Pawcatuck Cleans Up For First Series Win

The Senior Little League Softball World Series in Sussex County, Del. held a Welcome Night festivity Monday for all 10 teams, featuring a home-run hitting contest, food and a disc jockey spinning tunes.

While every team is thrilled to take part in such a special tournament that may happen once in a lifetime, the loser of Monday afternoon's Pawcatuck vs. Italy game faced the deflating prospect of being likely cooked as far as entertaining any title hopes.

So Pawcatuck, an 8-5 loser to Delaware Sunday in its opener, was determined not to say good-bye to its World Series hopes before saying hello on Welcome Night.

With Pawcatuck clinging to a 3-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, clean-up batter Katie Headley ensured the Eastern Region champs would wear happy faces at the party. She drilled a grand slam homer over the fence to put the game out of reach, giving Pawcatuck a 7-2 victory and evening its record at 1-1 heading into a day off Tuesday.

"It's the first time Katie has hit a ball over the fence," Pawcatuck coach Bob Headley said. "The timing could not have been better. Though we weren't down mentally after losing the opener, you want to get that first win. We definitely feel like we can play with anyone here."

The Emelia Senior Little League entry from Italy hung close in the 93-degree heat before Headley's blast despite being overpowered by Pawcatuck pitching. Winning pitcher Andrea Chiaradio struck out 11 in four innings, allowing only two hits. However, she walked six batters and Pawcatuck made three errors to keep Italy in the game.

Pawcatuck took a 1-0 lead in the first when Chiaradio, the leadoff batter, received the first of her three walks. She went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on Summer Cipriani's single.

Pawcatuck scored two runs in the third. Kayla Collins led off with a single and later scored. Headley reached on a fielder's choice and scored. Three Italy walks helped fuel the rally.

Cipriani pitched the last three innings for the save, allowing two hits and no runs. She received plenty of wiggle room in Pawcatuck's sixth. Roslin Wilhelm walked, and after two outs, Chiaradio and Ally Curioso walked. Headley cleared the bases with a 220-foot homer.

"It feels great going into our off day with a win," coach Headley said. "We should have plenty of zip in Tuesday's practice. We'll need it because our opponent Wednesday (Manaubo, Puerto Rico) looks very quick and very good."

Pawcatuck plays the Latin American champ 8 p.m. Wednesday before completing Pool A play Thursday against Southwest (El Campo, Tex.). Manaubo is 2-0, followed by host Delaware (1-0), Pawcatuck and El Campo (1-1) and Italy (0-2). Pool A's top two teams advance to Friday's semifinals.