Eagles Softball Wins Thriller, Edge Terriers

Following a slow start, Wethersfield softball seniors Maddie Gove, Bella Tomaino, and Victoria McGrath have helped the Eagles turn the season around.

Wethersfield’s Alyssa Pericello rose to the occasion at the most important times last Monday night. 

Pericello pitched a complete-game shutout and connected on a clutch hit in the sixth inning as the Eagles edged Rocky Hill 1-0 at WHS on May 15.

It marked the Eagles eighth straight win and avenged a loss to the Terriers from earlier this spring.

“We were ready; we knew we could win today,” said Pericello, who had seven strikeouts.
 
Head coach Colleen Budaj said that Pericello has developed more “poise” this season, adding her junior ace has a great rapport with sophomore catcher Kathryn St. Andrew.

“They have a trust in each other and that is an important piece,” Budaj said of the pitcher-catcher duo. 

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, Pericello tripled after sending a shot to left field. Freshman Emma Komanetsky then laid down a bunt, sending home Pericello on a perfectly-executed squeeze. 

“I knew we needed it and seeing that pitch I was so excited for it,” expressed Pericello, who proceeded to retired three straight batters in the top of the seventh innings to close the game. 

Senior captain Bella Tomaino put the finishing touches on the victory by nabbing a straight shot down the third base line for the final out. 

Tomaino said this victory meant a little extra. 

“I was very emotional. I just wanted to finish this thing out, especially after losing to them in the first game.” stated Tomaino, who
shared an embrace with Budaj following the win. “After everything that happened this season, I was happy to get this one.”

The Eagles started the season by losing five of six games, capped by a 7-1 loss to Rocky Hill on April 21. 

Budaj noted a night and day difference between her team from early-April until now.

“In the beginning of the season we weren’t challenging teams, we just weren’t putting the ball in play,” added Budaj. “Now we’re putting the ball in play at the right times.”

Budaj’s husband and assistant coach Steve Budaj said that vacations, illnesses, and injuries set the team back early in the season, adding, “We finally got everybody back and got rolling.”

The Budajs have leaned on Tomaino, Maddie Gove, and Victoria McGrath — the team’s three seniors — to help navigate the Eagles through the early struggles.

Following the 1-5 start, the win over Rocky Hill was the Eagles 10th win in 11 games. 
   
“Honestly I think it’s just about buying-in,” said Tomaino. “It’s just about adapting to the program and the people around you and just getting used to it, and eventually meshing and rolling throughout the season.”

With the Class L state tournament starting next week, the Eagles head into the postseason with a renewed sense of confidence. 

“It feels good; it’s all about peaking at the right time,” added Tomaino. “It’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish. Hopefully we can get a good seed going into the tournament and make some noise.” 

*Terriers Turns Toward States*

Following a 1-0 defeat at Wethersfield High School, Rocky Hill softball head coach Will Ramos said it was important to “turn the page” following the team’s second straight loss.

The Terriers stranded seven runners on base, including three in the second inning.

“We just have to start hitting again. Right now we are in a funk and unfortunately it’s at the wrong time,” added Ramos. “We are on that downward slope and [the players] just have to believe in themselves. We have a lot more softball to play.” 

In the top of the second inning, the Terriers loaded the bases, but two straight outs ended the team’s best threat.

Rocky Hill again had runners in scoring position in four of the next five innings but came away empty each time. 

Prior to the Wethersfield loss, the Terriers suffered a 3-1 defeat at Middletown and Ramos said the frustrating part is that he knows what the team is capable of after seeing his team score six or more runs in nine games this season. 

“We just have to get these bats going,” added Ramos, who said the current slump doesn’t resemble his team from early in the season. “They were aggressive at the plate and the same thing on defense. Offensively we were making a ton more contact and we were producing runs when we needed to produce runs. Right now we are stuck.”

In spite of the troubles at the plate, senior pitcher Shauna Kehoe has been a constant on the mound for the Terriers.

Kehoe struck out seven in the loss to Wethersfield, allowing only four hits. 

After graduating an influential senior class that included three players now playing college softball, Ramos said that Kehoe has stepped into more of a leadership role, calling her the “glue” of the team.

“She keeps us together,” added the second-year head coach. “She can only play one position and she is doing that really well.”
Following a 16-2 loss to Maloney on May 17, the Terriers rebounded by winning their regular season finale, defeating New Britain at

Rocky Hill High School to wrap up the regular season with a record of 12-8.

Next up is the Class M state tourney, starting next week.  

Check ciacsports.com for a complete list of schedules and results. 

Rocky Hill senior Shauna Kehoe has once again been the team’s ace this spring.