NHS Softball—

Darn Those Panthers! — Masuk Eliminates Hawks … Again

By Andy Hutchison

MONROE — For the second year in a row, the Masuk High School softball team knocked the Newtown Nighthawks out of the conference and state playoffs. No. 2 Masuk scratched out a dramatic 1-0 extra-innings win over seventh-seeded Newtown in last Friday’s Class LL State Tournament quarterfinal round game, ending a solid season for the Nighthawks and continuing what has become a frustrating tradition for the locals.

The Nighthawks, though living on the edge throughout their quarterfinal game, were in a scoreless deadlock into the 11th inning before the Panthers finally broke through to win on their home field.

Newtown got ten-plus solid, gutsy innings of pitching from sophomore Katie Bowen, stellar defense from an assortment of fielders who made run-saving plays — but only two hits off standout pitcher Rachele Fico, who continues to dominate every team in her path.

Bowen allowed nine hits and walked five batters (two intentionally) but wiggled out of several tough spots, including a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

“We were like cardiac kids for ten innings,” NHS coach Bob Guererra said.

In the fourth inning, Newtown right fielder Melissa Fracker showed off her arm when she caught a fly ball and fired the ball to third base to nab a base runner trying to advance. Third baseman Joanna Barry, in addition to completing that unorthodox double play, also speared a line drive in the fifth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, NHS shortstop Nora Lynn Shimko saved a hit when she made a lunging catch and held onto the ball (showing “snow cone”) as she hit the ground. In the last of the eighth, NHS catcher Ashley Kuligowski threw out a would-be base-stealer. Masuk made the most noise in the tenth inning, but second baseman Jenna Legros forced out a runner at home plate and Bowen induced a pop fly to Legros to escape the bases-loaded situation. Finally, in the 11th inning, Marissa Chiappone singled and Caitlin Viccari doubled down the left field line to bring Chiappone home with the winning run.

“If I’m going to go down, I want to go down with a good game so I can’t complain about that,” Fracker said. “We didn’t go down without fighting.”

“I’m glad it ended in an exciting game,” senior Stacy Broughton added.

Exciting and dramatic was the theme of the state playoffs for Newtown.

The Hawks advanced to the quarters with a 1-0 win over No. 10 Simsbury the day before Katie Schmidt belted a home run in the fifth inning to make a winner of Legros, who tossed the complete-game shutout.

Schmidt and her senior teammates will have fond memories of that last win, but will not get the opportunity to avenge yet another Masuk-induced heart-breaker.

“For three years we’ve been really expecting to beat Masuk. We really thought this was going to be it [on Friday]. We’ve come so close and it’s really disappointing but I’m happy we played so well. I’m proud of the team,” Schmidt said.

“It was definitely frustrating that we lost to them again,” Barry added. “I think we beat them every which way except on the scoreboard.”

The seniors, Barry, Schmidt, Fracker, Broughton, and Kelly Tenney, ended their high school careers on with an overall successful campaign. Newtown posted 16 regular-season wins and won four more playoff games.

“I can’t be more pleased,” Guererra said.

“I loved everything about the team and the town. I’m honored to play for the team,” Fracker added.

NOTES: Legros, Broughton, and Bowen combined for an earned run average of .88. Bowen led the team with a .453 batting average and Schmidt had a team-high three home runs.