The Bethel-based Admirals Sr American Legion baseball team, which comprises Newtown and Bethel players, advanced through the Sectionals of the 19U State Tournament with a pair of nail-biting wins July 16 and 17.

Admirals pitchers Michael Parker and Joe Liquori both flirted with no-hitters, each allowing seventh-inning hits to toss one-hit complete games, as the sixth-seeded Admirals blanked No. 19 Naugatuck 1-0 in the first game, then clipped No. 11 Orange 2-1 the next day - both at Bethel High School's Hunt Field.

The Admirals advanced to face third-seeded Stratford in the best-of-three series Regional round, beginning Wednesday, July 20.

Parker had two strikeouts and walked two batters in the win over Naugatuck. He threw his fastball, curve, and occasional changeup effectively despite taking a little time to settle into a groove.

"At the beginning I got behind some batters but I came back. I was getting my ground ball and fly ball outs."

The Admirals scratched out the game's lone run in the third inning with the help of a wild pitch; Kyle Brelling singled and Sam Czel walked in the frame.

The next day, Liquori was also in shutdown mode, fanning seven Orange batters on his way to victory. The Admirals plated both of their runs in the opening inning as Liquori singled and scored on an Austin Kasbarian double, and Tyler Plumb added a run-scoring single.

Orange had a hit and benefitted from two errors to score its run and put the potential tying and winning runs on base before Liquori sealed things with strikeout.

"Joe's a great pitcher. It's kind of cool to seed it two days in a row," Parker said of Liquori duplicating his one-hit performance. "More importantly we got both wins."

Newtown Coach Josh Hull was impressed with the pitching performances, but also got what he expected from the starters, in the first two games.

"They've been our go-to guys all year so I can't say I'm surprised at them throwing such outstanding performances," Hull said.

Kasbarian not only produced one of his team's two runs, but also helped out defensively as he made a nice running catch deep down the left field line in the game two win.

"It is nerve-wracking," Kasbarian said of being involved in such close playoff contests. "But I know at the end of the day we can pull through if we work as a team."

With regular second baseman Tim Vander Have away late in the season on a mission trip to Uganda. Hull called upon 17U Jr Legion infielder Mike Liberante to fill a void, and Liberante helped out, contributing a pair of singles and crisp fielding in the win over Orange.

"I can't say enough about Mike Liberante. He had two hits today and he's made all the plays," Hull said.

The Admirals posted a 19-5 regular-season record to place second behind Waterbury in Zone 5. They played 24 games in a busy month-long stretch beginning in mid-June, and while some teams might experience burnout, that's not the case here, Hull said.

"These guys just can't wait to get back to the park," he said.

The Admirals are hoping to continue playing deeper into the summer. The winner of the series against Stratford moves on to the Super Regionals in Middletown, the weekend of July 23-24.