A no-hitter, two one-hitters and three shutouts, highlighted the semifinal rounds of the Class M and Class S state tournaments on Monday.
When all was said and done North Branford and St. Paul Cathliolic were victorious in Class S while Foran and three-time defending champ Woodland Regional moved to the Class M finals.
No. 1-seed North Branford got a no-hitter from Lauren Vitarisi in a 2-0 win over No. 20 St. Bernard’s while second-seeded St. Paul Catholic blew open a close game late and defeated Hale-Ray, the No. 3 seed, by a 10-1 count.
North Branford will face St. Paul Catholic for the state small-school title on Saturday.
In Class M, top-seeded Woodland Regional beat No. 13 Oxford 12-0 while second-seeded Foran topped No. 3 Nonnewaug, 14-0.
The Hawks, seeking their fourth straight state title, will face Foran in a battle of undefeated teams for the crown, also on Saturday.
All state championship games will be played at UConn’s Burrill Family Field.
Times are to be announced.
CLASS S SEMIFINALS
NORTH BRANFORD 2, ST. BERNARD 0
Lauren Vitarisi’s no-hitter propelled the Thunderbirds into the championship game for the fifth time in school history.
Vitarisi, a junior, struck out 12 and walked one while her team scratched out a couple of runs to earn the win.
In fact, both of North Branford’s runs came in the bottom of the first inning.
A one-out single by Lexi Falcioni started the rally as the Thunderbirds batter moved up to second on an error.
Ava Ryszczyk followed with a two-out single, plating Falcioni for a 1-0 lead. After Ryszczyk’s hit, Alia Martone doubled to make it a 2-0 game.
From there, Vitarisi had all the runs she needed in a dominant performance.
Martone finished with two hits for the Thunderbirds, both doubles. Madi DeStefano also doubled while Adrienne Frost and Lily Ardito also had singles.
Kaitlyn Scribner pitched very well for St. Bernard’s. She threw six innings, scattering seven hits. She struck out five and walked just one.
ST. PAUL CATHOLIC 10, HALE-RAY 1
The highly anticipated matchup was a nailbiter heading into the bottom of the sixth as the host Falcons had a 2-1 edge on the Noises.
Eight runs later, St. Paul was headed to the championship game.
A three-run home run by Liliana McCullough and a two-run triple from Taylor Williams were the big blows in the inning.
Laila McCullough also had a home run in the game, a solo shot.
St. Paul had no repeat hitters in the contest, but Peighton Giambra doubled and Julia Kozlak tripled for the winners.
Breyona Demora got the win, going the distance. She gave up three hits, one run and struck out eight without walking a batter.
For Hale-Ray, Autumn Landry doubled while Faith Kalisz singled and scored a run. Lily Jahne also singled.
CLASS M SEMIFINALS
WOODLAND REGIONAL 12, OXFORD 0
Ella Van Alstyne fired a one-hit shutout, striking out nine and walking three, while also going 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs as the Hawks rolled into the finals chasing its fourth straight state championship.
Julia Rowley (double, HR, 1 run, 2 RBIs) had two hits as did Angelena Tottenham (2 runs scored). Kate Lisowski doubled, scored two runs, plated a run and drew two walks.
For Oxford, Maya Macero had a pinch-hit single.
FORAN 14, NONNEWAUG 0
Abby Corris fired a five-inning one-hitter, striking out 13 and walking two, to lead Foran to the championship game.
The Lions lead 1-0 after two and a half innings before blowing the game open with seven runs in the third and six more in the fourth.
From the top of the line-up, Norah Bove was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. She also walked.
Ariele Diorio, Olivia Gregory, Maya Fallon-Silva and Maddie Deldin all had doubles for Foran. Corris also had a hit and two RBIs while Fallon-Silva also plated two.
For Nonnewaug, Gianna DeLorenzo had her team’s lone hit, a single.
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