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Card Deals Perfect Game as Indians Clinch Division Title

The North Haven softball team took its first defeats of the season last week, although it was still a big week for the Indians, who claimed their third straight division title on a day that saw senior Lauren Card pitch a perfect game.

After North Haven took a 3-1 loss against Cheshire, Card threw a perfect game when the Indians blanked Sheehan 17-0 to clinch the SCC Housatonic Division championship. North Haven split its last two games of the week by losing to East Haven (6-3) and defeating Hand (17-1) to move to 15-2 heading into the home stretch of the regular season.

North Haven dropped its first contest of the year when the Indians lost a 3-1 decision at Cheshire on May 6. Senior Sarah Lombardi homered in the fourth inning to give North Haven a 1-0 lead. The Rams scored three runs in the fifth to take a two-run lead and then hung on for the win. Card pitch six innings for the Indians, who had won their first 13 games of the season and recorded eight-straight shutouts entering this game.

The next day, Card delivered her perfect performance to lead North Haven to a 17-0 home victory over Housatonic opponent Sheehan, giving the Indians their third consecutive division crown. North Haven had previously won the Oronoque Division title in each of the last two seasons.

Card retired all 12 batters she faced, before the game was called due to the mercy rule after the top of the fourth inning. North Haven scored three runs in the second inning and 14 runs in the third to run away from the Titans. Senior Peyton Davis had a single with a triple, a home run, three runs scored, and four RBI for North Haven. Fellow senior Caitlin Ranciato singled twice and hit a homer to go with three runs and four RBI. Senior Haylee Garthwait homered with two RBI, senior Carly Brown hit a pair of singles and drove home two runs, and fellow senior Olivia Petersen had two singles with three runs and one RBI in the victory.

On May 8, the Indians lost a 6-3 road game against East Haven in a Housatonic matchup to finish with a divisional mark of 7-1 on the year. North Haven took a 3-0 lead when Ranciato hit a three-run homer in the third inning. The Yellowjackets scored two runs apiece in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to come away with the win. Card threw a complete game and also had a double and two singles at the dish.

Two days later, North Haven posted a 17-1 road victory over Hand. Card tossed a three-hitter and struck out six to get the win to go along with two hits and two RBI. Senior Sarah Lombardi went 5-for-5 with a home run and four RBI, Davis collected four hits and drove in three runs, while senior Olivia Petersen went 3-for-4 with one RBI.

North Haven has three games remaining in the regular season. The Indians are hosting Guilford on Senior Night at the North Haven Athletic Complex at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 13; followed by a game at Amity at the Old Tavern Road Complex in Orange at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15; and then their regular-season final versus Staples at North Haven Athletic Complex at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 16.

The SCC Tournament gets underway with quarterfinal action on Monday, May 20; followed by the semifinals at Biondi Field at West Haven High School on Tuesday, May 21; and the final at that same site at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. The first round of the Class L State Tournament will take place on Tuesday, May 28. The tournament runs through the final on the weekend of Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8.