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WESTON, Conn. Karen Constant stepped into a pitching break a few years ago for Peter's Spirits in the Weston Women's Softball League. She is on the verge of leading her team to a second straight league title before stepping aside for good.
Constant pitched for Peter's Thursday in a 14-2 win over Camelot Real Estate in a first-round playoff game Thursday at Onion Barn Field. The win sends Peter's into the winners' bracket final Tuesday. Constant is wrapping up her career with Peter's because she is moving to Boston due to her husband's job change.
Constant has been the pitching constant the past few years for Peter's, a team that went from worst in 2009 to first in 2010. She picked up the pitching duties when no one else was available. "I can focus with all the other distractions going on,'' Constant said. "I try to mix my pitches up a little bit."
She walked one batter in Thursday's win "probably the first or second walk of the season,'' she said and let her defense do the rest. Constant had three assists and snared two line drives that were hit right at her. Led by the strong play of shortstop Kelly Saltzgraber, Peter's committed just one error.
Saltzgraber also led the offense with two hits and four runs scored. Val Saltzman had three hits and three RBIs, while Mary Asphar and Julie Baisley had two apiece. The top four hitters in Peter's lineup combined for nine hits, nine runs and four RBIs. Lauren Abrams also had two RBIs. Peter's scored 11 runs over the first two innings and Saltzman's two-run single in the sixth ended the scoring.
Camelot was let by Allie Dimauro, who hit two booming doubles and had an RBI. Ann Marie MacDonald had two hits and scored a run, and Tracy Haberman had an RBI. Dena Tunney reached base three times and scored a run, and Kristin Adams singled and reached base twice.
When the season ends, Constant said, she will take away fond memories of her four years in the league. "I'll miss all the women working together, the husbands and the kids coming out, hanging out after the games,'' she said. "It's good for the kids to see us out there. I don't think the Weston league can be matched any where."
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