Darien Softball Edges Archrival New Canaan In Class L Opener

The Darien High School softball team opened state tournament play on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over archrival New Canaan in their CIAC Class L first-round contest.

The seventh-seeded Blue Wave improved to 18-5 and will meet either Windsor or Fermi in the second round at home  on Thursday (4 p.m.). Darien will await the winner of the Windsor-Fermi contest, which was postponed until Wednesday.

The Blue Wave opened with a somewhat sloppy but successful 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.

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 New Canaan threatened in the third, putting runners on second and third with only one out. And again DeMaio worked out of the jam, getting another groundout and popup.

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.

DeMaio finally had an easy inning in the fifth, retiring the Rams in order.

After Overacker singled in the sixth, Darien shortstop Buch turned a ground ball into an impressive unassisted double play that snuffed out a potential rally and boosted the spirits of the Blue Wave players and fans alike.

New Cannan finally got on the board in the seventh on an RBI single by first basemen Tory Rusch. Darien third baseman Merideth 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.

Tuesday's matchup between FCIAC rivals was a bit unusual, as Blue Wave coach Nick DeMaio explained after the game.

Darien, which finished the regular season 16-4, was tied with four other teams. Due to the state's selection process, the four other teams received byes into the second round, including another FCIAC school: Fairfield Warde.

"When when two FCIAC teams face off, especially in the playoffs, anything can happen," DeMaio said.