New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Matos’ no-hitter lifts Rams over Knights
Sophomore strikes out 15 in win for No. 2 Cheshire
SOUTHINGTON — Cheshire softball ace Jenica Matos has thrived in the spotlight all season, but on Thursday she took a big step toward establishing herself as one of the top high school pitchers in Connecticut.
The sophomore ace threw a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts to lead No. 2 Cheshire to a 4-1 nonconference victory over No. 5 Southington.
The only damage against Matos came on a fourth inning groundout after she had walked the first three batters of the inning. She finished the game with five walks.
Otherwise Matos was untouchable.
“It was really awesome, I had my team behind me,” Matos said. “I did struggle in one of the innings, I had three walks to load the bases, but I knew I had my team behind me, and they came back and put some runs on the board for me.”
Cheshire (9-1) took an initial lead in the top of the fourth on a RBI double by Molly Fleming.
After Southington tied it in the bottom half, the Blue Knights committed three straight errors in the top of the fifth to load the bases for Cheshire senior Karla Carangelo.
Carangelo delivered a twoout double to right field to clear the bases and give the Rams a 4-1 lead.
“Our team is just ecstatic right now, we are just on top of everything, and we were feeling great coming into this,” Carangelo said. “Our pitcher was pitching really well today, and I knew I had to do it for her and my teammates.”
The lead was plenty for Matos, who allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings. She recorded the final out by strikeout then was mobbed by her teammates.
Matos also threw a one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts against No. 8 Amity earlier in the week.
“It has felt really great,” Matos said. “I worked with my pitching coach this offseason and this season I have really been working with (Cheshire pitching coach) Kelly (BrennerHennessey) to get everything going. We are in a really good place right now.”
In the offseason, BrennerHennessey is also the pitching coach for Southington ace Maddie
Furniss, who is committed to Georgia Tech.
Furniss pitched well in her own right, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine Cheshire batters.
“I thought they played a really great game against us,” Southington coach Davina Hernandez said. “I thought Maddie (Furniss) pitched really well, I don’t think the score was a true reflection of how she pitched, but it was kind of a reflection of how we played. You can’t make three errors in an inning against a team like Cheshire and expect to win.”
Southington (6-3) has played close games in its three losses, dropping a 9-7 game to La Salle (the top-ranked preseason team in Rhode Island) on opening day, and a 2-1 loss to No. 1 Masuk.
With only two returners to the lineup from last year’s Class LL runner-up, the 20-time state champion has faced a bit of a learning curve.
“In the three losses we have had, that has kind of been the pattern,” Hernandez said. “Playing a great game and having one bad inning. I am really proud of them, and I told them I was proud of how they maintained composure today and were really good sports. It was a great game, these kids respect each other and I think that is a big thing.”
Player of the Game
Jenica Matos, Cheshire: The sophomore threw a no-hitter against No. 5 Southington, allowing one earned run and five walks while striking out 15 batters.
Quotable
“(Matos) is a workhorse out there. She is a gamer, she is out there every day practicing and she has great teammates and fielding behind her. She is always one make sure that that is known. She is something, she threw really really well today.” — Jaymie Sommers, Cheshire assistant coach