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Sports

Rams' Softball Threatens Until Final Out

New Canaan gives up first round victory in the state tourney to Darien, 2-1.

With a 8-12 regular season record the New Canaan Rams softball team barely snuck into the state tournament. Darien, on the other hand, was the only team with a 16-4 regular season record not to get a first-round bye. But, as Blue Wave Coach Nick DeMaio put it, "When when two FCIAC teams face off, especially in the playoffs, anything can happen."

The Rams kept it close, and it came down to the final out before the Blue Wave could claim the 2-1 victory.

Some sloppy play by the seventh-seeded Blue Wave helped the 26th-seeded Rams get on base in the first inning. With two outs, Darien starting pitcher Jessica DeMaio hit a batter, and the next hitter reached on an error. DeMaio eliminated the threat by getting New Cannan shortstop Brittany Overacker to ground out.

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Darien took the lead in the bottom of the first. After a single by Olivia Gozdz and a walk by Nichole Buch, Courtney Bell grounded out, which turned into a double play as Gozdz was gunned down at the plate.

However, cleanup hitter Kelly Fahey cracked an RBI single, scoring Buch and giving the Blue Wave an early advantage.

After getting two quick outs in the second, DeMaio allowed hits by Abby Jenkins and Jordan Ventura. But she escaped trouble a second time by inducing opposing pitcher Cydney Ventura to ground out.

Again the Rams threatened in the third, putting runners on second and third with only one out. But again DeMaio worked out of the Blue Wave's jam, getting another groundout and pop-up.

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The Rams narrowly missed tying the contest in the fourth on Abby Jenkins' deep fly ball that landed just short of the fence in center field. The ball bounced over the fence, turning a possible triple into a ground-rule double. Jenkins was left stranded at third when Ventura grounded out to end the frame.

Darien then made it 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, outfielder Emma Hamilton ripped a line drive to right field. What could have been an out turned into a triple, as right fielder Kristen Hogan was slow to move into position to make the catch. Hamilton then scored on senior Michele Piccaro's grounder.

The Rams were caught up in the fifth as DeMaio retired them in order. Overacker singled in the sixth, but Darien shortstop Buch turned a ground ball into an impressive unassisted double play that snuffed out a potential rally.

The Rams finally got on the board in the seventh on an RBI single by first basemen Tory Rusch. Darien third baseman Meredith Ott ended the game during the next at-bat, however, when she made a spectacular diving catch in foul territory.

New Canaan finished the season at 8-13.

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