Beeline Beats Flagpole For Women’s Softball Title; Blue All-Stars Prevail

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown’s Women’s Softball League season came to an exciting and fun-filled end with the championship and All-Star games at Treadwell Park last Friday night.

Beeline Woodworking capped off an undefeated season with a 7-1 win over Flagpole Realty in the championship contest. After the game, a mix of players from all of the league teams took the field under the lights for an All-Star game. The Blue Team edged the Purple Team 4-3.

Championship Game Highlights

Both teams loaded the bases in the opening inning, but Beeline pitcher Maryann Fisher worked out of trouble in the top half of the inning to keep the game scoreless. Shelby Rotunda and Nancy Bowen both drove in runs in the bottom of the frame to get Beeline out in front and the Woodworkers never looked back.

Beeline built on its lead with three more runs in the second inning. Sue Ormsbee knocked in a run, Cindy Palkmas tripled home another, and Doris Ratner made it a 5-0 score with a hard run-producing hit down the left field line. Heather Stone and Jen Rosenblatt also produced runs to help Beeline build a 7-0 lead.

Flagpole didn’t give up in the seventh and final inning, and averted the shutout when Lisa Dolyak drove in Ruthie Rowe, who managed to slide home just before the throw. Both teams made strong defensive plays throughout the season-ending game.

Fisher pitched a strong game with Rotunda’s sharp defense at short stop helping the cause. Stone and Palkimas both had a single, double, and RBI in the win.

“It feels great,” Fisher said after the game. “It feels awesome.”

Rowe commended the Beeline players and pointed out that the squad was undefeated for a reason. Although losing in the pinnacle game was not easy to swallow, Rowe acknowledged that the season was an overall success. “I’m proud of my team — we did well,” she said.

More important than winning, Bowen noted, was that the players had fun this season. “They are players of all ages who enjoy the game and enjoy playing together,” she said.

All-Star Game Results

The All-Star game players were selected by teams based on a number of attributes. In addition to top players and team MVPs, most improved players were among those selected to play in the game. Teammates were split up in this mostly-for-fun game.

Lawrence made it a memorable end to what started as a tough evening of softball by coming through with the game-winning hit to lift the Blue Team. Leslie Dilorio, a catcher from Exxon, went 3-for-3. Sarah Greenfield (Exxon), Anne Doersch (Fireside), and Peggy Bowers (CMC Concrete) made several nice defensive plays, and Kelly Lametto (Our Green House) pitched seven strong innings in the victory.

The Purple Team’s Carolyn Signorelli (Flagpole) was 3-for-3 and Stacey Gordon (Fireside) was 2-for-3 to lead the hitting attack. Lynn Baylis (Flagpole), Laurie Mathison (Exxon), Jodee Maciolek (CMC), and Trish McCucker and Lauren McCusker (Grooming Finalists) all turned in nice defensive plays. Patty Powers (Exxon) pitched well for the Purple Team.

The rest of the All-Star honorees are as follows: Blue Team: Joanne Duncanson and Fawn Schmidt (OGH); Leslie Dilorio (Exxon); Teresa Papalia and Sue Gouveia (Grooming Finalists); Karen Gorden (Fireside); Jen Good (Flagpole), and Tina Fiorella (CMC). Purple Team: Laura Terry and Chris Jannott (OGH); Laura Mathison (Exxon); Rabiya Ansari (Fireside), and Lori Rohrbacher (CMC).