Southington Near Top of Preseason Softball Poll

SOUTHINGTON, CT — In the past four decades, Southington High School has captured the state Class LL softball championship a record 17 times. If the preseason poll is any indication, the Blue Knights have a chance to add to that total by the end of this spring.

Southington, which last won the LL crown in 2015, is ranked second in the initial balloting of coaches and sports media members, trailing only defending Class M champion Seymour. Southington captured four first-place votes out of 13 ballots cast, with Seymour garnering the other nine.

Here are the top 15, plus all other schools receiving votes:

1. Seymour
2. Southington
3. Trumbull
4. Cheshire
5. Masuk
6. Joel Barlow
7. East Haven
8. Norwich Free Academy
9. Amity Regional
10. North Branford
11. Holy Cross
12. St. Joseph
13. Stamford
14. Middletown
15. Griswold

Also receiving votes: North Haven, Granby Memorial, Fitch, Pomperaug, Torrington, Bristol Eastern, Daniel Hand, Newtown, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Norwalk, Guilford, Westhill, New Milford, Fairfield Warde, New Canaan, Sacred Heart, Stonington, Branford, South Windsor, E.O. Smith, Coventry, Lauralton Hall, St. Paul.

Voters: Tony Calcagni, Coginchaug; Vickie Fulkerson, The Day; George DeMaio, WELI; Ken Pereiras, Seymour; Richard Zalusky, Willimantic Chronicle; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Mike Suppe, HAN Network; Jeff Babineau, St. Joseph; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Ryan Lacey, Danbury News Times; Mike Madera, Hearst Connecticut Media; Dave Phillips, Hearst Connecticut Media; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen