Southington — It doesn't quite have a Shakespearean bent, this question, "What's in a number?" But maybe now as they accept nominations for the next Fitch High School Hall of Fame class, we offer the following suggestion:

It's time to retire the number 77 on the walls of the gym, or perhaps fly a "77" flag near the softball field. Because nothing else better illustrates Fitch's athletic excellence more than 77 trombones leading the big parade.

The Falcons were awash in 77 again Monday afternoon, half a state away, playing in perhaps the most anticipated high school athletic event of the spring to date: The softball game between No. 1 Southington, winner of 77 in a row, and No. 2 Fitch. And the Falcons did it again. They snapped another 77-game win streak, their second in the last eight years.

That's right. In 2009, when current coach Arielle Cooper (and assistant Aubrey Latham) were high school seniors, they took down mighty Masuk in the state championship game. Masuk, winners of 77 straight at the time, boasted LSU-bound pitcher Rachele Fico, who only won 105 games in her career and threw 21 no-hitters.

But then, as the Falcons have proven enough times now, what's in a number?

And then it was Monday, spectators parking $5 cab rides away from the field, all to watch Caroline Taber pitch a shutout and Fitch wipe out another 77. Fitch 2, Southington 0.

This seems the best time as any to offer the following public service announcement: Toss around all the names you want in state softball lore and legend. Fitch belongs in the conversation. Maybe there's not years of history there (although Cooper's mom, Renee, may beg to differ) but three state title game appearances since 2009, two state championship wins and two 77-game win streaks that have gone kaput suggest Fitch has found its niche.

"We've won a lot since 2009," Latham said after Monday's game. "Two state championships, gone to another state championship game, there's no reason we're not on this level as these other LL schools. I think we proved that today."

They sure did. And they have the LL school to thank for it. Southington and classy coach Davina Hernandez wanted this game to happen. Lord knows the Blue Knights play a difficult enough schedule. They didn't need to see a tournament-tested, well-coached program with a championship pedigree that also has Taber, the Princeton-bound pitcher.

"Since I was in high school, Fitch has always been known as being one of the top teams," Hernandez said. "If you're getting these state championship-like games in the middle of the season, it's only going to help you. Records are not forever. We'll move on."

Fitch assistant coach Bob Peruzzotti made sure to thank Hernandez personally after the game for making the game happen. Seems a number of schools in the ECC opted out against Fitch this season — cue the laugh track — thus leaving the Falcons scrambling for games.

"We've been asking for a few years and it never really fit into our schedule," Cooper said. "Davina gave us the chance to come out this year and we couldn't be happier. We needed this. Coming off last season's loss (in the Class L finals), this is something that will prepare us."

Hernandez's career record at Southington fell to a crisp 55-1. When the game ended, Southington fans stood and applauded their kids for quite the run.

"I think they probably expected me to go over there and yell at them, but I didn't. I mean, every athlete, every coach, is going go experience loss. It happened today," Hernandez said. "We wanted this game to line up this way. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. We knew Fitch was as good as it was going to get. They were better than us today. We've had a lot of balls bounce our way over the last couple of years. Sometimes they bounce the other way. It's part of the game."

(Note to Southington: May we borrow Hernandez intermittently to do some coaching clinics for some of our ECC folks who don't quite grasp the aforementioned concepts?)

Quite a day. Just what you'd want from No. 1 vs. No. 2. And if you could have seen the look on the face of Fitch senior Nalissa Amar, who singled and eventually reached third base to lead off the fifth inning of a scoreless game — she beamed with this look of "I DID IT!" — you would understand why such games are a necessity. A true sense of accomplishment. On the stage. Wonderful, healthy competition. Two young coaches who get it.

"The ECC has good teams. You've got your Waterford, you've got your NFA," Taber said. "But playing games like this, this is what I love. Seeing them on our schedule made me so happy."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.