Pomperaug shortstop Laurel Williams applies the tag too late as Newtown runner Katie Laaksonen slides into second base safely in Monday’s game against Newtown. Pomperaug second baseman Annabella Pastorok backs up the play in the game Newtown won over Pomperaug 7-1. (Ken Morse photo)
By KEN MORSE Special to the #Middlebury Bee Intelligencer
The Pomperaug High School softball team was riding high, putting together a four-game winning streak. The Lady Panthers continued to have solid pitching, a sturdy defense and just enough hits to stay in front of the opposition.
Ashley Antonazzo threw a six-hit shutout at Bunnell last Wednesday in a 3-0 win. Emily Winfield and Caley Ruggiero drove in a run and scored a run with Kaitlin Flood delivering a big RBI double.
Last Friday, Pomperaug improved to 4-1 on the season, winning its fourth in a row while squeaking out a 4-2 victory over New Milford. Ruggiero had one hit and two runs scored with Laurel Williams adding a run.
Antonazzo shut the door, keeping New Milford scoreless over the final four innings and striking out 11. Once again it was Flood coming through in the clutch with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored to pace the offense.
On Monday in Southbury, a very good 4-2 Newtown team ended that win streak as the Nighthawks pulled away with a 7-1 win, dropping the Lady Panthers to 4-2 on the season.
Sara Kennedy kept the Panthers off balance all game long with a devastating change-up that led to a called third strike or a ball hit directly at a fielder. Kennedy surrendered just four hits and struck out 12 for Newtown.
“We didn’t swing the bats and there is no excuse for that,” said Pomperaug head coach Paul Masotto. “We had 12 strikeouts, nine of them looking. When we swing the bats, we hit the ball.
“There are two parts to a game – offense and defense – and we didn’t play either. I think we came out and played not to lose. Every team has a setback from time to time, and if this is our setback, I’ll take it.
“It’s still early in the season, and we are a much better team than we played today. We will be back and when we play to our capabilities we can play with anyone.”
Antonazzo and Kennedy were hooked up in a pitchers’ duel for a better part of five innings. The only difference was that Newtown somehow found a way to push a run across the plate in three straight innings and that set the tone of the game.
The Nighthawks left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings but managed to send a run home. Kamdyn Moroney doubled in the gap to lead off the second inning for Newtown and scored on a single from Mackenzie Macchiarulo.
In the third inning, Mali Klorczyk hit an infield single and scored on a double by Macchiarulo. Newtown made it a 3-0 game when they pushed across a run for the third inning in a row when Katie Laaksonen doubled in the fourth inning.
Pomperaug had only two base runners through the first three innings, and both were walks, one to Flood in the second and one to Annabella Pastorok in the third.
“Sara has the same kind of change-up that the girl from Pomperaug (Antonazzo) has,” said Newtown head coach Bob Guerrera. “She puts that in the batter’s head and that can keep them off balance and it makes the fastball look that much quicker.
“You come in against a pitcher like Antonazzo, and it gives you a little bit of confidence when you break through. We didn’t get any big hits, but we got enough to score a run three innings in a row and that really gives you confidence going up to bat.”
The Panthers finally put a few hits together in the bottom of the fourth. Flood got it started, lashing a solid single to centerfield. Madison Connelly came on to pinch run and got into scoring position at second base on a wild pitch.
With two outs, Annie Yacavone drove a single through the infield to set up runners at the corner. Brooke Anderson drove in Connelly with a single past the shortstop. That was all the Panthers could do as Kennedy got another strikeout looking to end the rally.
It was a 3-1 game heading into the sixth inning when the Nighthawks put the game away, erupting with a four-run outburst. Klorczyk caused the most damage, ripping a two-run single through the middle as Newtown took a commanding 7-1 advantage.
The road won’t get any easier as Pomperaug will host Brookfield tonight, Wednesday, April 20. Brookfield will be looking to avenge an extra-inning loss to the Panthers two weeks ago. Friday, April 22, Pomperaug will be at Bunnell of Stratford and then finish out the week at Ridgefield Saturday, April 23.
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