Cromwell leads Ellington softball to 14th softball straight win

May 12—ELLINGTON — Bryanna Cromwell knew the Ellington High softball team needed a spark Wednesday.

The sophomore took it upon herself to be the catalyst.

Cromwell finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored as the Knights topped the East Windsor/SMSA co-op 8-1 in an NCCC game, their 14th straight win.

"I think pressure really does it for me," Cromwell said. "When I'm under pressure, I don't really think. I know that I need to get a hit and I need to get the runners in. Especially because it was 2-1 for a while, so I knew we needed the runs."

The Knights (14-1) are 10-0 in league play and are a half game ahead of Coventry (10-1) for first place.

Ellington held a 2-1 lead after an inning Wednesday, but wasn't able to gain any separation until the fourth. The Knights scored six runs in the inning, including two-run singles by Cromwell and Brynlee Eckels.

In all, the Ellington sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.

"I know we had a couple tough innings where everyone just got really down on themselves," Cromwell said. "But then everyone picked themselves back up and picked each other up. We did really well and came back. I'm really proud of everyone."

The Panthers (8-7) jumped in front in the top of the first when Ryleigh Wollenberg scored on a throwing error. But the Knights took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Keyleigh Flaherty finished with two hits and two runs scored in the win. Erin Fitzgerald had two RBIs, Katherine Czyz had one and Eckels scored two runs.

Reliever Kaitlyn Kerstetter got the win. The sophomore allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none in five innings.

"She's a gamer," Ellington coach Tom Gordon said of Kerstetter. "She's not the most talented person in the world, but she works the hardest. She's a girl that will do anything for the team."

Camryn Fisher allowed a run, walked a batter and struck out six in two innings. She exited the game early due to soreness in her pitching arm.

Sammy Corrado, Katie Blume, Nairoby Hiraldo and Alex Rosado-Rivera had the hits for East Windsor/SMSA. Abby Lee took the loss. She struck out eight and walked six.

"Even after that one inning where we gave up six runs, it was great how we turned around and were able to get the next six outs," Panthers coach Kaylee Miodonka said. "As long we can bounce back in the next game like we did in those innings, I think we'll be okay."

East Windsor/SMSA entertains MLC Friday. Meanwhile, Ellington begins a stretch of four games in four days Monday when it travels to Rockville to play Alexis Real and the Rams.

"She's definitely a quality pitcher," Gordon said. "I believe that if we can put the balls in play, good things will happen. We just have to take it one game at a time, and they're next."

ROCKVILLE 5, EAST GRANBY 4: The host Rams led 5-3 after two innings and held on to improve to 11-4.

Hannah Lake allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings. Alexis Real, who had two RBIs, pitched one inning of relief, allowing one run.

Lake (2-for-2), Liana Wheelock-Bonet and Katherine Larson all had RBIs for the Rams.

BOLTON 6, SUFFIELD 5 (10). Sydnie Stevens' one-out single down the right field line plated the game-winning run as host Bolton edged Suffield for a NCCC victory.

Bolton (6-8) built a 4-0 lead after two innings but back-to-back doubles by Hayli Graham and Lily Heitman and singles by Lauren Sheriden and Lizzy Jamrog leveled the score in the top of the fifth.

Base hits from Heitman, Sheriden, and Jamrog put Suffield (2-11) up by one in the top of the 10th. But Bolton had one more rally in its bones.

Ciara Bryk, Lucy Doyle, and Samantha Sondik reached base with one out, setting the stage for Stevens.

Reliever Breelin McDougal earned the win. The junior struck out four in two innings of work. Hayli Graham took the loss.

Bolton hosts Stafford Thursday. Suffield hosts East Granby on Monday.

CANTON 2, STAFFORD 1 (10). Emily Garcia plated the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the 10th inning to propel host Canton to a NCCC victory.

Canton (10-5) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Stafford (8-6) tied it on Sam King's RBI base hit in the fifth.

Garcia worked a leadoff walk in the home half of the 10th. The sophomore stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball.

Alice Butterfield earned the win. The junior went the distance, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out 11 and walking two.

Reliever Sofia Frassinelli took the loss. Starter Ashley Toney allowed one run on three hits in nine innings of work. She struck out 15 and walked two.

Stafford visits Bolton today.

RHAM 3, TOLLAND 2. Alaina Roy and Natalie Assunto each drove in a run as visiting RHAM earned a CCC East victory.

Hadley Marchand had two hits for RHAM (12-2), which took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and tacked on two runs in the sixth to extend its lead to three.

The Eagles answered with single runs in the sixth and seventh to pull within one but couldn't complete the comeback.

Ryan Lewis and Caroline Marcroft each drove in a run for the Eagles (9-6). Skyler Corlett had two hits.

Marchand earned the win. The junior went the distance, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out 12 and walking three.

Elsie McCaffrey took the loss. The freshman allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out 10 and walking one.

Both teams return to action Friday. RHAM hosts Manchester, while Tolland visits East Catholic.

ENFIELD 9, E.O. SMITH 6. Freshman Payten Stebbins went 2-for-5 with four RBIs as visiting Enfield posted a CCC East victory.

Enfield scored five runs in the top of the fourth to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead. E.O. Smith scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut its deficit to two, but Enfield plated three in the seventh to put the game away.

Meredith Higgins added two hits and two RBIs for the Eagles (12-4). Brenna Lyver had two hits and Samantha Dubiel drove in a run.

Tiffany Lubanski earned the win. The senior went the distance, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits with 14 strikeouts.

Ashley Lewis took the loss. Jenna Boardman drove in two runs for the Panthers (5-7).

Enfield hosts East Hartford Friday.

MANCHESTER 14, E. CATHOLIC 2 (6). Host Manchester jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings and never looked back, cruising to a CCC East victory.

Brynn Mesick hit a double and caught a line drive at third for the Red Hawks (7-8). Kate Regan earned the win. The junior struck out five and walked two.

Kylie Bachand took the loss for the Eagles (5-9). The sophomore struck out two.

Both teams return to action Friday. Manchester visits RHAM, while East Catholic hosts Tolland.

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