CIAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES
CLASS LL NFA VS. SOUTHINGTON
When: Saturday, 4 p.m. Where: DeLuca Field, Stratford
Seeds/Records: No. 8 NFA (21-4) vs. No. 3 Southington (21-3)
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, tickets can be bought online in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES
NFA: 3rd appearance, 0-2 overall. 2007 lost Masuk;
1984 lost East Haven. Southington: 23rd appearance, 17-5 overall. 2017 def. Trumbull; 2015 def. Cheshire; 2014 Def. Amity;
2013 Def. Mercy; 2012 lost Amity; 2004 def. Bristol Central; 2003 lost Amity;
2002 lost Amity; 1999 def. Amity; 1998 lost Lyman Hall; 1997 def. Amity; 1993 def. Westhill; 1990 def. Staples; 1988 def. Norwalk;
1987 def. Danbury; 1987 def. Holy Cross; 1985 def. Cheshire; 1983 def. East Haven;
1982 def. Manchester; 1981 def. Hamden; 1979 def. Amity; 1978 def. Norwalk.
What to look for: Norwich Free Academy senior pitcher Bailey Comeau took a line drive off the arm during the Wildcats’ semifinal win over Cheshire and could miss the final. Junior Sophia DiCocco stepped in and held off the Rams, but Comeau’s presence would be sorely missed as she provided the key hit in both their quarterfinal win over South Windsor and the win over Cheshire. NFA is looking for its first state title while Southington is after its 18th. The Knights are 14-1 in their last 15 games but have had several close calls along the way, including a
3-2 win over Ridgefield in the quarterfinals. Sophomore Julia Paneralla has emerged from a group of pitchers to take the starting role for Southington, and shined against Trumbull in the semifinals. She allowed just three hits in a rematch of the 2017 final.
You should know: Southington beat NFA 5-3 during the regular season; NFA handed Southington its only regular season loss in 2018.
CLASS L EAST HAVEN VS. MASUK
When: Friday, 7 p.m. Where: DeLuca Field, Stratford
Seeds/Records: No. 16 East Haven (15-9) vs. No. 2 Masuk (25-1)
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, tickets can be bought online in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES
East Haven: 6th appearance, 2-3 overall. 2015 def. Fitch; 2014 lost Seymour;
1984 def. NFA; 1983 lost Southington; 1974 lost Shelton.
Masuk: 8th appearance,
5-2 overall. 2018 def. Brookfield; 2016 lost Fitch; 2013 def. Foran; 2009 lost Fitch;
2008 def. Naugatuck; 2007 def. NFA; 1974 def. Westbrook.
What to look for: The Panthers have won 52 of their last 53 games going back to last year, most of which have been by double digits (including last year’s Class L title win). Masuk is led by a strong senior trio in pitcher Sam Schiebe and outfielders Meg McFarland and Gretchen Bunovsky, who have amassed three SWC titles and a state crown. East Haven is here for the first time since 2015 with a largely young team with sophomore pitcher Tori Heaphy leading the way. She’s thrown two shutouts in a very difficult part of the Class L bracket, including the shock 2-0 win over St. Joseph in round two. Fellow sophomores Kayla Rosario and Brooke Clancy homered in the semifinal win over Brookfield, while freshman catcher Magadelena Barthel is a special talent. East Haven didn’t qualify for the SCC playoffs, but is riding a season-best six-game win streak. The team started off 0-3.
You should know: Masuk center fielder Meg McFarland and her dad Jack — the head baseball coach at Staples — will both be after state titles this year. Staples is in the Class LL final; both won conference titles (SWC and FCIAC) already this spring.
CLASS M SEYMOUR VS. WATERFORD
When: Saturday, 1 p.m. Where: Biondi Field, West Haven
Seeds/Records: No. 8 Seymour (22-5) vs. No. 3 Waterford (21-4)
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, tickets can be bought online in advance at gofan.co/app/school/CIAC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES
Seymour: 19th appearance, 11-7 overall. 2017 def. North Branford; 2016 def. Rocky Hill; 2014 def. East Haven; 2011 lost Sacred Heart; 2009 def. St. Joseph;
2007 lost St. Joseph; 2006 def. Lauralton Hall; 2005 def. Daniel Hand; 2004 def. Sacred Heart; 2003 lost Lyman Hall; 2000 def. Sacred Heart 1998 lost Morgan; 1996 def. Bristol Eastern; 1995 def. Bethel; 1994 lost Ledyard; 1993 def. Stonington; 1992 lost Middletown; 1985 lost Lewis Mills.
Waterford: 10th appearance, 4-5 overall. 2013 def. Granby; 2010 def. Bristol Eastern; 2009 def. Darien;
2008 lost North Haven;
2007 lost Bristol Eastern;
2003 lost Griswold; 1999 lost New Fairfield; 1984 lost St. Joseph; 1983 def. Lewis Mills.
What to look for: Seymour toppled Waterford
10-1 early in the season, but the Lancers are a far different outfit now. They won 13 in a row before a disappointing 3-0 loss to Griswold in the ECC Division I semifinals. Waterford has outscored opponents 53-2 in four wins during the Class M tournament. Freshman Maddie Burrows belted two home runs in a quarterfinal win over Wolcott and Rachel Miller went 4-for-4 and pitched the Lancers past Granby in the semis. Seymour has survived an up-and-down season to reach where it usually arrives: the Class M final. The Wildcats will be after a fourth title in six years and got a pair of excellent pitching performances over Law and ND-Fairfield to reach the final. Both teams have stellar offenses and hit close to .380 as a team. Wildcats sophomore Morgan Teodosio has continued off her freshman season to hit .519 with 42 hits and 29 RBIs this spring.
You should know:
10 of Seymour’s 11 state titles in its history have come with wins against different teams. The Wildcats have never faced Waterford in a state final.
CLASS S SOMERS VS. COGINCHAUG
When: Friday, 7 p.m. Where: Biondi Field, West Haven
Seeds/Records: No. 9 Somers (18-6) vs. No. 7 Coginchaug (20-6)
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, tickets can be bought online in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES
Somers: 1st appearance Coginchaug: 16th appearance, 11-4 overall. 2012 def. St. Bernard; 2009 lost Canton; 2008 def. Lyman Memorial; 2007 lost Lyman Memorial; 2006 def. Hale Ray; 2005 def. Thomaston;
2002 def. Hale Ray; 2002 lost Hale Ray; 1999 def. Trinity Catholic; 1998 def. Hale Ray; 1997 def. Tourtellotte; 1995 def. Hale Ray;
1994 def. Trinity Catholic;
1983 def. Haddam-Killingworth; 1981 lost Ellington.
What to look for: Just like Waterford in Class M, Somers has destroyed all comers in the Class S tournament. The Spartans — who are the only school in their first final this year — won their first four games by a combined 50-2 scoreline after missing out on the NCCC tournament thanks to a pair of one-run losses late in the season. Shannon Whalen and Gabrielle Tullock each had four hits in a 14-0 rout of Wamogo in the semifinals. The Blue Devils have had a much harder patch to Biondi, though. Coginchaug had to rally from three runs down in the seventh to stun Holy Cross on a two-run doouble from Dana Boothroyd.
You should know: Coginchaug played in the longest game in softball state final history, a 1-0 win over Hale Ray in 1998.