SHARE

Westhill Knocks Blue Wave Out of Fciacs

Blue Wave softball fans couldn’t have asked for a better game out of pitcher Jessica DeMaio Tuesday afternoon. Unfortunately, their bats had to contend with Westhill’s Jennifer Joseph, and Darien just couldn’t drum up the run support to give DeMaio the win in the FCIAC semifinals at Sacred Heart University. The Vikings rode Joseph’s complete game, eight-strikeout performance to beat the Blue Wave, 2-1.

Westhill struck early, picking up its first lead of the game in the bottom of the first. Julianne Vincent led off with a single to left field. She took off running when Brittany Horn followed with a bunt, going full speed toward third. The throw from Emily Blosio went past the base, allowing Vincent to score the game’s first run.

Despite the stifling pitching on both sides, Darien managed to even the score in the top of the fourth. Courtney Bell reached base to start the inning when Westhill’s first baseman Allison Macari dropped a fly ball, and she was bunted over by Kelly Fahey. DeMaio then helped her own cause with a single to right field, tying the score at 1-1.

Macari made the most of her chance to redeem herself in the bottom of the sixth, knocking a double off DeMaio to drive in Vincent as the go-ahead run. The Blue Wave threatened in their last inning at the plate, taking advantage of a pair of Westhill errors and a hit-by-pitch to put runners at the corners with two outs. But Joseph kept her composure, and recorded her eighth strikeout of the game to close out the Vikings victory.

With the win, Westhill remains undefeated, and hopes to stay that way in the FCIAC championship against Trumbull Thursday. The Blue Wave will play next in the CIAC Class L tournament, which starts June 1.

to follow Daily Voice Darien and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE