STORRS—Jeff LaHouse, the head coach of the Coventry softball team, knew his team could put up some runs.
The second-seeded Patriots scored 281 of them entering Saturday’s CIAC Class S championship game against No. 9 Holy Cross at UConn’s Burrill Family Field.
What the Patriots coach didn’t expect was his team putting up so many of them in the final, but Coventry simply pounded Holy Cross into submission, recording 16 hits in their 16-3 win over the Crusaders.
It was Coventry’s second straight small-school championship.
“Our offense was, once we got going, there was no stopping us,” LaHouse said. “I mean they just fed off each other and impressed me. How many runs? We picked up 16 runs or whatever it was. I don’t even know what the score was. I’m just so happy for them.”
The top of the line-up dominated the game for Coventry, notching 13 of the team’s hits.
Championship MVP Lilah Talaga, a freshman, was 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBIS from the lead-off spot. Number two hitter Meghan Doherty, another freshman, was 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI.
Those two table-setters were plated by the duo of junior Sarah Miller (4-for-5, 3 runs, 4 RBIs) and senior Elizabeth Mitchell (3-for-5, 2-run home run, two runs and four total RBIs).
“Hitting is definitely contagious,” Mitchell said. “As soon as Lilah sets the tone for us, she’s our first batter, we’re ready to go. She definitely sets the tone and then we kind of just feed off each other’s energy.”
Tied at 1-1 entering the bottom of the third inning, Coventry’s bats just exploded.
Talaga rocked a ground-rule double and Doherty walked to the open the inning. Miller reached on an outfield error, allowing two to score before Mitchell launched a two-run home run that bounced off the top of the fence and over to push the lead to 5-1.
“I was thinking maybe it was off the wall, maybe a home run,” Mitchell said. “I was praying for the home run, so I’m glad that’s what I got.”
Coventry added three more runs in the fourth, a five spot in the fifth and three in the sixth as the Patriots kept circling the bases.
Of the Patriots’ 16 hits, 11 went for extra bases—eight doubles, two triples and the home run.
Charlotte Wesoloskie added two hits, including a double, for Coventry while Brooke Blouin and Emma Vertucci added single hits.
With the Patriots bat doing their thing, the rest of was up to Mitchell, the pitcher, and her defense.
Mitchell gave up just three hits, striking out eight and walking just two.
“She was good. When I talk about Liz, obviously we know she’s a good pitcher, but she’s a smart pitcher,” LaHouse said. “She knows how to pitch batters, so that’s what makes her as good as she is.”
Holy Cross actually jumped out on top in the game by a 1-0 score.
Said Girgasky walked and was sacrificed to second base by Isabella Oliver’s bunt. Tressa Montesi then poked an RBI triple down the right field line.
Coventry tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Talaga opened the Patriots offense with a single. She would later score on a throwing error.
After Montessi’s triple for Holy Cross, Mitchell retired 14 of the next 15 batters for Coventry as the Patriots bats took the lead and never looked back.
The Patriots finished the season 25-2.
Holy Cross, under head coach Dave Sylvester, wrapped things up at 19-8. Montessi had two of her team’s three hits in the game.
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