GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Softball

Class S softball: Coginchaug tops St. Bernard

Jimmy Zanor | June 5, 2014

Coginchaug sophomore Gabby Diaz delivers a pitch during the Blue Devils’  3-1 Class S quarterfinal win against St. Bernard. Photo by Jimmy Zanor - Middletown Press

Coginchaug sophomore Gabby Diaz delivers a pitch during the Blue Devils’ 3-1 Class S quarterfinal win against St. Bernard. Photo by Jimmy Zanor – Middletown Press

 

DURHAM >> St. Bernard head coach Brittany Connors was an assistant when Coginchaug defeated the Saints in the 2012 Class S state championship game.

So after stunning Shoreline Conference champ Morgan in the second round, Connors and the Saints were looking to advance again on Thursday and maybe even gain a little revenge in Durham.

But Gabby Diaz had other ideas.

Diaz, the Blue Devils’ unflappable sophomore pitcher, got out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning and then silenced the Saints the rest of the way as Coginchaug rolled into the Class S semifinals with a 3-1 victory.

The No. 12 Blue Devils (16-8) will meet the winner of today’s matchup between No. 16 Stafford (13-8) and No. 8 Old Saybrook (16-6).

‘Gabby’s been holding us together,” said Coginchaug coach Ann Moscovics. “She’s so composed. The girls are working hard, they’re getting along together, and they’re working for one another. They are all contributing. So we are where we want to be.”

Diaz allowed just five hits, struck out five and walked one.

“I was just so hyped during the game and all the enthusiasm from the entire team was just such a big help, “ said Diaz. “We’re so excited to be here (semifinals).”

The Saints loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning. After an infield pop-out, senior Gretchen Greene hit a grounder to Taylor Marino at second base but Marino’s throw to the plate was late and Sophie Nelson, who led off the inning with a bloop single, slid home for a 1-0 lead.

But that’s all the Saints could muster off Diaz, who notched back-to-back strikeouts with the bases still loaded.

“I’ve been in situations like that before and my biggest thought is just not to stress,” said Diaz. “It’s like you’re going into the first inning with no runs, no nothing. So you just have to go in there and throw as hard as you can. It’s all attitude and confidence.”

Coginchaug answered in the bottom of the third when Destiny Helmedach and Diaz ripped consecutive singles. Helmedach reached third on Diaz’s hit but was thrown out at the plate on a nice play by Saints senior shortstop Ali Patterson, who threw home after fielding a sharp grounder by Courtney Votto.

But Diaz scored on senior pitcher Amy Bouchard’s wild pitch to tie it at 1.

The Blue Devils added the winning runs in the bottom of the fourth. Natalie Labasi reached on an infield error and Taylor Marino hit a bunt single. Senior Kiara Casanova then blasted a two-run double to left center for a 3-1 advantage.

St. Bernard (15-8) got two runners in scoring position with one out in the fifth. But Diaz worked out of it by inducing a pair of fly-outs.

“When we play our game we can beat anyone,” said Connors. “Our lineup, honestly, from top to bottom is one of the strongest. Every single one of them comes through with huge hits all the time. It just didn’t happen today.”

About Jimmy Zanor

Slam Dunk 2

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

BOYS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 CIAC PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS HOCKEY
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS HOCKEY
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS SWIMMING
25 SWIMMERS TO WATCH
GYMNASTICS
15 GYMNASTS TO WATCH

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Who has the best jerseys?

Loading ... Loading ...
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC