Jose Cools Cromwell Bats; All-Stars Headed to District 9 Championship

Coginchaug Little League's 12-year-old all-star team is headed to the District 9 championship after a dominant 10-0 win over Cromwell on Tuesday night at the Great Hill Complex in Haddam.

The team will face No. 1 seed Haddam in a best-of-three series that begins Friday in Haddam.

Coginchaug ace John John Jose was unhittable in his team's four inning mercy-rule win — the team's third straight — striking out seven Cromwell batters while walking just one.

"He was stellar," said manager Ken Vallone, who also praised his team's offense.

 "We finally hit the ball, the way we're capable," he said.

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After a scoreless first inning, Coginchaug's Griffin Saks led off the bottom of the second inning with a double. Cromwell pitcher Jared Valentin then walked Connor Rulnick and Saks scored on a double steal to give Coginchaug a 1-0 lead.

Jose, who had allowed his only Cromwell baserunner of the game with a walk in the second inning, followed up by striking out the side in the third inning.

Coginchaug had a 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning when A.J Kleczkowski came to the plate with one out and two on. He ripped a Valentin pitch over the centerfield wall for a 3-run home run and a 7-0 Coginchaug advantage.

With Coginchaug ahead 9-0 in the fourth inning and Saks standing at third base, Connor Rulnick hit a walk-off single up the middle and was greeted by his cheering  teammates in front of the dugout.

"I thought, I have guys behind me to hit the ball," Rulnick said. "I wasn't feeling very nervous."

Game one of the three-game series between Coginchaug and Haddam is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday in Haddam