Softball Wrap-up

Woodstock &

Ellis Tech

softball teams 

qualify 

for CIAC

By Ron P. Coderre

Woodstock Academy softball under coaches Jason Gerum and Brad Favreau is witnessing a renaissance that has the people of the town excited and talking.  The Academy girls put together a perfect week in raising their record to 9-5 and qualifying for the CIAC Tournament.  Part of the streak was a win over vaunted Norwich Free Academy, a team the Lady Centaurs hadn’t beaten in some 15-plus seasons.  It’s also the first time since 2008 that Woodstock softball will be in the State postseason tournament.

South on Rte. 395 the Ellis Tech ladies were rejoicing as they picked up victory Number 8, also making them eligible for that elusive CIAC Tournament.  Plainfield and Tourtellotte both boasting 7-7 records are on the cusp of qualifying as are the Putnam Clippers, who need two more wins to receive entry into the CIAC postseason event.

The preps, Marianapolis and Pomfret School had light weeks.  Marianapolis played two games, while the Lady Griffins were only on the diamond one time.

Gatorade Week for Lady Centaurs

If the Woodstock Academy softball team didn’t shower coach Jason Gerum with Gatorade last week they certainly missed more than one opportunity to do so.  The Acads were a perfect 3-0 on the week, raising their record to 9-5 and 4-3 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference – Large Division.  Along the way Woodstock picked up the elusive win over NFA, the second reason for the Gatorade shower.

Rylee Hehir, the Marianapolis transfer who’s been a big cog in the Academy softball transformation, was the winning pitcher in a 9-3 win over Ledyard.  Hehir, who is also a feared hitter, was 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI’s to pace the win.  

The next game was the victory over NFA, which forced athletic director Aaron Patterson to replace the cartridge in his printer, as he extolled the virtues of everyone except the Woodstock First Selectman for their role in the win.  

Down by two runs, the Lady Centaurs rallied for three runs and hung on for a 4-3 win as NFA went down with a fight.  The big blow came off the bat of winning pitcher Angela Caponi whose two-run double tied the game.  The winning run was scored by Hehir, who raced home on a groundout by Clara Sarantopolous.  Hehir also had a home run in the first inning of the contest.

Woodstock topped off the week with an equally exciting 3-2 extra-inning win over Bacon Academy.  Once again, the duo of Hehir and Caponi were involved in the verdict.  Hehir scored the winning run on a single by Caponi, to cap the ‘week that was’ in Woodstock softball.

Ellis Tech, after losing big time to Norwich Tech 18-3 responded with a 21-6 trouncing of Holy Family Academy that put them into the CIAC Tournament.  Sheridan Murphy, Rhiannon Sulik and Sydney Tetreault were the big guns in the Eagles’ offense.  Ellis Tech stands at 8-5 and 6-2 in the Constitution State Conference – East Division.

Plainfield pitching posted a pair of shutouts in going 2-1 on the week.  The Lady Panthers opened with a 16-0 pasting of New London behind the two-hit pitching of Taylor Peloquin, who also led the hitting parade with two hits.  Cali Joslyn, Chivon Burns and Sarah LeClair enjoyed big days at the plate.  Keri Lehtonen closed out the week by shutting down the Killingly bats in a 13-0 rout of the Redgals.  She allowed only three hits while striking out 13.  Lehtonen also helped her own cause with a 4-for-4 day with the bat.

Sandwiched between the shutouts was a disappointing 9-3 loss at the hands of the Stonington Bears.  The loss broke a two-game Panther winning streak.  Plainfield is 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the ECC- Medium Division.

In addition to losing to Plainfield, Killingly also lost to Griswold 9-3 and Windham 11-7.  Following the loss to Griswold, the Redgals rebounded with a 13-3 win over New London breaking an eight game losing skid.  Sydney Guari and Cara Mayhew were the offense behind the win, which puts Killingly at 3-11 on the season and 2-5 in the ECC – Medium Division.

Tourtellotte, which stands at 7-7, one game away from qualifying for the CIAC Tournament and 3-3 in the ECC – Small Division, posted a 1-2 week.  The Lady Tigers beat Windham 15-5 to snap a three game losing streak.  Grace Deneault (3-for-5) and Crystal Daly (two hits) were the Tourtellotte hitting stars.  Earlier in the week, the Lady Tigers were dropped by Montville 6-4 and Lyman 7-4.

Mackenzie Livingston pitched and powered Putnam to an 8-4 victory over Windham Tech.  Livingston had a complete game performance in the circle and contributed a home run, double and single at the plate.  Putnam is 6-8 on the season and 5-3 in the CSC – East Division.

Marianapolis lost to Ethel Walker 18-5.  The Lady Knights are 3-5 on the season.

 

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