The Monroe U10 Panthers softball team clung to a 5-3 lead over Fairfield in the championship game of their tournament last weekend and pitcher, Meghan Braiewa, held Fairfield's bats in check the rest of the way and the Panthers added three insurance runs in the sixth to seal an 8-3 victory.
The Panthers, who are managed by Jeff Braiewa with coaches Lisa Braiewa, Jim Hall and Teresa Hall, went 12-0 in the regular season and 4-1 in tournament play.
"Strong pitching really was the team's hallmark of success all season long," Lisa Braiewa said. "The girls are really very excited about their season. They worked hard and improved a lot and really did a good job putting runs on the board to help us win those games."
The league plays fast-pitch softball and the girls' ages range from 8 to 10.
Lisa Braiewa said the Panthers pitched well throughout the tournament with outstanding performances by Jacie Hall, Meghan Braiewa and Casey Halliday. The three pitchers combined for 28 strikeouts in 14 innings played Sunday, according to Braiewa.
The Panthers actually lost their first game in pool play on Saturday, falling to the Westport Icewolves 5-3. But then they caught fire, walloping the Westport Blue Crushers 12-4 to earn the No. 4 seed for Sunday's elimination rounds.
Two blowout victories — 11-1 over the Fairfield Dynamite and 14-2 over the Fairfield Lime Drives — got the Panthers to the Championship game against Fairfield, the No. 1 seed.
Defense & Timely Hitting
Defensively, Monroe managed to strand 12 Fairfield runners on base in the final game including three innings with the bases loaded.
"Emma West had an outstanding game catching in both the semi-finals and finals," Braiewa said. "Kierra Herlihy did a great job making a few key outs at third base in the championship game to keep it close.
"Offensively, the entire team had a very balanced attack in all the games. Girls ran the bases well, took advantage of every opportunity and big hits with extra bases were put on the board by Julia Boyle, Meghan Braiewa, Jacie Hall and Emma West."
During the regular season, Braiewa said every girl on the team contributed offensively, scoring and driving in runs.
Building On Success
The Panthers also won the A Division championship last year.
"We have three players that returned to our team this year from that squad: Meghan Braiewa, Julia Boyle and Jacie Hall," Braiewa said. "Casey Halliday and Emma West were on the other Fall team last year that won their B division bracket. So we arguably have five girls of the 14 that returned."
Girls on the Panthers team that took home this season's championship include: Julia Boyle, Meghan Braiewa, Drew Campos, Erin Daly, Kathryn Gallant, Jacie Hall, Casey Halliday, Molly Halliday, Kierra Herlihy, Gabriella Luongo, Kyra McCarthy, Gabby Picon, Ava Wieser and Emma West.
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