Watertown downs Torrington with late surge

TORRINGTON — Watertown’s softball team broke open a one-run game in the final two innings at Torrington High School for a 6-0 win over the Raiders Friday afternoon.

A great day for pitchers set a strong wind at their backs blowing fastballs faster and risers sharper in their lift.

Watertown sophomore Nadia Andarowski used the extra oomph to limit Torrington to four hits, all in the first four innings, along with 12 strikeouts.

Torrington junior Amelia Boulli gave up a run in the second inning on three hits, then kept it there with seven of her eight strikeouts through the top of the fifth.

“We had two great pitchers on the mound today,” said Warrior coach Keith Borkowski. “It’s the kind of game you like to play.”

“It’s much more fun,” said Anderowski. “The wind helped, but our defense was strong.”

Watertown, 11-1 with just one early-season loss to undefeated Woodland, came to Torrington after three straight blowout wins following an 8-0 win over the Raiders, (7-4; 6-4 NVL) at Watertown a week-anda-half ago.

Despite a three-run Watertown outburst in the sixth inning and two more runs in the seventh on just four more hits, Torrington coach Sarah Arburr saw vast improvement in her Raiders.

“Today was completely different,” she said. “Last time, we made errors and struggled to make contact at bat. This time, it was much better.”

Credit the Warrior defense for keeping Torrington’s improvement and aggressive base running off the scoreboard.

Following two Boulli strikeouts and a comebacker for a quick Watertown outing in the top of the first, Torrington’s Brianna Murelli dropped a one-out single into short right field in the bottom of the inning for the game’s first hit.

A great cross-field throw from Warrior first baseman Lilliana Spagnoletti to Makayla Beauty at third turned a ground-out to first into a double play as Murelli tried for third, ending the Raiders’ first threat.

Next inning, Andarowski and Paige Fekete started off with singles for Watertown. Andarowski was out on a fielder’s choice, but Amelia Tamburrino drove Fekete home with another single.

Two more strikeouts from Boulli locked the door on Watertown’s 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Torrington set its sights on the tie. This time, Aubrie Jones lined a twoout single to left; Haley Burger Drew a walk; and Amelia Russell singled to center.

But another great Warrior

throw — this one from centerfielder Fekete — came in plenty of time to catch Jones trying for home.

It was Torrington’s last real chance for the scoreboard. Andarowski bore down for just one more hit for the Raiders — a single to Boulli in the fourth inning.

Nevertheless, Boulli and her defense kept Watertown close for three more innings.

A pair of doubles in the top of the fifth, by Fekete and Maddy Buono, combined with walks to Beauty and Tamburrino put the game away.

Fekete started with the double; Boulli almost turned a popup bunt into a double play, then loaded the bases with two walks.

Fekete scored on a groundout to third; Buono drove in two more runs on her double, to deep centerfield.

Watertown scored its final two runs in the top of the seventh on a leadoff hit by Sophia Angiolini, a walk to Andarowski and a tworun single from Beauty.

“It was a great high school softball game,” Coach Borkowski said.

Take away those last two innings and Coach Arburr would heartily agree.