The Seymour softball team has an ample supply of pitching that most teams would envy. Junior righty Stephanie Burt is the ace and arguably one of the top pitchers in the state.
But, if she needs a day off, she has strong reinforcements behind her.
In a 19 – 0 home victory over Crosby on Thursday, sophomore lefty Kelly Ferris and freshman righty Carissa Wasikowski combined on a five-inning no-hitter in a game shortened by the mercy rule.
“It definitely feels good for me because if I get hurt, I have someone good who can finish the game for me or if need be, finish the season,” Burt said.
The Wildcats, who raised their record to 7 – 3, also have junior righty Kelly Mitchell. Mitchell threw a one-hitter two weeks ago against Derby.
Ferris pitched the first three innings and got the wind with five strikeouts, four looking.
“I have a good defense behind me, which helps,” Ferris said. “The wind was tough but I pushed through it.”
Wasikowski threw the last two innings and struck out six, five swinging, including four in the fifth inning.
Crosby, who dropped to 2 – 8, had a runner take first on a strike three past ball.
Seymour scored one run each in the first two innings before breaking it open in the bottom of the third inning with 12 runs on five hits. The Bulldogs walked nine batters in the third inning and the Wildcats took advantage of their opponent’s wildness.
“We did what we had to do to win,” Seymour coach Ken Pereiras said. “We just tried to get up there and be aggressive.”
Burt started at designated hitter and led the Wildcats at the plate by going 3 – 3 with three RBI. She had an RBI single in the first and two hits in the third, an RBI double and an RBI single.
“There’s been a lot of pressure on me because I haven’t been hitting, so I had to step it up and help my team,” Burt said. “I definitely faced a different speed. She didn’t have much movement and it was easy to get on the ball.”
Wasikowski had a hit in the first, junior Maggie Crocamo had an infield hit in the second and juniors Kim Ferris and Emily Coyne and freshman Grace Nisbit had a hit in the third.
In the fourth, freshman Sara Molin led off with a double. Freshman Morgan Scinto and senior Danielle Lemachko followed with singles. Senior Paula Schiffer had an infield single and sophomore Stephanie Willette slammed a two-out, two-run double.
Seymour won’t have an easy game on Friday when it plays at Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
“Their pitcher is faster and we have to step it up,” Burt said, who will be pitching. “I’m ready.”
“We have to get [senior captain] Amanda Willette on base, put pressure on their defense and force them to make plays,” Pereiras said.