Barlow Softball Goes 2-2 In Bethel Preaseason Jamboree

 The Joel Barlow varsity softball team split four games Saturday in the second annual Bethel preseason lamboree as teams from the SWC played round-robin games versus their counterparts in the FCIAC.  The games were played at the Bethel Education Center.

The Falcons opened with a convincing 9-1 win over Ridgefield, but were turned back in consecutive losses vs Trumbull (12-1) and Westhill (7-0) before rebounding with a 7-2 victory over Danbury.

The event allowed Barlow head coach Kristen Fallo to explore several offensive and defensive alignments as she prepares to announce her starting lineup to open the season at Abbott Tech in Danbury on Wednesday.

Senior co-captains Emma Traggianese and Sonia Giorgio led the offensive attack in the opener against Ridgefield.  Traggianese was 3-for-3 at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring two, while Giorgio was 2-for-3 with an RBI and also scored two.

Ace Anne Dolan held the Tigers to three hits while striking out six in going the distance.

Barlow was only able to reach base three times in the contest against Trumbull. Juniors Kacey Hale (double, run scored), Dolan (single and RBI) and Katherine Acocella (base on balls) were the only offensive highlights in a game marked by Falcons' defensive breakdowns as 11 of the 12 Trumbull runs were unearned.

Westhill shut down the Barlow offense in game three as only Acocella and Giorgio split singles in a contest marked by another shaky defensive showing where only three of the Vikings' seven runs were earned as the Falcons fell to the defending CIAC state champs.

Barlow rebounded nicely in the final game of the day against Danbury with a solid offensive output, led by juniors Kate Marshall's two hit, two-run performance and Maeve Smith's two hits and run scored.

Traggianese blasted a two-run homer in the third inning to help Barlow open a 3-1 lead before breaking open the game in the fifth inning, when the Falcons were paced by hits from Marshall, junior Olivia Ventricelli, Dolan and Acocella.

Sophomore Morgan Bonis and Dolan combined to hold the Hatters to three hits.

Barlow has returned 11 varsity players (only two seniors) from last year's team which reached the CIAC state playoffs for the first time in five campaigns.  The Falcons' experienced talent should help the team's run against the likes of Brookfield, Newtown and Lauralton Hall in the highly competitive SWC.