Heather VanDerheyden is not one to get rattled. The junior ace of the Fairfield Warde softball team had the biggest game of her high school career ahead of her. Minutes before game time, she and her teammates were dancing in the dugout to Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like a Woman," which was blasting out of a boombox.
So when VanDerheyden escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth and then found herself right back in another jam in the seventh against cross-town rival Fairfield Ludlowe in the Class LL state quarterfinals, she did not panic.
"Ludlowe is a great competitor, but we play best when we're relaxed," VanDerheyden said. "We knew we had to stay focused, but having fun while doing it would help us bring the win."
The Falcons got the tying run on base, trailing 4-2 with one out in the top of the seventh. Ludlowe's Emily Nelson ripped a sinking liner to center field. Summer Anderson knew she only had one choice, diving to her left.
"I figured I had to dive because if I didn't it was going to get past me and they'd score anyway," Anderson said.
The catch was impressive, but Anderson knew to get back up and throw the ball to third base. Umpires ruled the Ludlowe runner left too soon when tagging up. Double play, game over. Warde suddenly and dramatically had won, 4-2, and moved on to the Class LL state semifinals.
"They made some really good contact, but I kept them in front of the pitch with my screwball," VanDerheyden said. "They were looking for it, but I was able to keep it inside and keep them off balance."
For Ludlowe, it was the end of a magical run for a team loaded with sophomores and freshmen. Falcons head coach Tony Samuelian said he is proud of this season and confident his team will be back next season.
The big inning came early for Warde, scoring four times in the second inning on three errors and a walk. Stacey Dileo provided the fireworks for Warde with a bases-clearing triple. All four Warde runs were unearned, as Ludlowe's one lapse ultimately cost them.
Warde will face either Conrad or FCIAC rival Trumbull in the state semifinals on Tuesday. Ludlowe finishes its season at 14-8 and as FCIAC runner-up.
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