Foran Of Milford Wins Softball Title In CIAC Instant Classic: UPDATE

STORRS, CT — With two undefeated teams going into the CIAC softball finale Sunday evening, something had to give.

And that was all the more inevitable given the barrage of strikeouts and gas being thrown by both pitchers in an epic pitching duel.

It was a wild pitch in the 13th inning that proved to be the difference in the Class M title game, with Joseph A. Foran High School of Milford ending Woodland Regional High School's three-year reign, 1-0 in 13 innings.

The Lions were led by an incredible performance by junior hurler Abigail Corris, who struck out a jaw-dropping 32 batters over 13 innings.

After the game ended at 10:17 p.m., Corris said she felt fine, even after throwing 188 pitches. Adrenaline can work wonders.

"We just played Foran softball," she said. "We just played with grit and tried our best. It's so incredible. It just reflects all the hard work that we put in."

Corris's coach, Gina Georgetti, said her ace's stamina was clear. "She pushes through and always puts the team first. You couldn't tell that she was tired," she said.

It was a battle of Class M powerhouses, with the top-seed Woodland Regional High School Hawks out of Beacon Falls/Prospect, coached by Loren Luddy, carrying a 24-o total record going into Sunday's game.

The second-seed Lions were just as good at 24-0.

Both had won titles before, with Regional School District 16's Woodland winning three in a row, while the Foran Lions had won two, the last one in 2011.

The Class M game was the last of four taking place on a cloudy Father's Day at the Burrill Family Field Softball Complex at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Originally slated for Saturday, June 14, the slate of softball championships was moved to Sunday, and a more promising weather forecast.

Both pitchers were dominant in the first inning, with Woodland senior pitcher Ella Van Alstyne striking out the side and Corris striking out two in an easy inning.

Both continued to throw gas as the game went along, with the ball rarely, even, being put in play.

With two out in the top of the third, Foran sophomore Madeline Deldin walked, kickstarting the first threat of the day for the Lions.

Then, Foran sophomore Norah Bove lined a single in the hole between short and third, putting runners on first and second with two out. It was the game's first hit.

Foran senior captain Julia O'Connell, however, struck out to end the threat.

With two out in the bottom of the fifth, Woodland junior Emma DeGeorge lined a single past the third baseman for the Hawks' first hit, but the inning ended with another strikeout.

After five innings, both pitchers were dominating their opponents, with Woodland's Van Alstyne striking out nine and Foran's Corris striking out an astounding 13.

Foran's Bove led off the top of the sixth with a walk, with senior Julia O'Connell popping up a bunt to the catcher for a sacrifice attempt.

But the ball was caught, and Bove was doubled up at first, leaving the bases empty. Corris then struck out, and the game remained scoreless.

The contest entered the seventh inning scoreless, with a championship hanging in the balance.

After Van Alstyne retired Foran in the top of the seventh, Woodland looked to walk it off in their half of the inning against the seemingly unhittable Corris.

She continued to be unhittable, and after seven innings, Corris had 18 strikeouts with Woodland's Van Alstyne having 11.

Tied 0-0, the fans at UConn had bonus softball to contend with, along with a lot of tension.

Van Alstyne went 1-2-3 in the eighth for Woodland, paving the way for another walkoff opportunity for the Hawks, a difficult proposition given how Corris was dealing.

Corris didn't disappoint, striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth and sending the game to the ninth.

Van Alstyne held serve in her half of the night, with Woodland looking to win it again.

But that is easier said than done against Corris, who retired the side and sent the game into the 10th.

With two outs in the top of the 10th, Foran freshman Emily Speringo doubled down the left field line and put Foran in position to take the lead.

Foran sophomore Nyla Jaser then fought off several pitches, but struck out looking to end the 10th, giving Woodland a chance to walk it off in the 10th.

As expected, however, Corris struck out the side, and the game went to the 11th frame, with Van Alstyne retiring the side against Foran at the top of the 11th.

Still looking for a walk-off in a 0-0 game in the bottom of the 11th, Woodland was unable to do anything against Corris.

With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Woodland junior Gabriella Capobianco dropped a single to left, becoming the winning run. Foran senior Chloe Cervone came in to run for her.

Woodland sophomore Angelina Tottenham then got on base with an error by the Foran third baseman, putting runners on first and second with two out.

Looking to be the hero, Van Alstyne struck out, ending the threat and sending the game into the 12th inning, the score still 0-0.

After striking out, Van Alstyne still had a game to pitch, and that she did, easily retiring the side in the top of the 12th and giving her Hawks yet another chance to win a championship.

When Corris retired the side in the 12th, the game went into the 13th inning still a scoreless tie.

Foran junior Olivia Gregory led off the top of the 13th with a single to right, giving the Lions the go-ahead runner.

After a Foran strikeout, Foran's Jaser then singled up the middle, putting runners on first and second.

With one out, Foran sophomore Madeline Deldin pulled back a bunt attempt, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch.

With runners on second and third base, Foran was seriously threatening, with Deldin having a chance to be a hero.

Gregory was nearly picked off on third base, but she was ruled safe, then Deldin popped up a bunt that was caught by the catcher for the second out.

With two outs, Foran's Bove watched the ball fly past the catcher, and Gregory scored on a wild pitch, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Bove popped out, but the damage was done, with the seemingly invincible Corris three outs away from ending Woodland's reign at the top.

Woodland junior Caitlin Braun led off the bottom of the 13th with a bloop double off Corris, the tying run in scoring position.

But with a runner on second and no outs, Woodland senior Paige Chiaramonte struck out.

With one out and a runner on second, Woodland junior Emma DeGeorge also struck out, making junior Gabriella Capobianco the potential hero. But she struck out to end the game, Corris' 32nd strikeout.

Astounding.

For Georgetti, it was her team that was astounding. "They don't play for themselves. They play for each other," she said. "I'm just so proud of them for all of their hard work."

And work they did. The game time? An unmanageable three hours and 17 minutes.