Masuk Softball Falls in Pursuit of Class L Championship

Facing the #1 seed in the CIAC Class L tournament, the Masuk Panthers appeared to have the look of a veteran squad, not one with one junior and the rest freshmen and sophomores. Despite battling top dog Bacon Academy the entire game, and holding a lead in the fourth inning, the Panthers found out that just one play can truly determine a game’s outcome as they were eliminated by a score of 3-2.

Masuk manager Jacqui Sheftz knows that even though the outcome of Monday afternoon’s semifinal game at DeLuca Field in Stratford was disappointing, the future is bright for her team.

“We could’ve taken care of the ball a little better and I think we have to do a better job on the basepaths,” she said. “We ran ourselves out of a couple innings. Tip your hat to Bacon Academy, but we’re a darn good team too. Nobody expected us to be here, except us.”

Masuk starting pitcher, freshman Tatum Buckley, showed poise and composure against a solid softball team. Her teammates got her some run support early, as sophomore Kyla Cannon singled to right center with two outs in the 1st, driving in Buckley with the game’s first run. However, Bacon Academy tied the game in the bottom of the 2^nd thanks to an RBI single by sophomore Alyssa Howard.

The Panthers would retake the lead in the 3^rd inning, as sophomore Ashley Fedor would once again drive in Buckley with a single as the pitcher continued to help her own cause. The lead would hold up until the bottom of the 4^th, when things began to unravel.

With a runner on 2^nd base and the Bobcats threatening, a sacrifice bunt successfully moved the runner over to 3^rd where Masuk 1^st baseman Melissa Peet attempted to catch her napping. Unfortunately, the throw couldn’t be handled and rolled up the third-base line, allowing Bacon Academy to tie the game once again.

“There were a couple of plays that impacted the game,” Sheftz said. “But we’re a family and we pick each other up. Mistakes are to be made … it’s what we do after those mistakes. And credit 'Peety' (sophomore Michelle Peet); on the very next play she made the play.”

Despite the mistakes, Buckley continued to battle on the mound for the Panthers.  Through 5 innings, she had only surrendered one earned run on four hits, with four strikeouts.

In the top of the 5^th, the Panthers slipped up on the base paths, which proved to be costly. Freshman Brittany DaMota walked to start the frame and was sacrificed over to second by Buckley. The next batter, freshman Stephanie Appelberg, grounded sharply to Bobcat shortstop Makaila Kowalsky. Instead of throwing to first, Kowalsky was able to catch DaMota straying a bit too far from second, and throw her out in an attempt to get back.

Masuk would also threaten in the 6^th, but freshman Victoria Schiebe flew out with Kayla Champagne standing on third.

The game’s big play occurred in the bottom half of the 6^th, as leadoff hitter Alicia White took Buckley deep to right center and over the fence. With that home run, the Bobcats took their first lead of the day and would not relinquish it.

After the Panthers were retired in order at the top of the 7^th, Bacon Academy celebrated their semifinal game win in the center of the diamond. Masuk would end up leaving 5 on base, and coming incredibly close to booking a ticket to the Class L championship; instead, they were eliminated on the same field that also witnessed their SWC seminfinal loss to Brookfield.

Bacon Academy’s starter, senior Jamie Correia, got the win. She pitched brilliantly, surrendering only two runs on four hits. She also rang up four strikeouts, including two in the top of the 7^th.

Again, as close as they came to advancing to the championship game, Masuk can only look up from here. Sheftz appreciates what her young team was able to accomplish, especially given the lowered pre-season expectations heaped upon them.

“If you told me at the beginning of the season that we would be 16-4 in the regular season, make it to the  semi’s of both the SWC’s and the state tournament ... if I was a betting person, I would take that in a heartbeat,” Sheftz said. “I’m very proud of this group. We have two more years with the same freshmen and sophomores, so we’re ready to go.”