The CT Softball Blog

BERLIN—The Berlin Little League All-Stars knew they were going to get tested in their District 5 tournament.

After all, the always-tough Wallingford program was in the same bracket.

Berlin, however, survived each and every test, won the District 5 title by a 4-3 score, and now will play in the Section 2 tournament, beginning on Monday when it faces the District 3 champion in Simsbury.

It was the second straight District 5 title for Berlin.

“We returned five players from last year’s team, so it was great to have that experience coming back to help the new kids,” Berlin manager Danielle Gorneault said. “District 5 is always so competitive and for the last three years we’ve been battling Wallingford.”

With Walllingford behind them, and the sectional tournament coming up, Gorneault is hoping her team can keep giving her all facets of the game—especially at the plate, where Berlin is much improved from a year ago.

“It’s definitely been a little bit of everything for us,” Gorneault said, when asked what has made the program successful again this season. “We’re taking much better approaches and not just swinging to try to hit. They’ve adapted very well. We definitely feel this year we’re a much better hitting team.”

In the circle, it all starts with Alexis Gorneault.

“She has a little bit of everything,” her mom/coach said. “She’ll keep hitters on their toes. She has some pop, but she has great composure and loves the game.”

While Alexis Gorneault is the team’s No. 1 starter, Berlin has two other pitchers ready to the toe the rubber, if needed.

Taylar Dignazio-Drost and Katja Sepko are the back-ups, but also play key rolese in the field for Berlin. Sepko is the starting center fielder while Dignazio-Drost, an 11-year-old, comes off the bench to supply depth and pop.

Behind the plate, Isabella Carling is a weapon in more ways than one. She was one of Berlin’s top hitters in the District tournament and also threw out a handful of runners, taking away opponent’s running games early and often.

In the infield, Ava Rice (1B), Mischa Filipowicz (2B), Grace Burke (SS) and Ashley Thrope (3B) are all solid defenders.

Rice took a “crash-course” in playing first base, which was a new position for her, and has shined; Filipowicz is a utility-type player who could play any of the infield spots; Burke is back for her second year as Berlin 12s’ starting shortstop; and Thorpe, who is a returning player from last year, won the starting job at third has played “incredible” defense there, according to her coach.

In the outfield, while Sepko roams things down in center, Natalia Boles and Lucy Mals hold things down in the corner outfield spots.

Olivia Levandoski and Charlotte Brasile both come off the bench along with Dignazio-Drost. Levandoski can also be a back-up catcher in addition to her role as an outfielder while Brasile can play both at first or in the outfield.

Berlin only had nine kids show up for tryouts, so under Little League rules they were allowed to pick up some players from neighboring towns who weren’t about to have an All-Star experience.

As such, players from Plainfield and Meriden are on the roster, as well.

“Our team is unique in that sense,” Gorneault said. “This group, though, they’re just a family unit. They love each other. It’s always concerning when you bring in another town, will they gel? You’re afraid of cliques or hard feelings, but they’ve adapted.”

And after being battle tested in the District 5 tournament, this year’s Berlin 12s All-Stars are now ready for their sectional test, as well.

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