The CT Softball Blog

The second round of the 2026 CIAC state softball tournaments are complete and 32 teams remain across the four classes.

Leading the way into Friday’s quarterfinals is the FCIAC, which saw six schools advance from Wednesday’s second round action, some in impressive and crazy fashion.

Here’s a look at some of the action from Wednesday’s second round.

GAME OF THE DAY, PART I

NONNEWAUG 9, SHEEHAN 8

Nonnewaug scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to escape with a 9-8 win over Sheehan and move on to the Class M quarterfinals.

The winning run scored when Rileigh Abed singled home Lila Farrelly with two outs, giving the Chiefs the win. Farrelly had tied the game with a single on her own earlier in the inning.

Trailing 8-4 to start the inning, Gianna DeLorenzo got things going with a one-out solo home run to right field.

Elizabeth Boisits was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI while DeLorenzo (2 runs, 3 RBIs), Ashlynn Blum (2-for-3, 2 runs), Farrelly (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Abed (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, triple) all had repeat hits. Boisits had a double while DiLorenzo had two home runs in the game.

For Sheehan, Julia Cassesse was 3-for-3 with three runs scored an RBI and Brielle Krystofolski had a double and a single.

GAME OF THE DAY, PART II

FAIRFIELD WARDE 1, ENFIELD 0

LJ Borsari’s solo home run in the second inning was all the Mustangs needed to slip past the Central Connecticut Conference champs from Enfield.

Borsari walked to the plate with two out and took the first pitch she saw deep to left field for a home run.

“I think I was super relaxed up to bat,” Borsari said. “I kinda went into it thinking it was all or nothing for this game. I knew we were the underdogs in this situation. I saw it coming out of her hand and I saw it go over (the fence.).

From there, Warde pitcher Catie Whelpley gave up four hits and struck out, but did survive nine walks.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Enfield’s Fiona Gordon doubled to lead things off. McVey then opted to intentionally walk Enfield’s lead-off hitter Emily Lyver.

With one out, the Warde coach then gave Claire Bouffard a free pass to load the bases.

“We do our homework and you have to give respect where it’s deserved and those kids are great (players),” Warde coach Kenya McVey said. “I think one thing, too, is we’ve been focusing this season on defense and trusting each other. I put them in a tough situation. I put them in a high pressure spot. I told them, ‘I need you to have Caite’s back and my back and just trust me.’”

Two infield outs later, Warde was headed to the quarterfinals.

Up next for the Mustangs: FCIAC rival New Canaan, which bested Warde 5-4 earlier this season.

GAME OF THE DAY, PART III

NORWICH FREE ACADEMY 1, NEWTOWN 0

The Wildcats walked it off the bottom of the seventh inning, ending a scoreless game when Aubrey Martin singled home Sophie Miner with nobody out.

Miner had led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. She stole second, advancing to third on a Newtown throwing error, before Martin won the game with a bunt single up the first base line.

Martin had two hits in the game. Amelia Driscoll and Isabella Ruta both doubled for NFA. Sisters Dakota (4.1 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts) and Olivia Bourdon (2.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 K’s) combined efforts in the circle for NFA.

Tough-luck loser Addy Cordova (6 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 strikeout, 1 walk) was 3-for-4 for Newtown.

GAME OF THE DAY, PART IV

GRANBY MEMORIAL 4, PLAINVILLE 3

Ashley Tetreault doubled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Ellison Haury with the game-winning run, giving Granby Memorial the win and berth in the quarterfinals.

Haury had doubled with one out before Tetreault delivered her big with two outs.

Brenna Nicholas, Sophia Vitelli, Haury and Tetreault all had two hits each for Granbuy Memorial.

For Plainville, Asia Beniot had two hits and two RBIs while Madison Bohn had two singles.

NO HITTERS

• Lily Jahne fired a complete-game no-hitter, striking out 16 while just walking four to lead the Hale-Ray to the 8-0 win over Lyman Memorial.

• Mary Saunders of Masuk struck out 10 and walked three, firing a five-inning no-hitter as the Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals with a 12-0 win over Torrington. She also had a home run in the game.

• Woodland Regional’s Caitlyn Braun tossed a five-inning no-hitter, striking out six and walking one as the Hawks beat O’Brien Tech 13-0.

TOP PERFORMERS

• Charlotte Fico was 3-for-3 with three runs scored while her sister Lauren Fico gave up just three hits in the circle as the New Canaan Rams advanced with the 9-1 win over Maloney.

• Darien’s Vivian Knott struck out 16, firing a complete-game four hitter and leading the Wave past FCIAC rival Ridgefield to earn the quarterfinal berth in Class LL with a 7-1 win.

• Kylie Lucia was 3-for-4 with five runs scored and an RBI as Trumbull defeated Glastonbury 13-2.

• Freshman pitcher Ava Tong of Danbury fired a one-hitter to lead the Hatters to the road win over Bristol Central. Tong struck out 16 and didn’t walk a batter in the game.

• In the same game, Danburys’ Abigail O’Dell was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs to pace the Hatters’ offensively. She had a double.

• Cheshire’s Jenica Matos struck out 16 and she didn’t walk a batter as the Rams bested Amity by a 2-1 score. Matos gave up just two hits and an unearned run.

• Sydney Miller of Brookfield, who had a first-round bye, made her 2026 state tournament debut and she fired a one-hit shutout over Ledyard. Miller struck out 15 and walked two while giving up just the one hit.

• Masuk’s Grace Ely (3 runs, 2 RBIs), Peyton Webb (1 run), and Julianna Falcone (1 run, 2 RBIs) each had three hits to lead the team to a 12-0 win over Torrington. Ely had two doubles while Webb had a single double.

• Maddy Bonanno fired a 7-inning one-hitter, striking out six while not walking a batter, leading Jonathan Law to a 7-0 win over Pomperaug. Also, Lily Stankevich was 4-for-4 with two runs scored an RBI in the game.

• Lydia Rocky of New Milford threw a two-hitter in a 4-0 win over Fitch. She struck out 18 batters in the game and didn’t walk anybody.

• Ava Waddington (4-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, double, home run) and Bella Rush (4-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, double) and Lucy Walker (3-for-4, 3 RBIs, double) were all a part of the Lancers’ 19 hit performance in their 14-4 win over Avon.

• East Lyme’s Natalie Knowlton was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. She had a double and two singles in East Lyme’s 14-2 win over Ellington. East Lyme scored nine times in the top of the fifth to blow open a close game.

• With 21 hits in their 21-6 win over New Fairfield, Lewis Mills had plenty of players contributing some big numbers to the win. Jillian Tiso (4-for-5, 4 runs, 2 RBIs), Kendall Buthe (3-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Brooke Martineau (3-for-4, 4 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 doubles), Anna Henry (3-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Michaela LaRose (2-for-3 4 runs) all had big games.

• Seymour’s Mia Cunningham was 3-for-3 with three runs scored from the lead-off spot as the Wildcats beat Plainfield 14-1.

• Cromwell’s Harper Langdon (3 runs, 2 RBIs) and Keira Beyer (2 runs) were both 4-for-4 while Addy Jupe was 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs to lead their team to a 7-5 win over No. 2 Montville.

• Ayla DeCrescenzo of Woodland Regional was 3-for-3 with two home runs, 2 runs scored and three RBIs to lead the Hawks to a 13-0 win over O’Brien Tech. Angelena Tottenham also had three hits, four runs and two RBIs.

• Reina Hill was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, thanks in part to a home run, to lead Bacon Academy to a 10-1 win over Watertown. Briana Hawes also had three hits and an RBI.

• While top-seeded St. Paul Catholic was pounding out 28 hits against Vinal Tech, these Falcons had three hits each: Julia Kozlak (3-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Laila McCulloch (3-for-3, 2 runs 4 RBIs), Isabella McCulloch (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Breyona DeMora (3-for-3) and Stella Boucino (3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) all had big days.

• Paige Williams of Valley Regional pitched a four-hit shutout to beat Coventry by a 1-0 score. Carley Spearrin’s RBI scored Brooke Ouellette in the top of the seventh to score the game’s only run.

• North Branford’s Lauren Vitarisi struck out 13 batters, firing a three-hitter in an 8-0 win over East Catholic.

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