By Ron P. Coderre

Five of the six high school teams representing northeastern Connecticut are preparing to move on to the CIAC postseason tournament.  The quintet enjoyed a solid week on the diamond, posting a combined 10 wins while only dropping four games.

Putnam, Woodstock Academy, Ellis Tech, Tourtellotte and Plainfield are safely in the postseason with room to spare.  Killingly, which was able to only muster three victories this season is packing away the gear.

Marianapolis of the prep ranks closed out its 4-10 season on a high note, beating St. George’s School.

Tourtellotte Completes Season 

in Convincing Manner

Tourtellotte Memorial High School posted three solid victories to close out the regular season at 10-10.  The Lady Tigers opened the week with a five-inning 22-1 pasting of Parish Hill.  Mariah Beausoleil and Olivia Padula were perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3, while Christina Kopacz contribute two hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.

The Lady Tigers next victim was New London, which fell 28-10.  Emily Vincent and Padula were the big offensive weapons for Tourtellotte.  The Lady Tigers closed out the perfect week with a 9-1 win over Killingly as Crystal Daly was immense in the circle.  Vincent and Kopacz enjoyed strong performances at the plate in the win.

Keri Lehtonen pitched and batted Plainfield to a 9-5 win over Lyman Memorial as the Lady Panthers had a 3-0 week on the diamond.  Lehtonen, who is batting a remarkable .600 on the season, was on base three times and scored each time she was on.  Following the uplifting win over Lyman, Plainfield continued its surge with an easy 17-2 victory over New London.  Kat Devolve and Abby Horan each had three hits for the 12-8 Lady Panthers.  Plainfield ended its regular season on an upbeat note with a 15-0 shutout of visiting Valley Regional.  Lehtonen, who picked up her eighth pitching win of the season, also provided a home run and double.  Chivon Burns also homered for the victors. 

Ellis Tech had a full schedule, playing four games and walking away with two wins.  Thanks to Sheridan Murphy (4-for-4) and freshman Autumn Jackson (three hits and four RBIs) the Eagles beat Parish Hill 23-3 in a five inning contest.  The team followed that win with an exciting 4-3 victory over Windham.  Murphy, who eluded trouble throughout the game, was the winning pitcher for Ellis Tech.

The Techsters luck ran out as they were soundly beaten by St. Bernard 16-1and 15-0 in a five-inning contest by Platt Tech.  Ellis Tech closes the regular season at 12-8.

After beating Academy of the Holy Family 12-0 behind Mackenzie Livingston’s three-hit pitching, Putnam lost its next two games.  The Lady Clippers were dropped 12-9 by Wilcox Tech and shutout 3-0 by University.  Putnam was able to garner one hit against University in a CSC first-round game.  Putnam stands at 11-9 as it awaits its seed for the CIAC Tournament.

Woodstock Academy is 10-8 after posting a 7-3 win over St. Bernard in its only game of the week.  Angela Caponi was the winning pitcher for the Acads.  She received offensive support from Rylee Hehir and Jordyn Staveski.

Killingly was beaten by Bacon Academy 7-2, shutout by Montville 11-0 and lost to Griswold 6-5.  The losses give the Redgals a 3-17 log as it puts a lid on the 2015 regular season.

A seven-run fifth inning proved to be the difference as Marianapolis bested St. George’s 10-6 in its final game of the season.  Taylor Pacheco with three hits and three runs-batted-in was the hitting star for the Golden Knights.  Marianapolis closes the season at 4-10.