ECC softball tourney: NFA, Griswold aim for league banners

There was a time when Griswold softball coach Rick Arremony enjoyed when the ECC offered just one single postseason tournament.

“I recall in 2002 when we won the ECC Small Division and went on to win the ECC Tournament against everyone,” Arremony said. “I enjoy playing up, especially if I have a team of players who play summer softball.”

In recent years, Griswold hasn't featured those types of powerhouse teams as in pre-pandemic years. The Wolverines beat NFA for the 2018 title and lost to the Class LL Wildcats in the 2019 final. So playing in the Division II tournament this week suits him fine.

“Most of these kids pick up the gloves on March 16 and lay them down on June 1, except for a couple of players,” Arremony said. “We won two games two years ago and six last year. But this corps of juniors has come full force now and I'm proud of them.”

Griswold improved to an ECC best 15-4 after knocking off ECC Division III champ Stonington, 12-3, Saturday . The Bears (15-5, 7-1 ECC III) are defending Division II conference tourney champs.

Waterford (15-5) will try to defend its Division I crown when the tourney commences with semifinals Wednesday and the final Thursday at Griswold High.

After Tuesday quarterfinals at the higher seed home field, Griswold hosts the Division II semifinals at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and the Division I semifinals at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Thursday's finals are DII at 4 p.m. and DI at 6:30 p.m.

Division II

Arremony lists Griswold as a contender in the DII field, which also includes Stonington and Division IV champ Wheeler (14-4). Wolverines junior pitcher Abby Matheson and junior first baseman Kierra Neilson have led Griswold to eight wins in the last nine games.

“As the season has progressed we're playing well," Arremony said. “Griswold is in the mix of teams that can win it. I wouldn't have said that early in the season.”

More: Norwich Tech, Ellis Tech softball teams have big postseason goals

Stonington features pitcher Lindsey Houle who will try to lead the Bears to a second straight title. Wheeler, the No. 1 seed, has one of DII's best pitchers in Reese Main. Lions coach Stephen Bailey will try to duplicate the success he had in boys basketball when Wheeler won its first ECC DII tournament.

Division I

Waterford and NFA played last week in a potential ECC final preview. The Lancers bounced back from an early-season loss to the Wildcats with a 7-3 victory. Waterford (15-5, 7-1 DI) took advantage of uncharacteristically poor NFA defense (five errors) to score most of its runs.

In a season devoid of overpowering pitchers in the ECC, defense plays a more important role. NFA (11-8) squandered a chance to win DI outright by losing to Waterford.

"We had a few misplays in the outfield, which is unusual," NFA coach Athena Jaskiewicz. "We came in with the same passion and desire as we did the first time we beat them, but they flipped the script and made more plays. You want to win the ECC regular season banner but the tournament title is more important."

More: NFA softball seniors aiming for strong finish

Wildcats pitcher Hailey Smith, shortstop Melina Graziano and third baseman Madison Waltke head a veteran group of seniors looking for their first ECC tourney crown. Waterford topped NFA last season for the title behind the pitching of Brielle Kenney

“Brielle didn't make All-ECC last year but she's won 35 games for us in the last two years," Waterford coach Andy Walker said. “She's a gamer and brings such intensity to the mound for us."

Fitch (10-10) may be the darkhorse in Division I. The Falcons swept NFA during the regular season.

East Lyme (14-6) features an All-ECC pitcher in Abby Robinson.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: ECC softball tourney: NFA, Griswold aim for league banners