Blue Wave snap 4-game skid

DARIEN — It was just what the doctor ordered.

The Darien High School softball team was proficient in all phases of the game (offense, defense, pitching) Saturday as the Blue Wave posted a 10-5 non-league home triumph over Torrington High.

The win snapped a fourgame losing streak for the Blue Wave (7-8).

“We had good, timely hitting, but what impressed me the most was our defense settled down. Today was a clean contest,” Darien coach Nick DeMaio said. “Madeline Conte made some nice plays at second base.”

EXPERIENCED OFFENSE

Even though Darien fell behind 3-0 in the first, there was no panic.

The Blue Wave scored five runs in the first and four runs in the fourth to build a 9-5 cushion.

Darien’s five returnees from last season — Hailey King, Kaelani Caruso, Rosalie Pirone, Caroline Kreuger and Steph Gentile — were productive at the top of the order, accounting for six of the Blue Wave’s 11 hits while scoring six runs and

driving in six.

“The five returnees knew we had to step up this season. There was pressure, but we’ve broken through it,” said Darien’s Kaelani Caruso (three hits, two RBI, two runs scored). “It’s nice to see the veterans deliver.

Staying within ourselves is the key to succeeding.”

KARAS SHINES

Freshman righthander Grace Karas went the distance on the mound for the victory. She helped herself at the plate by going 3-for-3 including a two-out, threerun homer in the first inning.

“The home run was

something I needed. I had been struggling at the plate,” Karas said. “As a freshman every game is an exciting endeavor. I never thought I’d be out there with all our seniors. The key thing I’ve learned is to deal with things one batter and one inning at a time on the mound. I don’t let my mind get ahead of myself anymore. I just focus on the task at hand.”

Darien will battle New Canaan, Westhill, St. Joseph and Norwalk down the stretch of the FCIAC season.

TOUGH TASK

The Raiders fell to 1-12 on the season. They have just one senior on their roster and haven’t attracted enough players to field a junior varsity squad in three years.

So their core of freshmen and sophomores are learning on the job.

“We are definitely rebuilding. We had just one returnee,” Torrington coach Maryann Musselman said. “Every game we come away with little things to work on, but the girls aren’t frustrated.”