Fitch makes it look easy in winning third straight ECC softball championship
Griswold — The easy thing to do would be to lump Fitch's most recent Eastern Connecticut Conference softball tournament title, Friday night's 13-2 victory over Griswold, with those of the previous two seasons.
As in: That makes three in a row for the Falcons. The end.
Only there was nothing easy about this season for Fitch, which started the season — following last year's Class L state championship — 1-2 with 26 runs allowed in the pair of losses.
"Pomperaug and the first NFA game ... it was really bad," Fitch coach Arielle Cooper said. "It was like, 'Are we going to stay in this dark tunnel or dig our way out?' It takes a lot of work, a lot of dedication."
"I knew we could do it," said Fitch pitcher Jayden Delaporta, one of seven seniors on the roster and one of six in the starting lineup. "We came together. We started to make the plays. We hit. I could not be more proud."
Delaporta pitched five no-hit innings to start the championship game and drilled a two-run double in the fourth inning, as Fitch began scoring with two runs in the third and never stopped against previously unbeaten Griswold.
It was the fourth overall ECC tournament title for Fitch (18-6), tying the Falcons with Waterford and Norwich Free Academy for most championships in history of the event. Griswold was looking for its first title since winning three straight from 2002-04.
The victory capped a prolific week for fifth-seeded Fitch, which won four games in the newly aligned tournament, including avenging losses to Stonington and NFA, both Wednesday. The Falcs beat No. 4 Stonington 17-1 in six innings in the ECC quarterfinals and then topped No. 1 NFA 5-3 in the semifinals at night.
Including a 12-2 win over Woodstock in the first round, Fitch outscored its opponents 47-8 while adding its third straight title, the first one without Gatorade Player of the Year and ace pitcher Caroline Taber, who graduated.
"This is the last hurrah," said Cooper, whose team celebrated Senior Night on May 16 and have been virtually unstoppable since. "It's emotional because I came in with them (as interim coach in 2014, the seniors' freshman year). We were both new. We were there for each other.
"... I want to be with these guys a little bit longer."
There have been changes as things progressed this season. Third baseman Rylee MacMillan was lost to a season-ending injury. Freshman Nora Ryan was called up from junior varsity to play first base and Susanna Mewha went from first to outfield.
Senior center fielder Cassie Woods, battling injuries during the offseason which left doubt as to whether she could play, is competing with such zeal she crashed through a fence during one game against NFA, trying to catch a home run ball.
"Our energy has been really, really strong," Cooper said. "We had to learn that you can't go through the motions and win. ... That (win over NFA) was big. Our energy was up the whole game. You have to. It's do or die. You've got to do."
Fitch scored two runs each in the third through sixth innings and added five in the midst of a sudden cloudburst in the seventh, which made getting outs difficult for both pitchers.
Olivia Carney had three of Fitch's 14 hits and two RBI and Taylor Wolfgang, Delaporta, Nicole Vignato and Angelina Doak had two each. Doak came off the bench to rip two triples, driving in four runs.
Delaporta allowed just four Griswold hits, the first to Shay Sauvageau to lead off the sixth.
The Wolverines came into the game 22-0 and will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Class M state tournament. Fitch is ranked 11th in Class L.
"They've progressively gotten better throughout the season," Griswold coach Rick Arremony said of Fitch. "Delaporta threw a great game. Wolfgang (the catcher) called a great game. We didn't make a couple plays ... they put the pressure on you and you have to make them on the run."
2017 ECC AWARD WINNERS / SOFTBALL
Following is a list of the 2017 Eastern Connecticut Conference softball all-stars and sportsmanship award winners:
Division I
First team – Pitchers: Beth Fleming (NFA), Jayden Delaporta (Fitch); Infield: Jenna Topalis (Ledyard), Sara Cote (NFA), Jonell Hobert (Fitch), Alexandra Chambers (East Lyme); Outfield: Hailee Schrader (NFA), Sophia DiCocco (NFA), Cassie Woods (Fitch); Catcher: Taylor Wolfgang (Fitch); Designated player: Shea Gendron (NFA).
Honorable mention – Brooke Gottshall (NFA), Bria Fielding (New London), Isabel Siciliano (East Lyme), Whitney Brandt (Ledyard).
Sportsmanship award – Caitlyn Sievers (East Lyme), Rylee MacMillan (Fitch), Riley Pratt (Ledyard), Jhannah Rivers (New London), Jordan Nute (NFA).
Division II
First team – Pitchers: Ashley Goldstein (Waterford), Trinity Lennon (Stonington); Infield: Hannah Burgess (Woodstock), Ciana Chiappone (Waterford), Madison Nott (Waterford), Abby Flakus (Stonington); Outfield: Ciri Miller (Woodstock), Morgan Harriott (Killingly), Miranda Arruda (Stonington); Catcher: Erin Craig (Stonington); Designated player: Kelly Ann Kessler (Bacon).
Honorable mention – Jordy Staveski (Woodstock), Cameron Dreher (Stonington), Colette Dreher (Stonington), Amanda Perkins (Montville), Lili Stoddard (Waterford), Gina McKittrick (Waterford), Alexis Michon (Montville), Ashley Veillette (Killingly), Emily Borysewicz (Waterford), Veronica Krystofik (Bacon).
Sportsmanship award – Amelia LaCerte (Bacon), Reilly Allen (Killingly), Tiffany Evans (Montville), Cameron Dreher (Stonington), Ashlee Hancock (Waterford), Clara Sarantopoulos (Woodstock).
Divison III
First team – Pitchers: Maya Waldron (Griswold), Sam Muller (Wheeler); Infield: Shay Sauvageau (Griswold), Brooke Rainville (Griswold), Emily Nelson (St. Bernard), Katy Konow (Lyman); Outfield: Kaitlyn Davis (Griswold), Kat Devolve (Plainfield), Nicole Bibeau (Lyman); Catcher: Emily Vincent (Tourtellotte); Designated player: Katee Meese (Lyman).
Honorable mention – Kendra Perez (Wheeler), Nikki Collins (Wheeler), Lauren Ramos (Tourtellotte), Nicole Rivera (Windham), Madison LaBossiere (Griswold), Amanda Bogoslofski (Tourtellotte), Julia Janca (Griswold), Sophie Nelson (St. Bernard), Michaela Godzik (Tourtellotte), Kacee Hirst (Plainfield), Kamryn Gurnee (Griswold), Madison Kelly (Plainfield), Briana Beverly (St. Bernard).
Sportsmanship award – Madison LaBossiere (Griswold), Allison Cook (Lyman), Malena Fasion (Plainfield), Taina Quinones (St. Bernard), Jolie Wilber (Tourtellotte), Emma Stock (Wheeler), Tatyana Ware (Windham).
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