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05/01/2016 12:00 AMThe Haddam-Killingworth softball program has a long and storied tradition of success in its 39-year history and the Cougars achieved the latest in their long line of milestones in a recent victory.
After opening the campaign with losses to Shoreline Conference rivals Morgan and North Branford, HK began to settle down and rattled off five-straight decisions entering its April 25 matchup with Portland. While a 12-1 victory is typically anticlimactic, this one was anything but as the Cougars notched their 600th win in program history with the lopsided triumph. HK later scored convincing wins against Old Saybrook and Old Lyme to improve to 8-2 and seal a spot in states.
“It’s honestly hard to believe because it went by so fast to me. This is my 18th year here as head coach and it’s been really great and I look forward to it all year. Working with the kids is the best job I have,” said HK Head Coach Jeffrey Talbott, who’s only the second skipper in Cougars’ history and has held that post since 1999. “I oversaw [Talbott’s predecessor] Ron Jubinville’s team as I was the athletic director then and it was an excellent program with great success. When he left, I asked to take his spot and just wanted to continue what he started and I’m thrilled with all of it.
Junior pitcher Hannah Theriault was in fine form throughout the landmark win by fanning five and allowing just three hits for her five innings in the circle. Freshman Brooke LaTouche worked in relief for the final two innings, recording a couple strikeouts of her own. Senior captain Meghan Cerino was the Cougars’ primary offensive force by cranking out a double and two singles in four at-bats, while registering four RBI. Junior outfielder Ari Masotti, freshman utility player Faith Mauri, and junior catcher Riley Mroczka each chipped in two hits.
“The weather wasn’t nice when we started preseason and we only got one scrimmage in. We gave North Branford the closest game they’ve had all year [7-4] and the Morgan game [7-6] was a toss-up to the end. We just needed time to get the right kids in the right spots,” Talbott said. “A big win was against Coginchaug as they beat us three times last year. Once the weather got better, they started hitting better. Also, Hannah had trouble with her leg getting off the rubber earlier, but she’s back now. I challenged them to go 8-0 after the two losses and they’ve played very well and we are looking forward to the second half of the year.”
Cerino, who doubles as a catcher and outfielder, is joined as a senior co-captain by sure-handed first baseman Cassie Harlow and her fielding percentage of .987. Even though he only features those two seniors on his young squad, Coach Talbott couldn’t have asked for a better tandem in terms of how they help him manage the group, while helping the club grow closer together outside of the diamond.
“Both of them are like assistant coaches to me. Meghan can also DH and she is just a great leader. Cassie has great hands, as well,” said Coach Talbott. “They also organize a lot of team events away from the games and the rest of the girls love them. They help create those real bonding experiences, which is what you want to see as a coach.”
With five of its seniors saying good-bye after 2015, HK looked to some underclass athletes to fill the voids this spring and they’ve been true to the task. Aiding the two captains in the starting lineup are three freshmen in Mauri, pitcher/outfielder Amanda Minervino, and hurler LaTouche; along with sophomore Olivia Whitehead in center field; plus a strong junior class that features Mroczka, Hale at second base, Rachel Senechal at short, and Masotti.
“We have a lot of talent starting to bloom. Faith has a tremendous arm and can play anywhere. She can throw a ball from her knees to second base with no trouble. Amanda caught my eye in the cage, but she can read a fly ball and is a good hitter. I had to put Brooke in relief during the Morgan game and she’s not overpowering, but has arm and leg movement that is distracting to hitters,” said Talbott on his freshman trio. “Olivia has a great read on the ball and is a good hitter. Riley hits for power. Hannah is coming off a year in which she won 13 games. Ana has been big as she got the two-out, two-on hit to help us beat Coginchaug. Rachel is a vacuum at shortstop and has great range. Ari pitched some last year, but we knew she could play in the outfield and had great power.”
After getting win No. 600, the Cougars kept the runs coming in another rout, this time by a 24-1 final over Old Saybrook on April 27. Theriault picked up her fourth win of the year by allowing two hits, striking out six, and giving up no walks. LaTouche was in the circle for the final inning, garnering a pair of Ks. Mauri and Minervino once again flashed their offensive firepower in the second inning with Mauri blasting a three-run homer to deep center and Minervino slugging a triple on the very next pitch. Mauri finished the afternoon 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored and Minervino followed at 3-for-4. Also going deep for the Cougars were Senechal (2-for-4 with a home run, 5 RBI, and 4 runs scored) and Masotti (2-for-2 with a triple and 2 RBI.) Mroczka had a pair of hits and three RBI. HK also drew a dozen walks.
The Cougars kept the blowouts coming with a 22-8 victory over Old Lyme on April 29 for their eighth win in a row. HK scored 13 runs in the first inning. Masotti had three hits, two walks, and six RBI to pace the Cougars, while Mauri had a double and a triple with two RBI as Old Lyme pitchers walked 21 HK batters.
While the Cougars certainly have depth in the circle and the batter’s box this year, Coach Talbott additionally plans to emphasize the Cougars’ strength in the field in their quest to keep cruising in the second half and once again establish themselves as conference and state title contenders.
“We always try to get to 10 games with a good record because, usually after those first 10 games, you know what everyone can do,” said Talbott. “The main thing I believe in is defense. Your pitcher doesn’t have to strikeout everyone. There are a lot of ways to score runs, so you just have to hold off the other team and I like those 3-2, 2-1 type games. We spend that first half of the year deciding where everyone will play because you want to win games at the end of the year, so you can play at your best in the postseason.”
From the Sidelines
HK’s overall program record is 602-269 and the Cougars have qualified for the State Tournament in 37 of their 38 seasons.
The Cougars have won Shoreline Conference titles in 1983, 1987, 1988, 2000, and 2013. They’ve reached the state finals on six occasions with their lone title coming in Class S for 2003.
From May 1986 to April 1990, HK accumulated 68 regular season wins and 49-consecutive conference victories within that stretch.
Entering 2016, the Cougars have boasted 46 All-State players and 85 First Team All-Shoreline honorees.