Monday, June 3, 2019

RICH ZALUSKY

Assistant Sports Editor

COVENTRY — What was the difference-maker in Friday afternoon’s CIAC Class S state tournament quarterfinal-round softball game between Coventry and Coginchaug?

Let Coventry coach Jeff LaHouse give the answer.

“We just got out-hit,” LaHouse said. “Plain and simple, that’s what it came down to.”

That was the difference as No. 7 seed Coginchaug (19-6) collected 10 of its 15 hits over the final three innings, including five of the extra-base variety, that turned into eight runs as the Blue Devils rolled into the semifinals with a 9-3 victory over No. 2 Coventry (19-4).

It was a change in philosophy at the plate that turned the fortunes around for Coginchaug as it went into attack mode against Coventry starting pitcher Abby Boya.

“Boya was doing a good job for them hitting her spots,” Coginchaug coach Steve DeMartino said. “Before the start of the fifth inning in the dugout we talked about going up there and attacking the ball.”

Locked in a 1-all tie, Caroline Fournier led off the Coginchaug fifth with a single from the No. 8 spot in the order.

Following an out, lead-off hitter Isabel Mercado worked her way into a favorable 3-0 count.

One pitch later, Mercado (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) went into attack mode, lacing a double into the gap in right-center to bring home Fournier with the go-ahead run.

Amalia DeMartino (2-4, run, 2 RBI) followed with a laser to centerfield for an RBI single and, with two outs, Dana Boothroyd hit a ball to the center-field fence for an RBI double and a 4-1 Coginchaug lead.

Coventry answered with a single run in the home half on a 2-out run-scoring single from Delaney Harrington (2 hits, 2 RBI) that scored Jacqui Bates (lead-off double).

It was short-lived momentum.

Skye Ryer (triple), Milardo (double) and Amalia DeMartino (single) all lined sharply-hit balls off of Bates in the top of the sixth that led to three runs as Coginchaug built a comfortable 7-2 advantage.

And in the seventh, the Blue Devils tacked on two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Ayanna Helmedach and single from Ryer as the lead grew to 9-2.

“We haven’t been pressed like that to score runs much this season,” LaHouse said. “Every time it felt like we were getting our way back in, they would tack on more runs.

“It was a tough battle to keep up with them. They hit the ball hard.”

Harrington had 2-out single that scored Bates in the bottom of the seventh to close out the scoring.

It was the second straight season that the two teams met in the Class S quarterfinals.

Nearly one year ago — 364 days to be exact — Coventry used a 5-run bottom of the third inning en route to an eventual 8-1 victory over Coginchaug.

Six of the players in the lineup for the Blue Devils on Friday started in last year’s quarterfinal match-up.

DeMartino, in his first year as coach, preaches defense first.

And it was on display on Friday with Ryer making three spectacular gems at shortstop, two of which kept Coventry from laying a foundation for a big inning.

Amalia DeMartino — a sophomore second baseman and the coach’s daughter — fielded a well-hit ball by Coventry’s Kat Merisotis on a short hop that ended the fifth inning with a runner in scoring position.

“The kids — a lot were freshmen and sophomores last year — knew their roles and stepped up this year,” Coach DeMartino said.

“We played a lot of tough teams this season, including North Haven [Class L semifinalist] in our opener.

“We do that on purpose to play tough teams. It may hurt our record a little bit, but I want the kids to play against the best competition possible.”

Coginchaug will face the winner of today’s game between No. 3 Holy Cross and No. 6 St. Paul in the semifinals on Monday or Tuesday.

Merisotis is the lone senior who graduates for Coventry, which has reached at least the quarterfinal round of the last three Class S state tournaments, including back-to-back appearances in the semifinals.

“This group is one of the best that I’ve coached,” LaHouse said.

“They have great chemistry and root for one another. They’ve worked hard all season.”

Follow Rich Zalusky on Twitter — @rmzaluskytc.This article appears in our print edition and in our Chronicle e-edition (available at 4 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. Saturday) complete with all photos and special sections.

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