Sports
Darien Softball Bows Out in Class L Semifinal [Video]
Errors, lack of timely hitting, and a baserunning mistake helped to end the Blue Wave's season
No. 2 seed Foran used flawless defense and early offense to oust Darien 4-1 Monday in the semifinals of the CIAC Class L softball tournament at Stratford's Deluca Field.
Foran scored in the top of the first on Marissa Bruno's two-run double, and that was all the offense the Lions needed to deny the Blue Wave (20-4) a shot at their first state title.
Foran will face top seed Bacon Academy in the final this weekend.
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Darien, which scored its only run in the bottom of the first, collected eight hits, but stranded nine runners in scoring position.
In the bottom of the fourth, the pressure of playing in a semifinal game appeared to finally get to the Blue Wave.
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Darien's Emily Moscatello led off with a single and Britney Osbourne then hit a grounder up the middle into short center field for another hit. However, Moscatello was thrown out at third trying to take the extra base.
To add insult to injury, Osbourne tried to move to second on the throw to third and was thrown out by Foran third baseman Marissa Bruno. The two outs in a single play seemed to take the energy out of the Blue Wave.
Foran added two more runs in the fifth to go up 4-1, but Darien didn't go quietly. The Blue Wave loaded the bases with two outs, but Emma Hamilton grounded out to end the inning.
Foran (22-4) advanced to its first state final since 2002.
Correction: The original version of this article misidentified the second batter for Darien in the fourth inning. It was Britney Osbourne, not Olivia Gozdz. Patch regrets the error.
