Middletown, CT — In a game that will be remembered for years to come as a classic, Warde defeated Staples 2-1 in 10-innings in the CIAC Class LL championship game Saturday at Palmer Field. Griffin Polley’s single to left field with two outs in the top of the 10th drove in the winning run, giving Warde back-to-back state titles. “My guys got on base and it was my turn and I had to do my job too,” Polley said. “We lost a few games in the regular season and lost the No. 1 ranking and we flipped the switch and turned it on from there. We realized we were a championship team and this proves it here.” Polley, who is committed to play for James Madison next year, not only delivered the game-winning hit but also matched Staples ace Hiro Wyatt pitch-for-pitch. Both aces worked threw eight innings with Polley allowing one run on two hits while striking out five. Wyatt allowed five hits and struck out nine. Warde sophomore Austin Howard, who is committed to play at Louisville, pitched 1.2 innings of relief to pick up the win. It was the first extra inning state final since 2016's Class L game between Notre Dame-West Haven and East Lyme and the first in Class LL since Newington beat Southington in 10 innings in 2011. Warde entered ranked No. 1 in the GameTimeCT Poll, Staples was No. 3. “I have never, ever been a part of a game like that, but I am glad I was a part of it,” Warde coach Brett Conner said. “That’s an epic game and it will be talked about for 50 years and that’s pretty cool.” Warde won its 16th-straight postseason game and it was not lost on Conner that Polley wears No. 16. “I thought about that before the game. Number 16 is going to get our 16th-straight victory in the postseason,” Conner said. “He’s an alpha and a baseball dude. You have to be a dude in this game. You are going to have pressure put on you and how do you respond? He trusted his teammates and trusted his preparation and played a great game.” Both teams were held scoreless early. Warde loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on a single and two hit batsmen, but Wyatt induced a foul pop down the right field line for the final out. In the top of the seventh, Warde again loaded the bases but this time pinch-hitter Kyle Justo got hit with an 0-2 pitch with two outs, allowing the game’s first run to score. Wyatt hit four batters over the final two innings. Staples tied it in the bottom of the seventh on a bloop fielder’s choice to right field by David Gervasio, which brought in the tying run. Staples had the bases loaded with one out but Polley picked a runner off third and then got a groundball to shortstop, sending the game to extra innings tied 1-1. Staples got the first wo runners on in the 10th but could not get them home and Howard induced a flyball to center field for the final out. Staples coach Jack McFarland recognized the significance of the game his team just played. “That was probably the best LL final in 20 years,” McFarland said. “We left it all on the field and were one hit short with a runner in scoring position. It is what it is. We did everything we needed to do but we were one base hit short. It was something out there today.” Player of the game Griffin Polley, Warde: Polley was dominant on the mound and delivered the winning hit in extra innings. Polley had two hits on the afternoon. Quotable “We have been playing together for 10-11 years and I knew these kids when I was five,” Polley said. “We have an incredible bond and the season just made it stronger.” CLASS LL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Warde 2 Staples 1 (10) WARDE 000 000 100 1—2 6 1 STAPLES 000 000 100 0—1 2 1 Batteries: S—Hiro Wyatt, Kai Nee (L, 9), Nick Porzio (10) and Holden Caney W—Griffin Polley, Paddy Galvin (9) Austin Howard (W, 9) and Kieran Shea