Shelton National Little League pitchers allowed only three hits over the course of two games, and swept Ellington Little League, 7-0 and 10-0, to win their second consecutive Connecticut state title in a championship series played at the Thompson Little League complex in North Grosvenor Dale.

Tyler Tice, one of two key returnees from Shelton's 2007 state championship team, fired a two-hitter in the series opener, and Bobby Moretti threw a one-hitter and homered three times in the second contest. Shelton National, which fell one game short of South Williamsport the prior year, eventually went on to reach the Little League World Series.

Center fielder Eddie Kochiss propelled Shelton's offense in the opening game win, collecting three hits in as many at bats and driving in five runs. Kochiss opened the scoring with a two-run home run well beyond the left field fence in the second inning, and produced a run-scoring single in the third. He added a second home run in the fifth inning.

"Eddie Kochiss has a big game practically every game," observed Shelton National manager Ed Szymansky. "He hits the ball a ton. He is a big player in a big spot."

Tice struck out nine in the win, and did not walk a batter. The right-hander allowed only Justin Oliver's infield single in the second inning and Bradley Pospisil's single in the sixth.

"He (Tice) would be a number one (pitcher) on anybody else's team," said Szymansky, who had the luxury of slotting Tice as his second pitcher behind the flame-throwing Moretti.

"He's my second number one, I call him. He always gets stronger as the game goes on, (and) has ice water in his veins. That kid goes out there -- he's just expressionless. He just pumps strikes. You've got to love that about that kid."

Ellington's main threat came in the second inning. The District 11 champions advanced runners to first and second with one out following Oliver's hit and a Shelton error. But the next Ellington batter missed a take sign on a 1-0 pitch, and instead grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Szymansky elected to start Tice over Moretti in order to give his ace an extra day of rest following his two-hitter in the Section 1 championship game earlier in the week.

Moretti responded to the extra day with a one-hitter the next afternoon. He allowed only Oliver's second inning double, and ended the game by striking out the side in the bottom of the fourth just before a rainstorm drenched the field.

"What else can I say about this kid (Moretti)?" said Szymansky. "He just shows up every day to play and gives it 110 percent."

While Moretti stifled Ellington's hitters, Shelton National put the game away early. Shortstop Matt Batten -- the other returnee from Shelton's 2007 squad -- led off the game with a single, and Tice then belted a hanging curveball over the left field fence. Moretti followed with a solo shot of his own, and eight pitches into the game, Shelton held a 3-0 lead.

Ninth-place hitter Anthony Searles drilled a solo home run in the second, and Moretti added his second home run following a Tice double. In the fourth, Moretti launched a two-run homer, before a third run scored on an error and Marcelo Ursini stole home on the front end of a double steal.

Tice and Moretti each had three hits in the game, while Ursini and Kochiss had two each. Shelton collected double-digit hits in both state tournament games, while Tice and Moretti held Ellington's hitters to a .094 (3-for-32) batting average.

"They are a very good team," said Ellington manager Jeff Dounouk of his team's opponent. "We knew that coming in. We had them scouted right, that wasn't the issue."

"It's tough to lose," added the Ellington skipper. "But I just told these kids to take it all in because this is something they'll never forget."

Shelton National compiled a 26-2 record versus Connecticut opponents during its two state championship runs, including a streak of 23 consecutive victories. The District 3 champions avenged both defeats in subsequent rematches.

"One game at a time," said Szymansky of his team's success. "Ask any coach and they will tell you that."

"When the (tournament) season starts, they're all shortstops and they're all pitchers," explained Szymansky. "First off, you have to get over the bump. You have to mold them into the players they are, and we only have a couple of weeks to do it. They responded well. Our kids are very coachable -- they make my job easy."

Szymansky also worked to minimize the pressure of high expectations generated by the league's prior success.

"Last year doesn't concern me or this team," said Szymansky. This is a new team and it means the world to them to have the chance to go to Williamsport. It's every Little Leaguer's dream."

Shelton National capitalized on their chance. A year after falling just short of South Williamsport, Shelton National outscored its opponents by a 46-2 margin in six games at the New England Region tournament in Bristol, Connecticut. The team trailed entering the sixth inning of a championship game meeting with Manchester North (New Hampshire) Little League, but home runs by Tice and Ursini pushed the team to the region championship with a 2-1 victory.