New Canaan softball played well down the stretch to make it to the Class L state tournament, but came up just short in its first-round game at Darien. The Rams kept it closer than their No. 26 seed would suggest, but the seventh-seeded Blue Wave still picked up the win on their home turf, 2-1.
The story of the game was pitching, with both Dariens Jessica DeMaio and New Canaans Cydney Ventura turning in solid complete games. DeMaio scattered nine hits over her seven innings, holding the Rams to just one run. Ventura gave up only seven hits, but thanks to great timing the Blue Wave managed to pick up two runs off the Rams starter.
Both teams started early, with New Canaan threatening in the top of the first and Darien answering with its first run a half-inning later. In the top half of the inning, a Ventura single, a hit batter for DeMaio, and an error gave the Rams the bases loaded with two outs. But Emily Blosio picked up a ball that ricocheted off her teammate, escaping the inning unscathed. Then, in the bottom of the same inning, the Blue Wave pulled ahead on an RBI single from Kelly Fahey, scoring Nicole Buch.
Darien picked up what proved to be a necessary insurance run in the fourth. Emma Hamilton set the table with a one-out triple to left field. On the next play, she scored on Michelle Piccaro grounder to second, and just beat the throw home to put the Blue Wave up 2-0.
The Rams mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh. Abby Jenkins led off the inning with a single for her third hit of the game. After a fielders choice and a ground ball to advance the runner, Tory Rusch gave New Canaan its only run with an RBI single to left. But the Blue Wave managed to escape the inning thanks to a diving catch in foul territory to end the game.
The Rams played well down the stretch to make it this far, winning five of their last eight regular-season games to clinch the last spot in the CIAC Class L state tournament. With Tuesday afternoons loss, the Rams closed out at 8-13.
Darien head coach Nick DeMaio was happy with his teams effort, but gave the Rams their due. One thing I like about [New Canaan] is theyre not afraid to hit, he said. They swing very good bats. Their at-bats were better than ours today.
New Canaan head coach Larry Tomaselli said the game was won and lost on timely hitting. We were in a position pretty much every inning to put a number of runs on the board, and we just couldnt get that big hit, he said. Credit to [Jessica], she made the pitches to get up out. He added, We had every chance in the world today, we just didnt do it.
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