Ashley Antonazzo has been lights out in the pitcher’s circle, throwing two shutouts this week, one Monday against Weston and one Thursday against Bethel. (Ken Morse photo)
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By Ken Morse Special to the Middlebury Bee Intelligencer
The Pomperaug softball team doesn’t need to worry about a flawless defense in the field or timely hitting at the plate. Recently the Lady Panthers only need to put the ball in the hands of Ashley Antonazzo.
Last week, the right-hander stymied Weston, Kolbe Cathedral and Bethel as Pomperaug improved to 9-3 on the season, picking up three games in the win column.
How effective was Antonazzo? Just ask her opponents as the junior hurler went 21 innings for the week, allowing just eight hits, surrendering an unearned run and striking out 31 batters.
For the season, Antonazzo has thrown four two-hitters and tossed three complete game shutouts. Two of those gems came last week when she shut out Weston Monday, firing a two-hitter and striking out 12 in a 5-0 win over Weston.
Pomperaug head coach Paul Masotto has shown concern about the team’s hitting and less than perfect play in the field when it comes to errors. Citing that, he said when the big games show up on the schedule he wants his Lady Panthers to be ready.
Last Wednesday, Pomperaug looked more than ready as they put up digits in every inning, scoring a convincing 15-1 victory over Kolbe Cathedral. Laurel Williams smashed three doubles on four hits total, scoring two runs and driving in two runs to pace the attack.
Caley Ruggiero and Annabella Pastorok both cranked a double, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Kaitlin Flood and Brooke Anderson had two hits each with two runs scored and one RBI.
Gillian Stiber belted a triple, scored four runs and drove in two, completing the Lady Panthers’ production at the plate. Antonazzo surrendered four hits, gave up an unearned run and handcuffed Kolbe, striking out 11 batters.
Last Thursday Antonazzo was on her game again, spinning a two-hitter and striking out eight in a 2-0 win over the Bethel Wildcats.
“We are seeing someone different every game coming up with the big hit for us,” said Masotto. “Some games we play better in the field than other games. Today we had Annie Yacavone come up with a big play in centerfield.
“But what is keeping us in every game that we play is Ashley. She has been consistent and lately she has been dominating.”
The Wildcats could do little with the offerings of Antonazzo from the pitcher’s circle. It certainly didn’t hurt that the defense pulled off a couple of real doozies, including Yacavone’s one-handed stab of a sinking line drive to center field in the fourth inning.
The Panthers went on top 1-0 in the third inning when Stiber hit a one-out single, and Madison Connelly worked out a walk. Ruggiero knocked in the run, but Pomperaug had the bases loaded and one out and only scored once.
“We had an opportunity to break the game open,” said Masotto. “But give credit to the Bethel pitcher; she made a big play. Ashley settled in nicely for us, and our defense made the plays they had to make.”
Pomperaug came right back and scratched out an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. Yacavone hit a solid single to center and got into scoring position, going to second on a ball hit back to the pitcher’s circle.
Stiber hit one in the hole that handcuffed the shortstop as Yacavone raced home to make it a 2-0 advantage. Connelly got on base for the second time before Williams flied out to left to end the inning.
Pastorok ripped a double into the left center field gap in the sixth, but was left stranded as Bethel got out of the jam. Antonazzo dialed it up in the top of the seventh, getting two batters looking at strike three to end the game.
Pomperaug will be back in action Monday at Stratford and Wednesday at Newtown before returning home Thursday at 4:15 p.m. to take on Notre Dame of Fairfield.
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