Masuk Celebrates State Softball Title With Shutout Of Law

STORRS, CT — Gutsy pitching from a fearless sophomore and timely hitting from the game's MVP allowed Monroe's Masuk High School Panthers to cruise to the Class L state championship Saturday.

In a Saturday morning matchup in breezy Storrs, Masuk defeated Jonathan Law High School in Milford 3-0 at the University of Connecticut's Burrill Family Field in Storrs, repeating as state champions.

And after winning the title, Masuk coach Leigh Barrone had to exit her comfort zone and display her physical prowess by doing the "worm."

It was a bet Barrone, who actually missed some of the season to have a child, made with her team.

Barrone pulled off "the worm" just as easily as her team pulled off a championship. She didn't get hurt, but it wasn't as easy as it looked.

"I just have so much support for me," Barrone said after picking herself off the artificial turf at UConn.

The Panthers were led by sophomore right-handed pitcher Julia Bacoulis, who shut out Law while giving up only two hits and striking out nine in a complete game, championship shutout.

But it wasn't as easy as the scoreboard would indicate.

Cruising through the game in the sixth, a two-out Masuk error had runners on second and third had Bacoulis facing a turning point in the game.

Barrone, however, wasn't worried.

"They really never feel the pressure. The players just know what it means to come out on top," Barrone said of her team.

Unflustered, Bacoulis induced Law catcher Macie Rascoll, a senior, to ground out. Inning over and, for all intents and purposes, game over.

"As a team, we just trust our defense," Barrone said.

Going into the game, the #4 Panthers had a 17-3 regular season record, with Law's 18-2 regular season record good for the #3 seed.

After three scoreless innings and a lot of strikeouts from both sides, Masuk got on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a little help from the Lawmen's defense.

Masuk sophomore Sofia Lieto was hit by a pitch from sophomore Law pitcher Madyson Bull, then advanced to second when a sacrifice bunt attempt by Masuk freshman Grace Ely was thrown into center field.

Both advanced a base on a Bull wild pitch, then both scored on a two-RBI single by sophomore Madison Aguire, who was named the game's MVP, giving Masuk a 2-0 lead.

The next inning, Masuk tagged on a run to make it 3-0, when senior Isabel Viglione hit a long, ground rule double to center, advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on a wild pitch.

The double was notable because Viglione initially rounded the bases thinking it was a home run.

But after an umpire meeting, it was correctly ruled a double, the ball bouncing on the warning track and over the fence in center.

Law was bidding to win its first state championship since 1980.