TORRINGTON >> Three-time defending Class LL state champion Southington kept its state-best winning streak alive with a 5-2 non-conference win at Torrington Monday afternoon.
But it was far from easy to extend that winning streak to 75 games.
Southington (5-0) needs three more wins to tie the state record of 78 set by Seymour.
Torrington came close to snapping the long streak with a two-run uprising in the bottom of the seventh inning, tying the score, then stretching the Knights two more innings before Southington put up three runs in the top of the ninth.
In the end, there were a couple of differences, but none bigger than sophomore Janette Wadolowski. In a duel between premier pitchers Ali Dubois for Torrington (9 innings, 5 hits, 17 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 hit batter) and Brenna Serantides (6.2 innings, 3 hits, 12 strikeouts, 4 walks), Wadolowski put up the game’s first run with a home run in the second inning.
“When we made a mistake, they jumped on it,” said Torrington Coach Maryann Musselman.
Emily Mankus led off the fourth inning with a single to short left field. With two outs, Wadolowski came through again. This time, it was a triple to the right centerfield gap. It scored Mankus, 2-0.
Wadalowski tried for another home run, losing the race at the plate, thanks to great throws from Torrington center fielder Ashley Dowd and second baseman Alexis Tyrrell.
“This was our first away game of the season, so that could have had my adrenaline flowing, with the music and the long ride,” said Wadalowski. “Torrington is one of the best teams we’ve faced.”
The Red Raiders lived in the 2-0 hole carved out by Wadolowski until the bottom of the seventh.
Dubois led off with a single to right; Tyrrell rapped a spinning infield dink for a single, sending pinch runner Mariah Herczeg to third.
With one out, Tyrrell made it to second on a steal. Hereczeg got picked off at third.
With two outs, the inning was far from over.
Cierra McGowan and Dowd drew walks, loading the bases. Amanda Thiel, ninth in the Raider batting order, lined a two-run single through the left side for the tie.
“I just opened my stance,” said Thiel.
Her hit brought on the second difference in the game.
“We started slow (against Dubois). Then we got better,” said Southington Coach Devina Hernandez. “We stopped chasing balls out of the strike zone. I asked my girls, ‘Who is going to be more disciplined?’”
If both teams were catching up to the starters, Southington had another ace in the bullpen.
Sophomore Kara Zazzaro came in, forcing Torrington batters to start all over again.
Zazzaro (2.1 innings, 0 hits, 4 strikeouts) left Thiel and Dowd on second and third with a third-out strikeout.
The Raiders went quietly for the next two innings.
Not so, the Knights.
After a one-two-three eighth, Michelle Woodruff scrambled to first on a third-strike wild pitch. Dubois hit Natalie Wadolowski with a pitch following a strikeout, then walked Maighread Scafariello.
Janette Wadolowski was back at the plate, adrenaline high. She sent a two-run grounder through the left side of the infield for a hit. Torrington caught Scafariello off second base for the second out.
Zazzaro provided her own insurance with a line drive RBI single up the middle.
“We’ve been having close games. We need it to get ready,” said Coach Hernandez.
“I’m very proud of my team,” said Coach Musselman.
Southington 5, Torrington 2 (9)
At Torrington High School
Southington 010 100 003 – 5 5 1
Torrington 000 000 200 – 2 3 0
WP: Kara Zazzaro. LP: Ali Dubois. HR: S – Janette Wadolowski. 3B: S – Wadolowski.
Records: Southington 5-0; Torrington 3-3.
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