WILLIMANTIC—None of the players on the North Branford and St. Paul softball teams had to remember what was at stake as they prepared for Tuesday’s CIAC Class S semifinals. However, driving into UConn territory and playing not far from the field where they clashed in the 2025 state championship game was a reminder of how close they were to realizing their top goal in the 2026 season.
North Branford, the defending Class S champion, took the field first and scored six times in the first four innings en route to a 6-2 victory over Valley Regional. St. Paul trailed early against Hale-Ray but one big inning was enough to take care of business against Hale-Ray and set up a rematch of the 2025 Class S final. That also means a return trip to UConn on championship Saturday.
‘‘I knew they got the one run, but I knew we could score runs,” said St. Paul pitcher Breyona Demora, who had 14 strikeouts in the 3-1 victory. “I think we are a good hitting team; we all have confidence in each other. I never had a doubt.”
Hale-Ray (20-6) took the lead when Lily Jahne had a leadoff double in the second inning, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Fenway Jankowski’s single.
St. Paul (24-2) had two runners on in each of the first two innings, but couldn’t push across a run. That changed in the third inning when speedy centerfielder Julia Kozlak led off with a bunt single. Laila McCulloch followed with a walk and Bella McCulloch brought them both in with a double. She would score on Demora’s single.
“Hitting is our thing. We are at peace when we hit,” Bella McCulloch said. “When there is pressure, it is OK, we usually put the ball in play. It is what we do, it is what we practice. I feel like going out there and giving it our all is what lets us win these games.”
Hale-Ray brought the go-ahead runner to the plate in the sixth inning and also got a runner on in the seventh inning. Demora got key strikeouts in both innings to close the door.
“I wasn’t really throwing anything over the plate, I was hitting my spots and it worked,” Demora said.
Jahne finished with five strikeouts, including the 1000th of her career for Hale-Ray. She also reached base twice and had a deep fly out on her other at-bat.
Kozlak, Bella McCulloch, Demora and Stella Boucino had two hits each for St. Paul.
North Branford had six hits in the first four innings and all of them were either doubles or triples.
Ava Ryszczyk, who had three hits, got things started with a double. She scored on Lauren Vitarisi’s triple. Tessa DeLucia followed with a double to give the Thunderbirds the early 2-0 lead.
Alexandra Scrivo got one run back for Valley Regional with an RBI double in the second inning. Ryszczyk had an RBI double in a two-run second inning and drove in another run with a double in the fourth inning.
“I knew she (Valley Regional pitcher Paige Williams) had that movement on the inside,” Ryszczyk said. “She is a wonderful pitcher and I knew the first strike I saw, I had to jump on it and start it off right.”
Valley Regional (15-10) had runners on base in five of the seven innings. However, the Warriors were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Vitarisi finished with 15 strikeouts.
“Lauren had a hard time finding her grip,” North Branford coach Nick DeLizio said. “On turf, there is no dirt to rub on (the ball) so that was one of the big things that she was struggling with. She battled it out, and we made the plays behind her when we needed to.”
Brooke Ouellette and Williams each had two hits for Valley Regional. The first six batters in the Valley Regional lineup were either freshmen or sophomores. They combined for all five of the hits and both runs for the Warriors. More than 80 percent of the runs and hits this season for Valley Regional came from freshmen and sophomores.
“Valley’s been good,” DeLizio said. “I told Olivia (Whitehead, Valley Regional’s head coach) at the beginning of the season that you are going to have a really good team this year. Look at them, they took out Coventry and Holy Cross. They are going to be in this game down the road.”
With the wins by top-seeded St. Paul and No. 3 seed North Branford (24-2), this will be just the second time in the last 17 Class S tournaments that the same two teams will meet in the championship game in back-to-back years.
“I am excited,” Demora said. “Hopefully, it is a different outcome from last year, but we have all grown as people since last year so I think we have a good chance.”
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