(Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
Some of the names have changed, but the destination remains the same for Holy Cross softball.
The seventh-seeded Crusaders erupted for five runs in the top of the first inning Wednesday night against third-seeded Coventry, then added four more for good measure in the seventh to put the Patriots away in an 11-4 Class S semifinal victory. Holy Cross’ semifinal win set up a fourth straight Class S state final appearance. This time, the Crusaders take on the top-seeded Stafford Bulldogs on Friday night at 7 o’clock at DeLuca Field in Stratford, the same site as Wednesday’s semifinal. Stafford rallied for a 5-4 walk-off win over No. 4 Wamogo in the other semifinal.
Holy Cross started the scoring with Jenna Mowad’s RBI single, which went right back through the circle and struck the Coventry pitcher. Hannah Brown, who led off the game with a single, scored on the hit. Allie Brown, who drew a walk, wound up scoring on a bad pickoff throw to put the Crusaders ahead 2-0. Brandi McIntosh had an RBI single to score Mowad, then Bryn DeFoe whacked a two-run double to increase the lead to 5-0.
Holy Cross added two more runs in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage. Hannah Brown doubled home Bryn DeFoe (walk), then Val Nobrega singled to bring in Hannah Brown.
Coventry got four runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut its deficit to 7-4. Delaney Harrington had the big blow with a three-run home run.
The Crusaders still led 7-4 entering the seventh. The Brown sisters got the rally started with two outs, Hannah with a single and Allie with a walk. Nobrega singled to score Hannah Brown for an 8-4 lead, then Mowad’s grounder resulted in an error and Allie Brown scored. Lizzy Diorio’s two-run single put Holy Cross ahead 11-4, and Nicole Strielkauskas shut Coventry down 1-2-3 in the last of the seventh to end the game.
