NEWTOWN—Masuk’s Julia Bacoulis makes plenty of noise in the 43-foot distance that stands between the pitching rubber and home plate.
On Thursday night, though, Bacoulis was 60 feet away from being the biggest difference of the game.
The reigning Gatorade Player of the Year raced home from third on a Brookfield error in the top of the 10th inning, giving the second-seeded Panthers a 1-0 win over the top-seeded Bobcats to win the 2025 SWC championship at Newtown High School.
It was Masuk’s seventh SWC crown in eight years.
The game was a brilliant pitcher’s duel between two of the leagues—and the state’s—best as Bacoulis and Brookfield’s Sydney Miller went back and forth through extra innings of scoreless softball.
Bacoulis gave up just two hits, striking out 16 and walking three while getting the win.
Miller, meanwhile, gave up just four hits, striking out 15 and wealking four.
In the top of the 10th, however, Masuk got the lone run it needed.
Bacoulis drew a walk against Miller to lead off the inning.
Grace Ely reached on an error, moving Bacoulis up to second base.
Webb laid down a sacrifice bunt for the first out of the inning, but the successful attempt moved both Bacoluis and Ely up a base.
The Panthers did it again with Alyssa Castillo at the plate. Her bunt turned into an error that allowed Bacoulis to race home, giving Masuk a 1-0 lead.
Brookfield had beaten the Panthers in the regular season, so the Bobcats had a chance to tie the game in the home half of the 10th.
Three straight strikeouts by Bacoulis ended the game.
Sofia Lieto and Aubrey Zvovushe-Ramos were both 2-for-4 to pace the Masuk offensive effort. Lieto doubled.
For Brookfield, Miller and Aurrichio both had hits. Miller doubled and Samantha Aurrichio singled.
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