The Fireside-sponsored Newtown Women’s Softball League team put together a sixth-inning rally, then held off My Place for a 6-4 win in August 13 semifinal round playoff action at Dickinson Park. With the victory, top-seeded Fireside earned a trip back into the championship game, a rematch with No. 2 Black Swan, scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, August 16, at Treadwell Park. Fireside is the defending league champion.

No. 4 My Place scored a pair of runs in the opening inning and held Fireside scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning; Fireside scored three runs in that frame to take the lead. My Place responded with a run in the top of the sixth, but Fireside plated three in the bottom half of the inning for a 6-3 cushion, and held off a seventh-inning My Place comeback attempt. My Place loaded the bases with no outs in the final inning, but Fireside held its opponents to one run and moved on to the championship.

“I’m happy. It’s wonderful. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else in the summer, and we have an awesome group,” Fireside player Nina Ricciardi said.

Down 2-0, Fireside seized the lead on hits by Lindsey Carley, Anne Doersch, Ali Cordova, and Shelby Rotunda. My Place evened the score at 3-3 when Sandy Doski singled and scored on Kelly Teraszkiewicz doubled in the sixth.

Fireside pieced together its winning rally on hits by Jody Morris, Rabiya Johnson, and Kathy Piccini, who smacked a tie-breaking extra base hit to left. Melissa Ansman walked, Karen Gordan singled, Katie Barry had an RBI groundout, and Carley drove in another run on a single.

In the win, Anna Christopher pitched an outstanding game and Carly in left center, Rotunda at shortstop, and Cordova at third, made key defensive plays.

For My Place, Doski and Lisa Masella both had two hits, one of Masella’s being a two-run double, and Gen Echavarria singled and walked.

Fireside had an opening-round bye and My Place blanked No. 5 Pub 25 9-0 in opening round action at Fairfield Hills on August 12. In that game pitcher Lynn Bayliss didn’t allow a walk, the team played strong defense, and Teraszkiewicz and Echavarria each hit home runs.

Black Swan advanced with a comeback win over Cork & Barrel in the other semifinal contest (see related story).