The Seymour softball team is in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs and it owes it to junior righty Stephanie Burt.
Burt returned to the mound on Wednesday with a vengeance, leading 14th-seeded Seymour to a 3 – 0 victory in the second round of the Class M tournament against third-seeded Granby Memorial.
“It feels good to come back with a win instead of a loss,” Burt said. “My curveball was my best pitch and I threw a lot of off-speed stuff.”
The Wildcats raised their record to 19 – 6 and will face the winner of Thursday’s game between sixth-seeded Wolcott and 11th-seeded Haddam-Killingworth in the Class M quarterfinals on Friday or Saturday.
Granby ended its season at 19 – 3.
Burt had perfect control with 12 strikeouts and no walks in throwing a six-hitter after missing part of the NVL championship game last Thursday and all of Tuesday’s 15 – 0 victory over 19th-seeded Nonnewaug due to injury.
“It feels good,” Seymour coach Ken Pereiras said. “Burt pitched really well and the defense made the plays behind her. It’s a big win for us and they are a great team with a Division I pitcher. Although we had only three hits, we put pressure on them.”
Pereiras was referring to Granby righty Julie Marks, who had eight strikeouts and will play for Division I Central Connecticut State University next year.
Marks couldn’t stop Burt at the plate.
Burt slammed a two-out triple in the third and freshman courtesy runner Morgan Scinto scored on freshman Carissa Wasikowski’s single.
“I pretty much choked up and when she got behind on the count, she tends to throw down the middle and I went after the pitch,” Burt said.
The Wildcats scored twice in the top of the fifth. Senior captain Amanda Willette reached on a two-base error, stole third and scored on Burt’s flyball in which she was credited with a sacrifice fly and an RBI. The right fielder dropped the ball and Burt took second. Scinto the courtesy runner stole third and scored on Wasikowski’s sacrifice fly.
“I just ran hard, executed and made my way towards second,” Willette said. “When you make an error like that, it throws you off.”
Burt then struck out seven of the last nine batters she faced.
“As the game went on, she got stronger, which is a good sign,” Pereiras said. “To get a win like this is a nice feeling.”
Junior Maggie Crocamo singled in the seventh for Seymour’s third hit. Going into the year, some thought the Wildcats would be in a rebuilding phase. They hope to defy their doubters and repeat as Class M champions and they are three games away from this endeavor.
“I’m very excited about the win,” Willette said. “We played a great game and Stephanie pitched well.”
Burt said, “I think it’s a good opportunity for us. We were told it was going to be a rebuilding year but we improved a lot and we have what it takes to succeed.”
