BEACON FALLS—The last two seasons have ended the exact same way for the Woodland Regional softball program.
With the Hawks hoisting the state championship trophy after claiming back-to-back titles.
This year, with only two seniors on the roster and a new starting pitcher, longtime head coach Loren Luddy knew her young team would hit a few rough patches over the course of this regular season.
Come Saturday, however, third-seeded Woodland is back where it expected to be: Facing 13th-seeded Sheehan for the Class M state championship at UConn’s Burrill Family Field. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
“That was our goal,” Luddy said of chasing the program’s third straight state title and fourth overall. “I knew it would be a little bit of an up-and-down year.”
When you considered Woodland is heading into the finale with a 23-4 overall record you wonder where the ups and downs occurred.
“It was more losses than we have over the last three years combined,” she said.
Woodland’s youth it appears has come of age.
The Hawks lost twice to Seymour and twice to Watertown, the second time in a heart-wrenching 1-0 NVL championship game defeat.
Monday’s 9-1 win over Oxford in the semifinals thrust Woodland back into the title game for another year and the Hawks are ready.
“I knew we’d take a few knocks,” Luddy said. “We had potential. We’ve always had the potential to have a lights-out, lock-it-down defense, but we had people in new positions. But in tournament play, they’ve really settled in.”
In the circle, first-year starter Ella VanAlstyne has grown and her talent is now meshing with that growing experience. She’s also pitching to a super solid catcher in Julia Rowley.
Both were selected as All-State performers this season.
“Ella is a fantastic pitcher, but she was in the outfield for us the last two seasons,” Luddy said. “She’s finding her groove and just getting more confident every time out.”
VanAlstyne and Rowley, both juniors, are captains along with seniors Lucia Rubano and Breanna Thurston, who man the corners for the Woodland infield.
“It’s so nice to have that experience in the corners,” Luddy said.
Both are also ripping the cover off the ball for the Hawks.
Thurston is hitting .522 with 47 hits and 44 RBIs. Rubano has had 45 hits and driven in 27 runs this season.
Up the middle, sophomore shortstop Kate Lisowski (who started last year as a freshman) and junior second baseman Paige Chiaramonte patrol the grounds.
“Kate had never played shortstop before last year, but she looked like she could be a natural,” Luddy said. “We didn’t want to move around other people and that’s the position we needed to fill and she’s done a great job.”
In the outfield, the speedy Chloe Cervone, a junior, is surrounded by Emma Degeorge and Caitlyn Braun, both sophomores. Braun is also the team’s back-up pitcher.
Ayla DeCrescenzo, a freshman, is the team’s DP.
Outfielder Angelina Tottenham, a freshman, and Gabby Capobianco, a sophomore, could also see pinch-running or pinch-hitting duties on Saturday, as well.
Woodland has been here before and knows what to expect on Saturday, even if the 10 a.m. start time might take some of the players out of their typical pre-game routine.
“A 7 a.m. bus is tough,” Luddy admitted. “But we’re really greatful to be playing at UConn. It’s such an amazing field and beautiful facility.”
Luddy is not surprised Sheehan, despite their double-digit seed and six regular season losses, will be in the other dugout, either.
“That was going to be my bet if Watertown didn’t make it,” she said. “I thought it would be Watertown or Sheehan. They’re a very good team. We’ll have to be at the top of our game in all aspects to beat them.”
There might have been a few question marks when the season started, but that never changed the plan.
“From day one of the season, our goal is to win a state championship,” Luddy said.
On Saturday, Woodland Regional has a chance to do just that.
Again.
For the third straight year.
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