Though the Connecticut Panthers 12U softball team out of Monroe lost to Pomperaug 11-10 in an offensive battle, they gave the first seed a run for its money in day two of the SWCAA Tournament in Newtown on Sunday.
The Panthers got on the board in the top of the first inning after Frankie Hollister walked and scored and Taylor Larsen stole home. Pomperaug captured a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first. Monroe tied the game in the second inning on a Paige Embry single to center field.
Pomperaug pulled ahead 6-3 in the bottom of the second and the Monroe Panthers were never able to regain the lead.
Monroe battled back to tied the game at 7 in the top of the fourth, thanks to two key singles by Kashvi Kalaria and Ayana Palekar. But Pomperaug broke the tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
A key defensive play by Larsen, then a pivotal strike out by pitcher Zoey Pizzo Hartmann kept the Panthers in the game. Monroe went on to score more runs, but came up just short.
Pizzo Hartmann took the loss in a valiant effort. The pitcher went three and two-thirds innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out five, and walking only one. Hollister came in to pitch for the Panthers in the fourth inning and gave up three earned runs.
Pizzo Hartmann went back in to relieve her and close out the game in the middle of the fifth after Hollister was hit by a hard ground ball up the middle.
The Panthers accumulated 17 hits in the game. Kalaria led the way with with two runs batted in. The leadoff hitter went 3-for-4. Devyn Passabet, Larsen, Embry, Pizzo Hartmann and Abby Spalding each collected multiple hits for CT Panthers.
Hollister paced the Panthers with two walks. Larsen and Kalaria each stole multiple bases and the team had a total of seven steals in the game.
Although the Panthers lost this game, they leave this travel season winners. The team made great strides and each player contributed. Coaches Brooke Larsen, Nick Rajski and Jackie Rivera donated their time and encouraged the girls. The team may not be returning next season, but the memories these girls and their families have will last a lifetime.
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