WATERBURY - Newington's win over Amity in Tuesday's first CIAC Class LL semifinal at Municipal Stadium assured an all-CCC West state title game.

The Indians awaited the winner of semifinal No. 2 between sixth-ranked New Britain and seventh-seeded Southington.

Pencil in the Blue Knights, who avenged two regular-season losses to the Golden Hurricanes with a 6-3 victory.

"It says a lot about our league and our division," Southington coach Charlie Lembo said.

Southington took control of the game in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to erase a 3-2 deficit. Tyler Burns tied the score with an RBI double and Connor Butkiewicz followed with a run-scoring single off the first-base bag to put the Blue Knights up 4-3.

Butkiewicz then swiped second and Ted Shaw walked to chase starter Allen Nunez in favor of Matt Martinez. Chris Lee greeted Martinez by ripping the first pitch he saw into right field to score Butkiewicz. Shaw then scored on Matt Spruill's fielder's choice to put Southington ahead 6-3.

Southington got off to a good start, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning off Nunez, who plunked Lee on the first pitch of the game. Lee stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on the red-hot Spruill's double to left field. Spruill later came home on a passed ball.

New Britain scored a run in the bottom of the first on Kian Downes' two-out single off Southington starter Joe Sullivan.

The Hurricanes went ahead 3-2 in the second inning. Kenny Noyola plated Mike Sturges, who had doubled, on an RBI groundout. With two outs, Nestor Velazquez tripled and scored on Nunes' second hit in as many innings.

Southington escaped further damage in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on first and second, Knights' catcher Lee threw out Martinez trying to steal third. The inning ended when left fielder Alex Roger gunned down Downes on the fly at home plate on a single by Sturges.

"That was a laser," Southington coach Lembo said.

"That definitely got us up," Roger said. "I just wanted to make a good throw. It definitely lifted our team."

The defensive play seemed to spark Southington and Sullivan (6-1) the rest of the way. The senior right-hander did not yield a run after the second inning. He scattered 10 hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

The Southington defense helped him out with a 5-4-3 double play that started with Ben Nichols in the seventh inning. The game ended on a pop-up to shortstop.

"I struggled through those first two innings," Sullivan said. "It was a little bit scary, but I hung in there and trusted my teammates. Going to the finals is the greatest feeling in the world. I can't explain it. We're all excited."

"Joe has been a gamer all year long," Lembo said. "We've been telling him he's the best No. 2 pitcher in the state ... He wanted the ball."

Both teams entered Tuesday's game at 18-5 overall. New Britain beat Southington twice during the regular season by scores of 11-2 and 8-7.

Southington is making its 10th trip to the state finals. The Knights won championships in 1961, 1994 and 1999.

In Tuesday's first semifinal, No. 17 Newington snapped a 3-3 tie with three runs in the top of the 10th inning and hung on for a 6-5 victory over fourth-seeded Amity.

Newington is 18-6 overall. Southington defeated the Indians twice during the regular season, 7-2 and 11-3. The state championship game is Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bristol's Muzzy Field.