Cydney Ventura’s first FCIAC pitch as a freshman was a mistake that was hit for a home run in a scrimmage against Darien.
It was a rude indoctrination to a pitcher who had seen a lot of success in the youth travel ball circuit, but it also showed her that to succeed in the FCIAC, she needed to take her game to a new level.
And on a rainy Thursday afternoon, Cydney Ventura helped her team achieve a level it had never reached before.
Behind the gritty pitching and clutch hitting of Ventura and solid defense from her teammates, the New Canaan Lady Rams upset the top-seeded St. Joseph Cadets 2-1 to win the first FCIAC championship in program history.
“It still feels unreal, kind of like a dream,” said Ventura. “But I’m sure it will sink in tomorrow.”
The dream became a reality despite the fact that the Cadets had the tying run on second, and their top hitter Jenn Vazquez at the plate in the bottom of the 7th. Having hit the ball hard in each of her previous At Bats, the thought of walking the St. Joe’s slugger did cross New Canaan head coach Danielle Simoneau’s mind.
“The goal was to give her nothing that she could hit,” said Simoneau. “We wanted to keep the ball outside, in the lefty batters box. And if she bites, she bites, and if not no harm done…she’s on first.”
Even after getting two strikes on Vazquez, the intention was to keep the ball away, and a mistake pitch from Ventura showed that fate was on the Rams’ side. The pitch sailed toward the inner half of the plate, just above the knees. It froze Vazquez, and when the umpire signaled strike three, the Rams had their championship.
“The minute she let go of the ball and I watched it, I knew it was not going where I called it,” said Simoneau. “So I kind of put my hands in front of my face like ‘Oh my God’ and the next thing I knew I hear (umpire) Steve Summa yell strike three and I looked at (assistant coach) Joel Geriak and I go ‘Is this for real?’ and he was like ‘We just won’.”
“I was so excited, I wasn’t even really thinking,” said Ventura. “I wasn’t sure how many outs there were. I actually thought that was the second out. My first instinct was to run toward home plate, toward (twin sister and Rams catcher) Jordan, and have my whole team run in…it was just full of happiness and joy. It was an unforgettable moment.”
It was a game of unforgettable moments.
After Cadet freshman Nicole Williams set the Rams down in order in the top of the 1st, St. Joe’s looked poised to continue the offensive juggernaut they displayed in Tuesday’s semifinal against Darien, when they pounded the Blue Wave 13-0. A one out single, followed by a blast from Vazquez off the LF fence, and then a bunt single had the bases loaded with Cadets.
But in a theme that would continue all afternoon, Ventura worked out of the jam, inducing a forceout at home on a grounder, then a popup to end the threat.
“Cyd did a phenomenal job,” said Simoneau. “And it just shows the faith that she has in her OF and her IF to throw the ball where it’s supposed to be and if they hit it to trust that they play is going to be made. And they did…the players made the plays they needed to make.”
In the 2nd inning, St. Joe’s placed a runner at 1st with two out, when Lauren Pitney hit a liner to CF which looked as though it might drop. But CF Colette Pellegrini made a spectacular diving catch, one of three outstanding defensive plays by the junior this game.
“Colette is so free in the OF, she just floats,” said Simoneau. “She sees the ball so well off the bat and reacts, and she does a phenomenal job for us in Center.”
New Canaan struck first in the top of the 3rd. Abby Jenkins led off with a walk, and moved to second on semifinal hero Rachel Kortman’s sacrifice bunt, then to third on a ground out. Cydney Ventura then proverbially “helped her own cause” by ripping an 0-2 pitch to LF for an RBI single, and the Rams had a 1-0 lead.
"Great bunt by Rachel Kortman," said Simoneau. "God bless that girl and the job she’s done over the last two games. We throw her in big situations, she’s on the field in the FCIAC semifinals and finals, and you know what? She got the job done."
New Canaan got a much-needed defensive play from catcher Jordan Ventura in the Bottom of the 3rd. With one out Vazquez hit another bomb, for a double. Kristen Chaco followed with a walk, and it looked as though the Cadets would answer. But the courtesy runner for Vazquez wandered too far off 2B, and Ventura’s throw was perfect. The play loomed large, as Tori Ceballos followed with a single, but Ventura was once again able to get out of trouble as Amy Chaco grounded out to end the inning.
In the 4th inning, the Rams added an insurance run as Amanda Frattaroli drilled a clutch 2-out double to CF, bringing home Courtney Rogers from second.
“Amanda has definitely grown as an individual and a player, and just showing the confidence that she should have because she’s a phenomenal hitter,” said Simoneau. “She just went up determined in that At Bat that she was going to get a hit, and she did. She drilled it…it was beautiful.”
“My first at bat, I swung at three pitches and missed them all,” said Frattaroli. “I felt like I couldn’t even see the ball, like she was throwing them right past me. And then I got up again, and I knew Courtney was out there and I knew that you can’t just have one run. I just hit the ball, and I didn’t really know how far it went or that it was a good hit until I was on second and I saw that Court had scored and that extra run is just good to have.”
St. Joe’s scratched out a run in the bottom of the 4th to make it 2-1, but again left runners on base. Through the first 4 innings, the Cadets had stranded 8 runners, and by the time the game was delayed due to the rain for nearly an hour after the 5th inning, it was New Canaan that looked as though they had all the momentum and confidence on their side.
“The funny thing is, a few of the people in the stands, and the umpires were commenting how our girls were out of the dugout and were dancing during the rain delay,” said Simoneau. “And the goal for this year was, have fun playing the game that you love to play. And that doesn’t mean sitting in the dugout anticipating when is the rain going to stop, or are we going to continue playing. Whatever they had to do to stay loose they stayed loose. So if that meant they were dancing, having a great time, socializing, that’s what they have to do, and that’s what they did.
“It’s just another game. We went into it saying to ourselves, you know what, seniors, this is the last time you’re going to be here. Enjoy the moment. And have fun doing it. We have nothing to lose, everything to gain so just enjoy the day being out here. And they did.”
After trading 1-2-3 at bats in the 6th, the Rams found themselves 1 out away from a win, and with only Vazquez standing in their way of history.
“Knowing that there was the tying run on 2nd and a hitter like Jenn up against me helped push me,” said Ventura. “And I think knowing that we would have a banner in the gym for the first time ever was in the back of my mind when I was pitching to her, and it was just something to work toward.”
“You’d never think that’s how you’d end the game with Jenn being at the plate and she strikes out looking,” said Simoneau. “But that’s what happened.”
“A lot of hard work over the years has contributed to the success the team has had and I have had,” said Ventura. “It’s good advice for anyone. If you want to win something, you have to work toward it…not just with yourself, but with your team."
And it was teamwork that has led to success, from their time playing 10u youth tournaments on the New Canaan Storm to the present day.
“That’s what we did over the years," continued Ventura. "It wasn’t just me pitching or Ali Reilly pitching that got us the wins, it was everyone together. I think it’s important to remember that softball is a team effort, not just a single person.”
Cydney Ventura’s first FCIAC pitch was a mistake that was hit for a home run.
Her last FCIAC pitch was a mistake as well…but this time, it gave New Canaan a championship.
