By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – For the first time since the 2005 campaign, the Bristol Central softball team is heading back to the state championship.
And behind another tremendous pitching effort by Pia Torreso, the fifth ranked Rams picked off top seeded Danbury by a 4-1 final from DeLuca Field in Stratford on Monday night.
Central (22-4) earned its trip to the title game and will battle No. 2 Southington – a 7-3 winner over No. 3 Fairfield Ludlowe.
That showdown, which marks the third meeting between the two powerhouses this season, will commence either Friday or Saturday with DeLuca Field in Stratford a possible venue for the title tilt.
But in the semifinal attraction, the Hatters didn’t have an answer from the dish against Central’s recently minted 2022 CHSCA All-State Class LL pitcher.
And in her biggest game to date, Torreso shined when all the lights were at their brightest.
Torreso allowed just the one run on two hits, walking only one while fanning 12 to completely shut down the Danbury offense (23-3).
It was a big-time performance, one of many that day by the Rams, leading to a Class LL state championship berth.
“Pia was un-hittable besides the home run in the seventh,” said Central coach Monica Hayes. “[She] had total command of her pitches.”
And by the time Danbury was finally able to scratch across a run, it was far too late as Central had already constructed a 4-0 cushion.
In fact, the Hatters only scooped up hits during the fourth and seventh innings and that offense was spaced very nicely by the Central’s defense.
Offensively, Central ramped up five hits but put up single runs over the first, second, fifth, and sixth frames to keep the pressure on the Hatters.
In the first frame with Sam Sklenka on, Leah Sklenka’s base hit scored the lead runner as Central nabbed a 1-0 push through one.
Sarah Romano came home in the second inning off a misplayed ball hit by Lorelei Stancavage as Central’s lead increased 2-0.
“Lorelei and Leah came up big early,” said Hayes of Stancavage and Sklenka. “And Sam [Sklenka] was solid on the bases once again. “
And later in the game, both Sklenka’s posted insurance runs to make it a 4-0 contest through six.
Leah Sklenka came home on an error in the fifth while Sam Sklenka tagged the dish in the sixth off a passed ball as the Rams were clearly cruising to a big finish.
Finally in the bottom of the seventh, Masuk’s Kaylee Drago blasted out a home run for the Hatters only run of the afternoon.
But in the end, it simply wouldn’t be enough as Central punched its state title ticket via the 4-1 win over the top seed in all of Class LL.
And in a rare occurrence, it’s going to be an All-CCC championship affair as the two neighboring towns will go to battle for the state’s biggest prize.
NOTES…In the bottom part of the bracket, Southington and Fairfield Ludlowe went toe-to-toe through three innings as the teams battled to a 3-3 stalemate. But the Knights went for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to ice the contest as Southington grabbed a 7-3 win to advance to the championship round against the Rams…Central will be looking for its second ever title in girls softball – last winning it all in 1985…The showdown against Central will be Southington’s 25th Class LL championship appearance in school history…The Knights are 1-0 in the championship round against the Rams, having defeated Central (2-0) back in the 2004 title game under then head coach Phil Pirog.
Bristol Central Softball – Class LL Semifinal
No. 5 BRISTOL CENTRAL 4, No. 1 DANBURY 1
from DeLuca Field, Stratford
Bristol Central (22-4) 110 011 0 – 4 5 0
Danbury (23-3) 000 000 1 – 1 2 2
WP – Sophia Torreso (Bristol Central); LP – Haley Pucci (Danbury)
Records: Bristol Central 24-4; Danbury 23-3
