Sports
Darien Softball Rides Long Ball to 7-2 Win Over New Canaan [Video]
Brittany Osborn and Courtney Bell homered for the second-seeded Blue Wave, who will face No. 3 Foran in the semifinals next week.
Brittany Osborn and Courtney Bell homered Friday as the Darien softball team defeated rival New Canaan 7-2 in the CIAC Class L quarterfinals to move within two victories of a state championship.
The second-seeded Blue Wave (22-3) will face No. 3 Foran in the semifinals on Monday or Tuesday. The Lions advanced Friday with an 11-4 win over Brookfield.
Capitalizing on five New Canaan errors and other mental mistakes by the Rams, the Blue Wave (23-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the third inning.
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Emma Hamilton doubled to start the the second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
With one out, Osborn launched a 230-foot bomb over the right- center field wall for Darien’s first two runs. It was the first home run of the season for Osborn, Darien's No. 8 hitter.
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Captain Nicole Buch later singled in the inning and scored on a wild throw home on Jessica DeMaio's hit back to the mound.
In the bottom of the third, Kelly Fahey got the Blue Wave rolling again with a single up the middle. New Canaan got two quick outs, but Osborn doubled to plate Fahey and Osborn scored on an errant throw to first.
DeMaio helped her own cause with an RBI single that made it 6-0 and chased Rams starter Cydney Ventura.
In the top of the fourth, New Canaan used some small ball to get things going as Jordan Ventura and Tori Rusch singled. Brittany Overacker reached on a textbook bunt to load the bases with two outs.
Abbey Jenkins singled in two runs to pull the Rams within 6-2. Jaimie Kuhn bunted in front of the plate, but catcher Olivia Gozdz tagged Overacker, who was trying to score from third, to end New Canaan's rally.
New Canaan freshman Ali Reilly kept Darien off the scoreboard for the next two innings, allowing her team time to regroup and try to get their bats working again. However, baserunning blunders haulted the Rams' momentum in the top of the sixth
In the bottom half, Bell put the final nail in New Canaan's coffin by sending a line drive over the left field-fence for a home run that fell just short of the scoreboard.
New Canaan finished the season at 17-7.
