SEYMOUR — Off balance for the better part of three innings, Seymour adjusted its batting approach on its way to a 3-1 victory over Jonathan Law in the Class M quarterfinals on Friday night.
“We were swinging and popping up pitches, so we moved up in the box,” said Lauren Haversat, who lined a two-run double in the decisive frame and turned a double play in the in the sixth. “Once we get one hit, the energy level just rises.”
Seymour (19-4), the No. 8 seed, will play either No. 4 seed Notre Dame of Fairfield (19-3) or No. 21 seed Berlin (15-7) in the semifinals on either June 3 or 4.
CIAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD / SCHEDULE
Law right-hander Brianna Buccitto retired the first eight batters she faced, before Erin Lifrieri singled to left field to bring the top of the order to the plate. Alyssa Johnson dropped a two-base hit over the third base bag, before Haversat hit a double up the gap to score a pair. Morgan Teodosio then clanged an extra-base hit off the top of the fence for the third run.
That was enough for Jenna Geffert, who took a four-hit, eight-strikeout shutout into the seventh inning.
“Their pitcher kept us off balance,” Seymour coach Ken Pereiras said, “Law is a good team; they beat Woodland (16 seed) and Valley Regional (No. 1 seed). We only had that one inning, but with Jenna that was enough. Her changeup was working and Kolby Sirowich called a really good game.”
Law, the 17-seed, finished at 16-7.
“Seymour, top to bottom, is a great team,” Law coach Melanie Blude said. “Brianna pitched great for us. They put those hits together, but we fought until the end.”
With two down in the seventh, Ally Stein reached on the game’s only error and pinch-hitter Sarah Paulus plated her with a long triple to right field.
Geffert got the last out on a fly ball to Molly Adamo in left field.
“I didn’t know much about Law except that they had beaten two good teams,” Geffert said. “All I have to do is throw strikes and trust my defense. That double play was the turning point of the game for me. I turned (to the play), hit my glove and jumped in the air.”
Law’s had hits in the first, second and fourth innings, but couldn’t push a run across.
Cali Jolley beat out a bunt up the third base line to open the sixth.
Courtney Hanson, who had singled in the first, drove the ball up the middle, but Haversat gobbled it up, stepped on the bag, and fired to first for the rally-ending double play.
“Lauren is a first-year starter for us at shortstop as a junior,” Pereiras said. “She’s had a great year for us with line drives up the gap and with her defense.”
Seymour wasted hits from Jacey Cosciello in the fourth and Haverstat in the fifth, with Buccitti making fine pitches in great spots.
In the end it was Seymour walking off with the victory.
“We all work well together,” Haversat said. “We know she can get strikeouts. She knows we’ll play defense to back her up.”
That ying-yang philosophy is good for a ticket to the state semifinals
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Lauren Haversat and Jenna Geffert, Seymour. Haversat turned a key double play and drove in two runs with a double. Geffert struck out eight batters and didn’t allow an earned run. She didn’t walk a batter.
QUOTABLE
“I didn’t know much about Law except that they had beaten two good teams,” Geffert said. “All I have to do is throw strikes and trust my defense. That double play was the turning point of the game for me. I turned (to the play), hit my glove and jumped in the air.”
NOTEWORTHY
This is the first time Jonathan Law has advanced to at least the state quarterfinals in consecutive seasons since the springs of 1987 and 1988.
