Softball Team Advances To Semis In Convincing Fashion
UPDATE: NHS will play New Milford Monday, May 20, in the semis at DeLuca Field in Stratford at 5 pm.
Newtown High School's softball team defeated visiting Immaculate of Danbury 14-2 in the South-West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on May 18.
NHS, the No. 3 seed, came back for a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win the the regular-season meeting between these teams. This time, the Nighthawks fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before scoring the next seven runs to pull away.
It was another walk-off of sorts as four bases-loaded walks in the bottom of the sixth inning ultimately led to the game ending an inning-plus early due to the 12-run differential playoff mercy rule.
Addy Cordova singled to drive in Maddie Thoesen for a 2-1 lead in the first inning.
NHS plated five runs in the second. Back-to-back singles by Sophia Caruso and Gilly Boughan, the latter on a perfectly-placed bunt, followed by Oliva Doersch bunting and reaching on an error, loaded the bases. Bri Pellicone worked a two-out walk to force in the third run and Thoesen cleared the bases with a line-drive double off the left field wall for a 6-1 lead. Cordova blooped an RBI double to cap the scoring in the inning.
Julia Berry drove in a run on an infield single for an 8-2 lead in the third.
Thoesen had a double, one of her four hits, which led to pinch runner Valeria Gutierriz scoring on a Gabby Ansman sacrifice fly for a 9-2 lead in the fourth.
Starting pitcher Cordova and reliever Thoesen shut down Immaculate's offense with Thoesen striking out the side in the fifth and adding another K in the sixth.
In the last of the sixth Thoesen and Cordova singled setting the table for the walk merry-go-round. Ansman walked to load the bases, Caruso walked to force in a run, Boughan was hit by a pitch for another run, and Doersch, Berry, and Lila Accousti each plated a run with a walk.
Newtown will take on No. 7 New Milford, which upset No. 2 Brookfield in the Monday, May 20, semifinals at neutral site DeLuca Field in Stratford (it was announced Sunday that the game will be at 5 pm).