In a rematch from last year’s title game, REACH prevailed over Black Swan 8-4 to win the Newtown Women’s Softball Ruth Rowe Memorial Championship Game, played at Treadwell Park on August 15.

Coming into the game, Black Swan was undefeated at 13-0 and REACH was 11-3. REACH jumped out to an early 4-0 first-inning lead and held off the Swans to win the title.

REACH took the early lead on a single by Stacey Gordon, doubles from Lindsey Carley and Ali Cordova, a triple by Shelby Rotunda, and a single by Nina Ricciardi.

Black Swan answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first. with Ashley Kuligowski driving in Melissa Fracker before coming home herself on a hit from Jessica Gibbons.

Carley got on base in the third inning and was knocked in on a double by Ricciardi to make the score 5-2. In the fourth inning, Laurie Comerford drove in Rose Jackman, making the score 5-3.

In the fifth inning, Black Swan was able to keep REACH from scoring. Catcher Carol LaFreniere made a catch, and Ashley Kuligowski scooped up the ball at third base and threw to her sister, Karlie Kuligowski, who was at second base and turn a double play to end the inning. 

REACH scored one in the sixth with a hit by Ricciardi, a walk by Courtney Kowcheris, and an RBI single by Lynn Bell for a 6-3 lead. Two more runs scored in the top of the seventh, with singles by Kathy Piccini, Sara Frampton, Gordon, and Cordova, making it 8-3.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Black Swan got a run closer as Jess Gibbons belted a homerun.

A fielding highlight for Black Swan was Jackman catching a ball deep in right field, preventing runs from scoring. The REACH infield was led by Rotunda, Cordova, Kowcheris, and Piccini while the outfielders Gordon, Carley, Bell, and Melissa Ansman held the lead for Reach. Anna Christopher (pitcher) and Jody Morris (catcher) were key players in the victory.

Results from the semifinal round are as follows:

Reach 15, Petzercise 0: In the first inning, Ali Cordova homered to bring in Stacey Gordon. In the second, Melissa England tripled to drive in Lynn Bell. In the third, Jody Morris homered to drive in Nina Ricciardi and Bell. Shelby Rotunda hit a triple and a double, and Ali Cordova and Stacey Gordon both had doubles.

Black Swan 15, Cover Two 10: Cover Two took a quick lead and was ahead 7-2 at the end of the second inning. Black Swan put the bat to the ball to close the gap by the end of the fourth inning. Jess Gibbons went 3-for-3, hitting a homer and three runs scored. Rose Jackman went 3-for-3, scored two runs, and made an impressive leaping catch in right center. Melissa Shepard went 3-for-3, hitting a triple and scoring two times. Kayla Mesko went 2-for-2, scoring two runs. Melissa Fracker and Ashley Kuligowski both went 2-for-3, and each scored two runs.