By Ron P. Coderre

The time is here for local softball teams to move on to the CIAC and conference tournaments.  The prize that everyone’s been playing for all season, entry into the postseason, is right around the corner for a quartet of high school teams.  One team is on the bubble and one has been eliminated from postseason play.

The four teams in the charmed circle are Plainfield, Woodstock Academy, Putnam and Ellis Tech.  Tourtellotte can enter that select group if it earns one more victory to get to the required number of eight victories.  Unfortunately, for the Killingly Redgals their postseason dreams are over.

The preps, Marianapolis and Pomfret are playing out the string and don’t appear to have the required number of victories to play in either SENE or NEPSAC tournaments.

Lady Clippers on a Tear

A healthy Mackenzie Livingston has breathed new life into the Putnam Lady Clipper softball fortunes.  Livingston, who is Putnam’s ace in the circle and one of its most prodigious hitters, has led her teammates on an eight-game winning streak.  The team stands at 10-7 overall entering the final week of play.  They’re 9-2 in the Constitution State Conference – East Division, tied at the top with Norwich Tech.

In a week that saw Putnam pick up a pair of key victories, the Lady Clippers avenged an earlier loss at the hands of Norwich Tech by edging the visitors 4-3 in a contest at Owen Tarr Park.  Livingston was immense in the win, scattering six NT hits in the complete game performance.  At the plate, Livingston had three hits, including an early game triple, scored the first run of the game and accounted for a run batted in.

In their only other game the Lady Clippers eased their way past Grasso Tech 12-2.  The Putnam offense was led by Lynsay Dashnaw and Lindsay Roberts who had three hits apiece, while the ever-present Livingston contributed a triple to the winning cause.

Plainfield enjoyed success, capturing two of three games.  The Lady Panthers picked up a 6-5 win over Waterford and won a pitcher’s duel 1-0 over Ledyard.  Keri Lehtonen tossed a two-hitter at the Lady Colonels for the shutout.  Plainfield’s winning run was scored by Chivon Burns who scored on an Abby Horan hit.  Sandwiched between the wins was an 18-12 loss at the hands of archrival Griswold.  Plainfield is 9-9 overall and 4-5 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference – Medium Division. 

Ellis Tech, enjoying one of its best seasons in recent years opened with a 19-0 white washing of Grasso Tech.  The Lady Eagles were paced by Sydney Tetreault (three triples and two RBI’s) and Kristin Light who had five runs-batted-in.  Ellis Tech got a little of its own medicine when it was trounced later in the week by Haddam-Killingworth 20-3.  The Techsters are 10-7 overall and 8-3 in the CSC – East.

Woodstock, which is 9-9 and 4-5 in the ECC – Large Division fell three times in the past week.  The Lady Centaurs were beaten by Fitch 10-0, East Lyme 8-2 and Stonington 12-0.

Tourtellotte, which needs one win to qualify for the CIAC Tournament suffered through a winless week.  The Lady Tigers lost to St. Bernard 15-8, Wheeler 14-13 and Montville 5-3.  TMHS is 7-10 overall and 3-7 in the ECC – Small.

Killingly was defeated twice as the Redgals dropped to 3-13 on the season and 2-7 in the ECC – Medium.  The Redgals were shutout by Stonington 15-0 and lost to Waterford 7-2.

Jenna LaBeef led Pomfret School to a 17-2 win over Miss Hall’s School.  LaBeef pitched a complete game, striking out six, while also scoring four runs to help her team on offense.  Makenna Newkirk homered for the Lady Griffins, who are 3-5 on the season.  

Marianapolis dropped a pair of close games, losing to Cheshire Academy 5-3 in eight innings and 6-2 to Westminster.  The Lady Knights are 3-10 on the season.