to put itself into prime position for a national championship. "Our program speaks for itself," Armstrong said. "The guys are gutsy and they are the best players I have ever been associated with. We are getting great support from the parents and coaches. Without them, we are in trouble. We'll see. Maybe we can bring back a national championship when our nine-day trip ends Sunday."