The CT Softball Blog

TRUMBULL — Two pitchers spent Tuesday evening building brick walls.

One kept escaping trouble until her offense finally arrived. The other hardly allowed any at all.

When the dust settled at the FCIAC softball semifinals, it was Trumbull and Darien left standing.

The tournament host Eagles punched their ticket with a 6-0 victory over Danbury in the second semifinal, while the Blue Wave opened the day by edging New Canaan, 2-0, setting up Thursday night’s championship game at 6:30 p.m.

For Trumbull, the chance comes with extra meaning.

The Eagles hosted the tournament a year ago and again this spring, but this time they will have the opportunity to play for a title on their own field.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Trumbull ace Madison Pippa said. “We worked hard this winter and I think we just gave it our all out there today.”

For much of the evening, Pippa and Danbury kept the game locked in neutral.

Danbury’s best chance came in the third inning after loading the bases with one out, but Pippa slammed the brakes. She struck out one hitter and induced a pop out to escape the inning and preserve the scoreless tie.

That moment shifted the energy.

“Maddie’s a warrior out there,” Trumbull coach Tom Pia said. “She worked through those first couple innings. She wasn’t throwing her best, but she battled through it. Once we scored, you could feel her get stronger.”

Pippa finished with 17 strikeouts and allowed just one hit despite issuing six walks.

The offense eventually rewarded her effort in the fifth.

Pippa reached on a walk and courtesy runner Victoria Dobrydney later crossed home plate with the game’s first run on a wild pitch. Trumbull kept the pressure on after a Danbury error and hit batter created another opportunity.

Kylie Lucia delivered the big hit, lining a two-run single to give the Eagles room to breathe.

“It was truly awesome,” Lucia said. “After we had a chance earlier and didn’t score, we knew we’d see her again. We stayed together and put things together one at a time.”

Lucia and Maren Jones each finished with two hits for the Eagles, who improved to 18-4.

Danbury’s lone hit came off the bat of Analia Duran in the third.

Earlier in the day, Darien relied on a familiar formula.

Give the ball to Vivian Knott and make plays if and when the ball is hit to you.

Knott authored another dominant outing, striking out 12 while allowing just two hits and one walk over seven shutout innings.

For four innings, New Canaan’s Lauren Fico matched her nearly pitch for pitch as neither lineup could create separation.

Darien finally cracked through in the fifth.

With two outs and Caroline Baldwin aboard, senior Mia Michaelson delivered a base hit that put the Blue Wave ahead.

“It feels pretty awesome and it feels great to contribute to my team,” Michaelson said. “We were making contact all game. I got into a good count and got a pitch I could handle.”

That was enough for Knott.

Darien added another run in the sixth after Knott reached on an error, advanced to third and eventually scored on a Bella McCarthy fielder’s choice.

“After that 14-inning game last year, especially for Vivian, getting back here was important,” Darien coach Nick Demaio said. “Now we’re back and we’ve got another opportunity.”

New Canaan threatened on a pair of doubles by Lauren and Charlotte Fico, but Knott consistently closed the door.

Now the Blue Wave return to the championship game looking to finish unfinished business.

Standing on the other side will be a Trumbull team finally getting its chance at home.

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