NEWTOWN, CT — They don’t get much more difficult or dramatic than this. Masuk High’s softball team, no stranger to conference championships, had to sweat out the latest title.
The Panthers, winners of seven of the last eight South-West Conference Championships, prevailed 1-0 in 10 innings over Brookfield in Thursday’s title game, held at neutral site Newtown High.
The game was moved from DeLuca Field in Stratford due to unplayable field conditions following recent rain.
Masuk avenged its lone SWC defeat this year as Brookfield, the Panthers and Newtown all finished with only one conference loss; a draw determined seeding and Brookfield ended up with the No. 1 seed, Masuk No. 2.
It is hard to beat a good team twice.
“I think we tried to go in with that mentality,” Masuk Coach Leigh Barone said. “We worked hard for it for sure and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Small ball, and not even a base hit in the rally, led to the biggest run of the season for Masuk.
After a tag play at the plate to end the ninth inning and keep the game going the Panthers scratched out their run on a walk, error and pair of bunts.
Masuk pitcher and Championship MVP Julia Bacoulis walked and eventually scored. Grace Ely reached on an error, Peyton Webb sacrifice bunted to advance the runners and Alyssa Castillo drove in the winning run with a bunt up the third base line.
Castillo, who celebrated her birthday with the game winning RBI and a clutch tag at home plate, has been a hot hitter. But she knew what the situation called for with both teams trying to figure out how to push across a run against a dominant pitcher.
“She lives for those situations,” Barone said.
Bacoulis struck out 15 batters, allowed only two hits, walked three and hit a batter.
Bacoulis and counterpart Sydney Miller were locked in throughout the game. Miller also fanned 15, allowed just three hits, walked three and hit a trio of batters.
Brookfield had a great chance to win in the bottom of the ninth. Brookfield’s Sam Aurrichio singled to center to break up Bacoulis’ no hitter.
Miller doubled to right, but the runner was tagged out at home plate on a perfect defensive sequence: a throw from right field by Josie Lieto to sister Sofia Lieto who made a nice relay to catcher Castillo for the tag and the second out of the frame.
“It was amazing. I was nervous for a second, but I knew Josie and Sofia have great arms,” Bacoulis said.
“Our defense played great,” Barone said.
The Masuk coach added that she believed in her team no matter how tense things got, and her calmness rubbed off on the players.
“I just wanted them to know I’m super confident in them,” she said.
Masuk will now compete for a state title.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
