Dominant pitching from Masuk ends Ellington's miracle season

Ellington pitcher Camryn Fisher gets a pat on the back from first baseman Katherine Czyz, after getting out of a jam in the second inning.

Steve Smith

Ellington's Brynlee Eckels times her jump off of first base while Masuk's Ella Bunovsky looks in at the batter. (Steve Smith/Courant Community)

Steve Smith

Sophomore pitcher Julia Bacoulis was dominant on the mound, giving up just one hit and striking out 13. (Steve Smith/Courant Community)

Steve Smith

Masuk's Ella Bunovsky gets a high-five from coach Leigh Barone as she rounds third after hitting a bomb out of the park.

Steve Smith

Ellington's Sydney Matz takes a pitch for a ride, but it was caught for an out. (Steve Smith/Courant Community)

The Ellington softball team exceeded expectations this year, but the Knights’ miracle run ended when it encountered a buzz saw of a Masuk team, in the semifinals on May 5.

The Knights had a 14-6 regular season record, won the NCCC championship, and entered the CIAC Class L tournament as the 9-seed. Masuk, 17-3 and the 4-seed, has won four Class L titles in a row, and is on its way to competing for its fifth.

The game started as a pitchers’ duel, with no balls put into play until the third inning. Masuk's Natlie Lieto drove a no-doubt-abouter over the left field fence to put the Panthers up 1-0. Pitcher Julia Baculis followed that with a double, but Ellington got out of the inning without further damage.

In the top of the fifth with two out, Ellington's Avery Dwyer hit a bloop single into left field, but it would be Ellington's only hit of the game.

Masuk turned up the heat with a big bottom of the fifth. After the first two Panther batters got on, a bunt was misplayed and the bases were loaded. A walk scored another run, and then another bunt led to a run when the throw to get the force at home sailed past the catcher. A sacrifice bunt added yet another run for the Panthers, who were then cruising, 4-0.

Baculis helped herself again with a double and RBI in the sixth inning, then Ella Bunovsky added insult to injury with a scorching shot down the left field line that went into the corner and became an inside-the-park home run.

Final score, 7-0. Baculis, a sophomore, struck out 13 and gave up only the one hit. Ellington's Camryn Fisher, also a sophomore, gave up four hits and struck out 10.

Coach Leigh Barone said Baculis was simply composed.

"They put the ball in play a little bit, but the defense backed her up and shut them down, and I think she was confident in that, as well," Barone said, adding that Lieto's homer was a spark for the rest of the team. "I think that once you get that one run, with our defense and our pitching, the team says ‘all right, we have to produce now,’ and it puts pressure on their offense a little bit more."

Ellington coach Tom Gordon said he's extremely proud of his team, and it performed better than expected, finding different ways to win.

"This team has gone further than we expected," he said. "In the past two weeks, we won three 1-0 games, and we won a 10-5 game. We won when when we played the short game, and in some games, we really hit the ball when we needed to."

Gordon also gave credit to Masuk.

"They’re awesome. They really outplayed us today. They didn't see our best, but I don't think it was going to matter much," he said.

With just two seniors graduating, Gordon said another deep playoff run is a strong possibility in 2024, especially with a strong eight juniors expected to return.

"Our junior class is strong," he said. "They’re tremendous players, and they’re going to play in the summer, so they’re going to improve."

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