[Editor’s Note: The following information is supplied by Rob Moore.]
The New Canaan 9-10 year old girls softball all-star team advanced all the way to the Little District Finals this past weekend.
The team beat rival Darien two times in pool play, the second of which was a tightly contested pitchers’ duel with New Canaan ultimately persevering 5-4 in six innings.
Back row: Coach Rob Moore, Lauren Mellas, Julia Bazata, Hannah Moore, Marlee Smith, Unity Lee, Coaches Nancy Welch and Mike Hibbert. Front row: Paige Davis, Faith Hibbert, Eleanor Lapin, Ava Biasotti, and Carolina Welch. Missing from photo: Katie Lapolla and Grace Flatow
Carolina Welch pitched a complete game and went 3 for 4 in the victory.
Darien rallied down 5-0 and scored 2 runs in the 6th to get the game within a run but came up short as New Canaan defense was strong and Welch got the final out via strikeout with runners on second and third.
Unity Lee and Paige Davis connected for key hits in the Darien games.
Carolina Welch. Contributed photo
The win advanced the team to the District finals against the eventual champion Redding-Easton. Throughout the entire tournament the team saw great pitching performances from Carolina Welch and Faith Hibbert in their five games played and were anchored on defense by the likes of Hannah Moore, Marlee Smith and Julia Bazata.
Ava Biasotti, Eleanor Lapin, Grace Flatow, Lauren Mellas and Katie Lapolla all played important roles on the team.
It was a great achievement for the girls and New Canaan Softball in their first year as part of Little League since converting from Babe Ruth this past offseason.