Cromwell softball coach Angelo Morello is slowing getting over his team’s only defeat. In their first game of the season, the Panthers bungled a 4-0 lead and lost to Haddam-Killingworth by a run.
Morello and his squad now have four reasons to put that outcome out of their minds for good: Four wins in a row, topped by Tuesday’s thrilling 1-0 home victory over Coginchaug.
Sophomore Malena Signorello scored senior captain Monica Dewey from second with a one-out hit to right field in the bottom of the seventh as the Panthers sent the Blue Devils to their first defeat in three games.
Cromwell, along with Coginchaug and H-K and, has now entered the picture of the Shoreline’s strongest championship candidates.
“When you lose a game the way we did (to H-K), up 4-0 and you allow just one earned run, it was the most heartbreaking loss,” said Morello. “It still bothers me that we’re not 5-0. But as I’ve told the girls, you have to try and have a short memory.
“I also told them today was about making a statement. ‘Are you a good 3-1 team or a soft 3-1 team?’ I think the win today made a statement.”
In Cromwell’s final at-bat, Dewey led off with a single and stole second with one out, giving Signorello the opportunity to play the hero. She came through with her second hit of the game.
Panthers sophomore Lily Kenney allowed only two hits and struck out seven for her fourth victory. She also had two of Cromwell’s eight hits.
“Lily was ahead of hitters all day long and kept Coginchaug off balance, and we made the plays behind her,” said Morello, whose defense had no errors. “Lily, again, I don’t know what else to say. She’s special. She and (Coginchaug starter) Kelly Boothroyd, who’s really good, matched each other.”
Boothroyd (1-1) struck out seven.
Elsewhere around the area Tuesday:
SOFTBALL
Haddam-Killingworth 16, Valley Regional 3
H-K remained undefeated through five games as freshmen Ivy McNiel, Bella Richwine and Chey LaTouche hit over-the-fence home runs in the Cougars’ Shoreline Conference rout of the Warriors in Deep River. The Cougars led 7-1 after 2 innings.
Richwine hit for the cycle and scored 4 runs, while LaTouche and McNiel each had 3 hits and drove in 4 runs. Richwine, Kaleigh Bodak and Brooke Hickman pitched, with Richwine recording the win. Valley (0-4) had 7 hits.
BOYS GOLF
Portland 172, Old Lyme 204
At Black Hall Club (White tees, par-35, course rating 33.9)
Medalist: Luke Stennett (Portland), 37.
Scoring: Old Lyme–Pat Flanagan 44, Gavin Porter 55, Alex Chrysoulakis 57, Aden Wilson 48; Portland–Stennett 37, Ben Lucas 42, Quinn Lapinski 45, Mason Piersall 48.
Records: Portland 3-0, Old Lyme 0-1.
Next matches: Portland vs. Coventry, April 27; Old Lyme vs. Cromwell, Thursday.
Hand 150, Morgan 172
At Clinton Country Club (Front 9, white tees, par-36)
Medalist: Matt Doyle (Hand), 31.
Scoring: Hand–Doyle 31, Matt Gagliardi 38, Will Fitzgerald 40, Reece Scott 41; Morgan–Jason Cohen 39, Nick Schmidt 43, Drew Nye 45, Cole Crowley 45.
Records: Hand 3-0, Morgan 1-2.
Next matches: Morgan vs. Coginchaug, Wednesday; Hand vs. Shelton, Thursday.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mercy 13, North Haven 2
Halftime: Mercy, 5-2.
Scoring: Mercy–Mackenzie Kelley 1goal, 1assist; Kaylie Zemke 1goal; Catharine Harrison 1goal; Ava Arcesi 4goals, 2assists; Lily Schoonmaker 6goals, 2assists; Maddy Carbone 2 assists. North Haven–Marcella Biceglia 1; Jenna Pine 1g. Goalkeepers: Mercy–Reilly Keegan, 2 saves; NH–Hannah Sommer, 6 saves. Shots: Mercy 33, North Haven 5.
Records: Mercy 2-2, North Haven 0-5.
Old Lyme 14, Valley Regional 13
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Scoring: Old Lyme–Emily Mesham, 5 goals; Ella Curtiss-Reardon, 3 goals 1 assist; Sydney Goulding, 2 goals; Grace Arnold, 2 goals; Caroline Crolius, 1 goal; Schuyler Greenho, 1 goal. Goalie: Old Lyme’s Avra Montazella had 8 saves.
Records: Old Lyme 1-2, Valley Regional 1-1.
BOYS LACROSSE
Old Lyme 10, Valley Regional 9
Halftime: Valley Regional, 6-3
Scoring: Old Lyme—Nick Cox, 4g, 1a; Macklin Cushman, 4g, 1a; Sam Mullaney 2g; Liam Celic 2a; Valley—Keenan Pinder 3g; Cormac Kline 3g; Duncan Rider 1g, 4a; Clark Burelson 1g, 2a; Jackson Bisson 1g. Goalkeepers: OL—Joseph Montazella 6 saves; VR—Axel Johnson 14 saves.
ULTIMATE
Middletown United 13, Fairfield Tribe 6
Scoring: Connor Konopka had 3 assists, Ricky Romano had 3 goals, Anthony Serrano had 2 defensive turns.