Softball: Unbeaten Coventry perfect at No. 10

May 9—It was business as usual for the Coventry High softball team Monday.

Then again, it was all brand new for the unbeaten Patriots.

Coventry played its first game as a Top 10 team in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register poll Monday and continued its winning ways. Brooke Blouin had three hits and three RBIs to back the three-hit pitching of Elizabeth Mitchell in a 6-2 win over host East Lyme in non-league action at Veterans Memorial Field.

The Patriots (15-0) were the top team in the also receiving votes category a week ago. They moved into the 10th spot in the poll released Monday as No. 7 Trumbull dropped out after losses to unranked Staples and Wilton.

"It was awesome when we found out," Coventry coach Jeff LaHouse said. "A big difference this year is we've played a really tough schedule because I knew that we'd have a good team. I didn't care if we ended up 14-6. I just wanted to make sure that we're battle tested entering the tournament. I wanted to play as many good teams as we could."

Fellow NCCC members Ellington (11-2) and Rockville (13-3) are also receiving votes. Coventry beat the Knights by one run and the Rams by one run twice.

Coventry, one of five unbeaten teams left in the state, and No. 9 North Branford are the only Class S teams in the Top 10. The ninth-ranked Thunderbirds are the last to beat the Patriots, doing so in the 2022 Class S semifinals en route to the title.

LaHouse believes being unbeaten and in the Top 10 doesn't add pressure.

"Half of them are aware of the poll and the others don't know what it is," LaHouse said with a laugh. "The ones who do follow it — Elizabeth, Julia Boya, Remmy Casida, our leaders — are excited. The others I'm glad they're seeing hard work pays off.

"It's important for us now to look forward and not backwards and stay focused. If we lose a game in the regular season, it's not the end of the world. We have four games left and we need to focus just on the game at hand.

Mitchell also had three hits for Coventry against East Lyme. Charlotte Wesoloskie drove in two runs. On the mound, Mitchell walked one and struck out nine.

The Vikings are 8-5.

The Patriots entertain Somers today and can clinch a share of the NCCC title with a win.

SUFFIELD 11, EAST WINDSOR/SMSA 6. In Suffield, Emily Greene had two hits and drove in three runs as Suffield overcame an early deficit to pick up an NCCC win.

Greene's two-run single in the third inning capped a four-run outburst that put the Wildcats (5-10) ahead to stay.

Corey Matejek had three hits and scored twice for Suffield while Lizzie Jamrog contributed a two-run triple. Colby Evans added a triple. The Wildcats did not make an error as Jamrog threw out her 11th runner attempting to steal and Rylie Barile was a part of two double plays. Kierstin Fitzgerald was the winning pitcher in relief.

Kristina Keyes finished with three hits and Ryleigh Wollenberg two for the Panthers (4-10). Pitcher Abby Lee struck out 12.

The co-op hosts Ellington today. Suffield is at Bolton Wednesday.

ROCKVILLE 2, BOLTON 0. On Senior Day in Vernon, Alexis Real fired a two-hitter for her third straight shutout as Rockville picked up the NCCC win. The Springfield College-bound senior walked one and struck out 18 to lower her earned run average to 0.26.

She has gone six straight games without allowing a run, with the last team to break through against her being Cromwell on April 27.

The Rams (13-3) scored both their runs in the fourth inning in securing their sixth straight win. Kennedy Gidarakos plated Brianna Roy with the first run with Real driving in Jadah Ortiz to make it 2-0. Lila Ward added a double for Rockville.

Caleigh Sheehan had both hits for Bolton (8-5), which had a six-game winning streak snapped. Breelin McDougal was outstanding on the mound. She allowed seven hits and the two runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

Rockville is at East Granby Wednesday. Bolton visits Manchester today.

ELLINGTON 5, WINDSOR LOCKS 0. In Windsor Locks, Camryn Fisher's two-hitter paced Ellington to the NCCC win. She walked one and struck out 15.

Keyleigh Flaherty had a home run and two RBIs for the Knights (11-2). Fisher had a triple. Windsor Locks is 1-12.

Ellington visits the East Windsor/SMSA co-op today. Windsor Locks is at Granby Wednesday.

GRANBY 3, STAFFORD 2. In Stafford, Amanda Bristol scattered seven hits and Granby pushed across the tie-breaking run in the sixth inning of an NCCC win.

Bristol walked one and struck out 12 as she settled down after giving up two first-inning runs.

Sofia Frassinelli was 3-for-3 for the Bulldogs (4-8). Abi Julian had a triple and an RBI with Ashley Toney driving in Stafford's other run. Frassinelli tossed a three-hitter in the loss. She walked two and fanned six.

Stafford hosts Canton Wednesday.

SOMERS 10, EAST GRANBY 0. In Somers, Hailey Schafer pitched a two-hitter in the host Spartans' NCCC win. She walked none, struck out four, and faced three batters over the minimum.

Somers (10-5) scored twice in third inning and added three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. Kiana Kalman and Robin Gaskell each had two hits, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Both of Kalman's hits were triples. Schafer chipped in two hits and two RBIs while Lucy Catellier drove in two runs.

Jaidyn Lacharite had both hits for East Granby (1-10).

Somers plays at No. 10 Coventry today. The unbeaten Patriots defeated the Spartans 15-0 on Friday.

WINDSOR 13, HALL 1. In Windsor, the Warriors jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead and did not look back in posting the five-inning CCC interdivisional win.

The Warriors (13-2), who are receiving votes in the GameTimeCT poll, host Ellington Wednesday.

WETHERSFIELD 7, TOLLAND 4. In Tolland, Alyssa Pericello pitched a three-hitter in Wethersfield's CCC interdivisional win.

Wethersfield (7-6) won for the sixth time in seven games to move over .500 for the first time this season while Tolland (10-3) had a six-game winning streak snapped.

The visitors trailed 4-0 before scoring three runs in the fourth inning, one in the fifth, and three in the seventh. Bella Tomaino had three hits with Kelly Kiniry and Lily Provost delivering clutch hits in the seventh.

Tolland is at RHAM Wednesday.

BERLIN 7, RHAM 5. In Hebron, Berlin overcame a four-run deficit to defeat RHAM in CCC interdivisional action.

The Redcoats (10-5) scored three runs in the fourth inning to pull within 4-3 and took the lead for good with a two-run sixth. Berlin had only four hits but took advantage of four errors by the Raptors.

RHAM (8-6) received three hits from Ashlee Perkins along with two hits and two RBIs from Hadley Marchand. Linnea Carlson had two hits and Natalie Assunto hit a solo home run. Marchand was the losing pitcher allowing 10 hits and seven runs (three earned). She walked two and struck out 10.

The Raptors host Tolland Wednesday.

State poll

The GameTimeCT/New Haven Register coaches/media high school softball poll. First-place votes in parentheses and points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis. Records through Sunday.

Record Points

1. Southington (14) 11-0 420

2. Fairfield Ludlowe 14-1 376

3. Newtown 14-0 360

4. Masuk 13-1 326

5. Woodland 15-0 304

6. Bristol Central 12-0 290

7. North Haven 15-0 216

8. Jonathan Law 13-2 206

9. North Branford 11-1 169

10. Coventry 14-0 163

Also receiving votes: Trumbull (11-4) 120; Amity Regional (13-3) 98; St. Joseph (11-4) 96; Cheshire (10-4) 72; Windsor (12-2) 66; NFA (11-3) 62; Waterford (10-4) 52; Ridgefield (12-3) 47; Ellington (10-2) 38; Shepaug Valley (10-2) 33; Newington (9-3) 21; Rockville (12-3) 15; Guilford (11-4) 9; Mercy (11-3) 8; Old Lyme (11-1) 7.

The following voted: George DeMaio, WELI; Will Aldam, GameTimeCT; Mike Madera, GameTimeCT; Dave Phillips, GameTimeCT; Nick DeLizio, North Branford; Ken Pereiras, Seymour; Jeff Babineau, St. Joseph; Terry Dinan, New Canaan; Tony Calcagni, Mercy; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Vickie Fulkerson, The Day of New London.