TRUMBULL—Despite all the talk about how “anybody could win the FCIAC” in the end it comes down to two of the top three seeds playing for the championship on Thursday.
Top-seeded St. Joseph nipped No. 5 New Canaan by a 2-1 score in the first semifinal while third-seeded Darien slipped past seventh-seed Trumbull High, the host of the semifinals and Thursday’s title tilt.
Here’s a brief recap of both games:
ST. JOSEPH 2, NEW CANAAN 1
Gina Coppola’s one-out solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Cadets improved to 19-3 overall this season.
From there, the Cadets defense and starting pitcher Katie Dzialo did the rest. St. Joe’s played error-free ball behind Dzialo, who gave up just two hits. She struck out eight and walked just one.
She helped to aid her own cause with two hits, as well.
The Cadets struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Makenna Stratton started things with a one-out single. Dzialo followed with a base of hit of her own.
Sophia Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases before Kelsea Flanagan took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch to plate a run and give the Cadets the lead.
New Canaan tied the game in the top of the second.
Lisa Mallozzi opened the inning with a base hit to right. With one out, Lily Nicolet walked and Darian DiMuzio singled to load the bases.
Mallozzi would score on a fielder’s choice by Riley Fortmann for the second out and the Cadets would escape further damage.
Lauren Fico pitched well for the Rams, going six innings and giving up just six hits. She struck out three and walked one.
DARIEN 1, TRUMBULL 0
Kate McCloskey scampered home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the second Blue Wave a berth in Thursday’s finale.
The game was a pure pitchers duel between Darien’s Vivian Knott and Trumbull’s Madison Pippa and neither hurler disappointed.
Knott gave up just one hit—to Trumbull’s Maren Jones while leading off the fourth—but struck out 11 and walked two.
Pippa scattered five hits, giving up just the one run. She struck out 10 and walked two.
In the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game, Kate McCloskey singled to center field. With one out, her sister Callie singled, allowing Kate to advance to third.
Soon enough Kate McCloskey was scampering home with the winning run and the Blue Wave were headed to the FCIAC finals.
Both McCloskeys had two hits for the Blue Wave.
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