Two months of Newtown Women’s Softball action, often altered because of rain and unplayable field conditions, culminated with a playoffs and a championship game — postponed a week — with the pinnacle contest never being completed because of, what else, rain and lightning, on August 17.

In the end, top-seeded Cover Two Sports Cafe was deemed the league champion, but not without a little bit of controversy.

With second-seeded Black Swan holding a 2-1 lead over Cover Two and Black Swan batting in the top of the fifth inning, umpires halted play — for the second time — because of thunder and lightning. And there was a warning from a storm alarm on the building adjacent to the pool, above the hill from the softball field at Treadwell Park.

The teams waited out the rain under the pavilion cover for almost hour while socializing with family and friends and picking at food provided by league teams for their annual season ending picnic. But as thunder continued to rumble in the distance and an occasional flash of lightning brightened the sky, another alarm sounded, and it was decided the game could not be continued.

With Cover Two unable to field a full team the following week and the game already pushed to its week-later makeup date, players from both rosters left the field unsure if Cover Two, by virtue of its seeding, would be declared champions, or if the teams would share in the glory as co-champions. Black Swan, after all, held a lead in the game, but Cover Two never got its fifth-inning at bat.

First-year league President Leigh Libero, a player on Castle Hill Chocolate, had the unenviable task of trying to make everybody happy. After consulting with managers representing each of the league’s other four teams, it was a unanimous vote to default to the league rules, which indicate that in the event of a tie — or in this case the game cannot be played, Libero said — the better seed wins.

Cover Two was 9-1 and Black Swan went 7-2 during the season.

“Nobody wanted to win this way, but that is what the outcome is,” Cover Two player Debi Modzelewski said. “You can’t predict the weather.”

“It’s been really rainy — frustrating,” said Libero before the decision had been made, before quickly pointing out that it was a successful and fun-filled season on the whole. “We made the most of it. Everybody had a good time.”

The original date of the championship game, August 10, was dry, but all of that week’s playoffs were moved to the following week because of rain and makeup games, and then the first round of postseason games were postponed a day because of more rain.

“Trying to get the games in was very difficult, but the women wanted to play,” Black Swan Coach Kevin Shepard said.

Black Swan team members were hoping for a different opinion from team managers.

Black Swan scored twice in the opening inning as Kayla Mesko and Rosie Jackman hit back-to-back doubles to begin things. Jackman drove in a run, then scored on a single by Melissa Pfeiffer.

Cover Two responded with a run in the bottom of the first as Lisa Masella reached third on a hit and error and scored on Emma Herring’s single.

Both teams had solid pitching, with Black Swan’s Ashley Kuligowski and Cover Two hurler Lynn Baylis in command with help from the defense. Black Swan shortstop Joanna Closs fielded a grounder, stepped on second, and threw to first baseman Julia Truchess for a double play.

In the first round of the playoffs, Dental Associates defeated Castle Hill Chocolate 9-3. Dental Associates pitcher Laura Huling pitched well in leading the team to victory. Outfielders Ali Morovski, Melissa Fracker, and Ashley Thompson all made outstanding catches in the outfield. Kristi Frawley and Kim Costa were solid in the infield, with throws to first baseman Grace Carpenter for outs. Sarah DeVellis Adams and Michelle Rahtelli fielded solid ground balls up the middle for outs. Solid base hits by Huling, Ali Morovski, and Kristi Frawley set the stage for a triple and grand slam for Lisa Coates.

Cover Two defeated Dental Associates 10-3 in the semifinals. For Dental Associates, Laura Huling pitched well and struck out a pair of batters. Outfielders Melissa Fracker, Ali Morovski, Lisa Coates, and Michelle Rahtelli did a nice job keeping the ball in front of them and recording pop outs. Catcher Lucy Peck had a great foul tip pop catch behind the plate. Kristi Frawley at third, Kim Costa at short, and DeVellis Adams at second all had great infield plays and threw to first baseman Grace Carpenter. Huling had a quick-reflex catch back to her at pitcher. This was a great first season for the Dental Associates team, who is coached by David Coates, and there was a lot of enthusiasm and sportsmanship as it evolved into a solid team, the players said.

Beef & Barleys defeated Forest Construction 12-11 in quarterfinal action. Forest Construction pitcher Joyce Kaine tossed a solid game and struck out a batter. Second baseman Kristen Guillet made two catches on hard-hit balls and Kelly Hackett, in left center, made key catches. Steph Smith, Kelly Hackett, and Kelly O’Connell all hit doubles.

Black Swan topped Beef & Barleys 19-9. With the score 6-4 at the bottom of the fourth inning, the Swans broke it open scoring eight runs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, they added five more runs, capped off by Becky Noel’s home run. The offense was led by Claudia Beard going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Rose Jackman, Joey Closs, Becky Noel, Julia Truchsess, and Jess Nicolosi all went 3-for-4. The defense was led by Kayla O’Grady pitching seven strong innings, Joey Closs at shortstop, and Kayla Mesko and Rachel O’Grady in the outfield.