One of the best seasons in the history of the Darien High School softball program ended Monday with a 4-1 loss to Foran in the Class L semifinals at DeLuca Field in Stratford. The Blue Wave ended the season with a 22-4 record and a Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship.
The Blue Wave was seeking to make its second trip to the state championship game. Third-seeded Foran (21-4) jumped on top of the second-seeded Blue Wave with two runs in the first inning. Kelly Fahey's RBI double in the bottom of the inning trimmed the deficit to 2-1.
Darien squandered several other opportunities with base-running mistakes. The Blue Wave managed nine hits, but also had eight runners left on base. Nicole Buch and Fahey had two hits apiece. Pitcher Jess DeMaio allowed nine hits. Foran put the game away with two runs in the sixth. Foran advances to play top-seeded Bacon Academy for the championship.
Darien reached the Class L final in 2009, but has not won a state title. It captured its first FCIAC championship with a 4-3 win over Fairfield Ludlowe and entered Monday's contest having won 19 of its last 21 games.
The Blue Wave figures to be a threat next season as well. The team loses Buch and Sami Wood, but DeMaio, Bell Fahey, Olivia Gozdz and the remainder of its nucleus return.
What do you think about the success of Darien's softball team this year? Do you think the Blue Wave can win it all next year? Start the discussion below!
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