Norwalk Scores and Standings: July 28

The Daily Sports Digest is designed for you to add your best photo and/or video to share (instructions here). If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please e-mail sports editor Bob Birge at bob.birge@hotmail.com

1. American Legion senior state tournament

Norwalk will learn its opponent in the American Legion senior state tournament on Thursday, when Middletown and Branford clash in the loser's bracket final.

The winner takes on Norwalk in the final on Friday at Muzzy Field in Bristol at 6 p.m.

Wednesday's results ended any hopes of an all-zone four final. Branford, the top seed and defending state champion, eliminated Greenwich 4-1 in the first game. In the second game of the doubleheader, Middletown ousted Stamford, 9-1.

2. Junior American Legion state tournament

West Hartford finished off a 6-1 win over East Hartford on Wednesday, determining the final matchups in the quarterfinals of the junior American Legion state tournament that begins on Thursday.

No. 7 seed Trumbull battles No. 2 Southington in the second game of a doubleheader at Veterans Field in Windsor Locks at 6:30 p.m. No. 3 Stamford clashes with No. 6 West Hartford in the opener at 3:30 p.m.

In the other quarterfinal doubleheader, which will be played at Rogers Park in Danbury, No. 5 seed Ridgefield takes on No. 4 Bristol at 3:30 and No. 8 Norwalk faces No. 1 Bethel at 6:30 p.m.

Half of the final field of eight is comprised of teams from zone four.

The semifinals take place on Friday at 6 p.m. in Windsor Locks and Danbury with the championship game set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

3. Connecticut Open

Playing his third straight round in the 60s, Danbury's Frank Bensel put the finishing touches on a victory Wednesday in the 77th Connecticut Open at the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield.

Bensel never gave his pursuers a chance to catch him as he carded a 2-under 69 for a 54-hole total of 8-under 205 and a two-shot victory over Greenwich's Daniel Balin and amateur Tom Mccarthy of Twins Hills.

An assistant golf professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., Bensel claimed his second Connecticut Open, having won the title in 2009 at Hartford Golf Club. A conflict with a Metropolitan PGA prevented him from trying to defend his championship last year at the Country Club of Fairfield.

McCarthy, who started the final round at 1-under, made the biggest charge of the day, posting a 5-under 66. He ripped off three straight birdies on Nos. 10-12 to get to 7-under for the tournament, but bogied the par-4 18th to finish at 6-under.

After playing bogey-free golf through 15 holes, Bensel gave back a shot with a bogey on the par-3 16th, but finished with two pars to match his margin he enjoyed at the start of the day.

Balin, who plays out of Burning Tree, completed a solid week with a 68 after a 70 on Monday and a 69 on Tuesday.

Tunxis Plantation's Dave Szewczul, a 2010 Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame inductee and two time defending CSGA Senior Player of the Year, finished fourth at 208 after posting a 70 on Wednesday.

Wilton's Brian Murphy was thought to have an advantage playing on his home course, but couldn't get much going Wednesday, shooting a 2-over 73 to finish in a tie for ninth at 213.

Kensington's Kyle Gallo was seeking a record fifth Connecticut Open title, but never seriously challenged during the tournament. He finished with a 1-over 72, putting him in a tie for 15th at 215.

Among other local players, Stamford's Mike Ballo Jr. finished in a tie for 17th at 216 after his second straight 71.

Shorehaven's Jerry Courville struggled to a 76 Wednesday, leaving him in a tie for 21st at 216 after playing the first two rounds in 1-under

Redding's Jim St. Pierre also posted a 76, which dropped him to 25th at 218.

First-round leader David Pastore of Greenwich faltered after an opening-round 66, which matched McCarthy for the low score of the week. He went 76-77 over the final 36 holes, falling to a tie for 26th at 219.

Jack McConachie, the head golf professional at Pine Valley Country Club in Southington, finished fifth at 210 after a final-round 210 with his second.

McConachie fell short in a bid for a unique mark in Connecticut golfing annals. With a victory, he would have set a record for the longest period between Connecticut Open victories, having previously won the tournament in 1984 at Tumble Brook Country Club.

Richard Siderowf holds the mark, going 14 years between his second and third victories in 1959 and 1973. 

4. Babe Ruth New England Regionals for 13 year-olds

Norwalk will host the 13-year-old Babe Ruth New England Regionals beginning Saturday at McMahon.

The tournament gets under way with four games on tap Saturday and more on Sunday.

All eight teams will be in action in the double-elimination tourney on Saturday. Here is the first-round schedule:

Eastern Mass. vs. Vermont, 10 a.m.

Connecticut (New Milford) vs, Rhode Island, 1 p.m.

Western Mass. vs New Hampshire, 4 p.m.

Norwalk vs. Maine, 7 p.m.

If Norwalk wins, it will be face the Western Mass.-New Hampshire winner on Sunday at 7 p.m.

If Norwalk loses, it will take on the Western Mass-New Hampshire loser on Sunday at 1 p.m.

New Milford defeated Darien twice to win the Connecticut title last week in Ridgefield. The tournament continues through Aug. 4, and the winner advances to the 13-year-olds World Series Aug. 19-26 in Clifton Park, N.Y., which is near Saratoga.

5. Cal Ripken 11-year-old state tournament 

Norwalk lost to Newtown 10-6 Wednesday in the winner's bracket final in the Cal Ripken 11-year-old state tournanent.

Norwalk will face Oxford in the loser's bracket final in Danbury on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  If Norwalk wins, it would advance to the final but would have to beat Newtown twice.

6. Kayak for a Cause

The annual Kayak for a Cause is set for Saturday at Compo Beach. Kayakers will swim across Long Island Sound to raise money for charity.

Check-in time is from 6-8 am with the race starts at 9 p.m. Pre-registration ends on Thursday.

For more information, contact Kayak For A Cause at 203-807-5322  or via email at: info@kfac.com

7. Mike Garrity basketball summer camp

The Mike Garrity Elite Basketball Summer Camp at Compo Beach is set for the weeks of Aug. 15-19 and Aug. 22-26 from 2-4 p.m. each day.

The camp will be geared toward players from kindergarten through eighth grade and campers will be broken into groups based on age and skill level.

The camp stresses fundamentals. Development will come through drills, lectures and competition. Cost is $275 with a $75 discount for all players that sign up for both weeks.

For more info, call Glenn Katz at 203-856-7104 or Email istkatz22@yahoo.com.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

TUESDAY'S GAMES

Norwalk Sr.10, Stamford Sr. 8

Norwalk Jr.2, RCP Jr. 0 , completion of suspended game

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS