THURSDAY: It's all Middletown Legion, folks

So we were fighting deadline hard Wednesday night, but we got the Middletown-Stamford result in Thursday's paper and, boy, was it a doozy. If you haven't already heard, Middletown walloped Stamford to the tune of 17 hits, and Tommy Ryan threw 10 strikeouts in a complete-game effort that I suspect was inspired by teammate Colin Sledzik.

Now they've got Branford, the defending champs, at Muzzy Field. Middletown certainly has momentum, but can they get another dazzling pitching performance? We'll soon find out.

• FYI: Here's the deal on how the tourney will play out. The winner of Middletown-Branford will go on to play Norwalk Friday at Muzzy Field. Norwalk still hasn't lost, though, so for Middletown or Branford to win the state title, they would need to defeat Norwalk twice (again Sunday). A hefty task, indeed, especially because Norwalk has been described as the far-and-away the best team in the tournament.

Anything can happen, folks.

Who but a pair of Posties for Athletes of the Week? If timing wasn't a factor, Tommy Ryan would be in there for his dominating performance Wednesday. But Yuri Morin and Colin Sledzik are just as deserving. Video interviews for each of the boys, check 'em out. 

Lost in all of this is a great story from an East Haddam golfer named Ellie Dutch, who left the sport of golf for four full years when she attended college. She's back and wowing the amateur circuit, and currently looking to qualify for the LPGA Futures Tour. Read more on the 23-year-old Ellie here.

But of course, you're sports video of the day. Middletown native Joey Logano and ESPN's Skip Bayless. Enough said.