New London — The youthful exuberance of the New London High School softball team can sometimes border on goofiness.

In one huddle Monday afternoon, the Whalers were instructed to cheer "hits and runs on three." On the count of three, one player gleefully shouted "hits and runs ... on three."

Oh, but when New London steps in the batter's box or on the pitcher's mound or into right field, that's when the Whalers become very much results-oriented. Take Monday's victory over Putnam, for instance.

Sophomore Caylee Parker pitched a no-hitter for the second time in three games, retiring the final seven hitters in order as New London topped Putnam 10-2, qualifying the Whalers for the Class L state tournament with a record of 8-4 overall. It is New London's first state tournament berth since 2010.

"I knew they had something special," said New London coach Missy Parker, who incorporated six freshmen into last year's lineup, which finished just shy of a tournament appearance at 6-14. "I was excited last year about this team's future."

"I am pretty happy," said senior first baseman and co-captain Joe Potter. "It's been a very long time (without qualifying). I definitely knew we could do it. I wasn't nervous (Monday). I know we are capable of it. ... Here we are; I think we can really go far."

Caylee Parker struck out seven and walked two. She pitched around a walk and an error in the first inning, which gave Putnam two on with one out, catching a line drive and doubling the runner off first to end the inning. That began a stretch of 12 straight Putnam batters retired by Parker.

But Parker also received some defensive help. Fellow sophomore Princess Hernandez raced after a drive down the right field line in the second inning and made a stabbing catch to save a hit. Hernandez also robbed Putnam's Lauren Blackmar of a single in the fourth inning, throwing Blackmar out at first base from her spot in right field.

On the ensuing play, New London catcher Finella Smith popped out of a crouch and tracked down a flair that was fouled off the bat of Abby St. Martin.

"No, usually I don't even know it ," said Parker, asked if she realized she was in the midst of a no-hitter. "It felt really good to beat them. ... It's good when the defense has my back."

"She has what it takes mentally to be a pitcher," said Missy Parker, who is Caylee's mom. "She doesn't get frustrated, she doesn't get flustered, she just keeps pitching. I saw potential in her when she was young. She goes to pitching lessons every week. She puts the time in."

Joe Potter and Jaelynn Potter had two hits each for New London. Joe Potter added three stolen bases and two runs scored and Jaelynn a single, double, an RBI and a run scored. Parker and Ella Cook added doubles and Hernandez scored three times.

The Whalers, who have won four straight, scored five times in the first inning on just one hit, taking advantage of four walks, two hit batters and a a pair of Putnam errors. Cassandra Roman, the No. 9 hitter, had New London's first hit, driving in two runs with a single to left.

New London added a run in the second when Joe Potter raced home from third on an appeal play by Putnam at second base. Anaya Vega drove in a run in the third on an infield single and the Whalers got two in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Cook and Parker.

Bria Fielding added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the Whalers' final run.

Putnam scored two unearned runs in the fifth on a pair of New London errors.

Parker also pitched a no-hitter last Tuesday in a 3-2 win over Windham, after which Missy Parker treated the team with a trip to Royal Buffet in Willimantic. The Whalers returned to Willimantic on Thursday to watch the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team's doubleheader sweep of Keene State — Missy Parker is an alum of the Eastern program.

"You need to have fun in order to be successful," Joe Potter said of the team's joyful approach. "Without positive energy, you go nowhere, you crumble. You have to stay up and there's always that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We have all different personalities."

Missy Parker credited captains Joe Potter and Fielding with reigning in those personalities, "otherwise they'd be goofy all the time," Parker said.

"They're two of the most amazing captains you could ever ask for," Missy Parker said. "They do everything that's expected of them and more.

"... I get on (the players). I hold them accountable. But even if it's just taking them to the Eastern game or sometimes we change things up in practice, they're such a joy to coach."

v.fulkerson@theday.com