Statement game
Undefeated Danbury looks to secure spot atop FCIAC when it takes on No. 1 Ludlowe
As the end of the regular season approaches, only three softball teams in the state remain undefeated.
Woodland and O’Brien Tech — both in Class M — remain perfect. Then there is a somewhat unfamiliar face that has been running the table in Class LL and in the FCIAC.
The best season the Danbury program was has had came in 1987, when the Hatters lost in the Class LL championship to Southington and finished the year with a 23-3 record.
Currently at 17-0, this Hatters squad is in position to do what no team in the program has been able to do so far. Danbury has never won an FCIAC or a state title and will put its undefeated record on the line on Monday against No. 1 Fairfield Ludlowe.
“This has definitely superseded my expectations so far,” Danbury coach Erica Carboni said. “I never thought we would be 17-0, but I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and I think we have great momentum going into a big game on Monday.”
For Carboni, who played her varsity career at Danbury, leading the way for the potential best team in program history has been a long time coming.
“This is great for our program because we have had the potential for so many years,” Carboni said. “We just have never been able to get over the hump. I am excited that the girls are getting this opportunity to be in the spotlight.”
After a 7-10 finish last year, there have been many factors contributing to the impressive turnaround.
The return of Haley Pucci has been the brightest spot for Danbury, as the senior ace has a 0.60 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched. Opponents are
hitting .139 against her and she has thrown seven shutouts.
“With Haley Pucci and our hitters coming through in big moments, I think this group knows what needs to be done,” Carboni said. “Every game they are running with it and they are staying focused, which is great.”
Behind Pucci, the rest of her team has had her back with timely hitting and clutch defensive plays.
Senior Kaylee Drago has paced the offense, slashing .420/.491/.660 with 18 RBIs, 11 runs and two home runs.
“She has gotten some huge hits in key moments,” Carboni said. “Against Norwalk she hit a two-run home run. She has been someone who has really stepped up this year.”
The 4-2 victory over Norwalk was one of the many games where one play could have made the difference between a win or a loss for the Hatters.
“It is one of those things where we have had the talent and ways to make it work, just sometimes it doesn’t click all the way,” Carboni said. “But it has been fun to say that Danbury is very good at softball. It is a prideful thing for us to represent our school and town like this.”
Currently ranked No. 5 in the state, Danbury began garnering recognition as a true top team after its walk-off 2-1 victory over FCIAC powerhouse St. Joseph.
Down by one run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Danbury mounted a comeback, which was finished by freshman Chloe Trimandilis’ RBI knock.
“That was a big moment for her, that was a lot of pressure for a young kid,” Carboni said. “She has been productive all season and if anyone could do it, it was going to be her. It was a very exciting moment, it was so fun seeing the emotion of the girls.”
Trimandilis has proved to be another key addition, as she has slashed .411/ .450/.589 with 17 RBIs, 12 runs and two home runs. Five Danbury hitters are batting over .300, with three hitting over .400.
Monday will bring a new test to Pucci and the Danbury offense, as it will face the dynamic pitching of Ludlowe and its explosive offense.
“The girls are really excited,” Carboni said. “They have an underdog mentality even though we are on top of the standings. They have a good mentality going in. They know that their time together is running out, so they are really locked in. They are ready to win.”
While most would have expected the FCIAC to be battle between St. Joseph and Ludlowe at the top as it was a season ago, Danbury has thrown its hat in the ring.
“I have been trying to tell the girls to take one game at a time, but this game has been in the back of everyone’s mind,” Carboni said. “But we had to win a lot of games in order to be in a position to make this an exciting game.”
With three games left, it appears that Danbury will be one of the top two seeds in the FCIAC going into playoffs, but Monday will certainly be a postseasonlike experience for the team that has shocked the FCIAC.
“It is going to be a race to the finish, pressure is on,” Carboni said. “I know our girls will keep their composure to be able to tackle any challenges ahead.”