Coginchaug senior Gabby Diaz fires a pitch during the Blue Devils’ 1-0 win over Morgan on Friday at Parmalee Field. (Jimmy Zanor – The Middletown Press)
DURHAM >> While Coginchaug pitcher Gabby Diaz dazzled each batter by mixing a fastball with a terrific screwball, her counterpart, Morgan’s Emily Popp, kept the Blue Devils off balance with a float-like-a-butterfly change-up. The two senior pitchers were trying to get their teams to the promised land.
And one unearned run was all Coginchaug needed to advance to the Shoreline Conference championship game.
Diaz struck out eight, including two in the final inning with the tying run at second base, junior shortstop Melissa Grenier spearheaded the defense with a run-saving catch in the fifth and Coginchaug edged the Huskies, 1-0, Friday afternoon in the SLC semifinals at Parmalee Field.
The Blue Devils (17-5) also defeated Morgan twice during the regular season.
“I’m really happy for them because anytime you play in a championship game it’s a blessing,” Coginchaug coach Tony Calcagni said.
The second-seeded Blue Devils will meet No. 1 North Branford today (1 p.m.) in the tournament final at Old Lyme High School.
Coginchaug senior Destiny Helmedach tries to generate some offense against Morgan in Friday’s Shoreline Conference semifinal. (Jimmy Zanor – The Middletown Press)
“I’m just excited,” said Diaz, who scattered six hits and walked just one. “We were in a little slump a few weeks ago but we have our attitude back up now and we’re doing really well as a team and as a family.”
Popp allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out five.
“She’s a great athlete and a super kid,” Calcagni added. “To beat that team three times in one season is just tremendous.”
Coginchaug scored the only run in the bottom of the second. Grenier led off with a single to right and moved to second on a nice sacrifice bunt from Carly Lane.
Emily Smith followed with another sacrifice bunt but this time the Huskies defense failed to execute. The throw to first base got past second baseman Kelsey Hopkins, who was covering the bag, and Grenier raced all the way home.
Morgan (16-6) got the tying run to second base in each of the last three innings.
“We left some people on and just didn’t get the big hit,” Morgan coach Sal Fiorillo said. “I’d like to have the day over and maybe a couple of balls fall in. Give Diaz a lot of credit. She’s an outstanding pitcher. When you don’t put the ball in play they don’t catch it and throw it. I’m a little disappointed with that.”
When Huskies senior Isabella Pitarra led off the fifth with a bouncing double past third it looked like third-seeded Morgan was in business. Diaz, however, notched a strikeout and Grenier made a sensational over-the shoulder grab to rob sophomore Cameron LeClaire of a possible game-tying hit. Diaz then got an inning ending grounder to Smith at third.
Pitarra (2-for-3) also led off the seventh with a double.
“It got a little nerve-racking,” Diaz said. “But I try not to let the nerves get to me.”
Diaz bore down and got the next two batters before Lexi DelVecchio drew a walk. Diaz then ended things with her eighth strikeout.
“We’ve got a great group of kids and it’s a tribute to them and how hard they’ve worked and overcome a lot of obstacles this year,” Calcagni said. “I don’t think anyone thought we’d be here. We had Gabby and a couple of other pieces but the rest of the kids really stepped up. You saw Melissa (Grenier) today and Emily (Smith), who got the bunt down. Those are the little things that this team does. They’ve really started to jell and put it together.”
COGINCHAUG 1, MORGAN 0
(at Durham)
Morgan 000 000 0 — 0 5 2
Coginchaug 010 000 X — 1 3 0
Emily Popp and Cameron LeClaire; Gabby Diaz and Natalie Labasi.
WP: Gabby Diaz (17-4). LP: Emily Popp ().
Team records: Morgan 16-6; Coginchaug 17-5.
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