GREENWICH — For Rebecca DeCarlo and the Greenwich High School softball team, the conclusion of this second-round state playoff script was about as good as it gets.
Hitless in her first three at-bats against nemesis Westhill Tuesday afternoon, DeCarlo changed that in dramatic fashion, leading off the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk-off homer over the fence in left center as the No. 3 Cardinals edged the No. 14 Vikings 3-2 to reach the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals for the first time in a decade.
The trip around the bases was one to remember for DeCarlo, a senior co-captain and the Cards’ No. 3 hitter, who was mobbed at home plate by her teammates.
“I just hope I don’t have a concussion now,” DeCarlo said with a smile.
“The plan was just to get a hit and get on base, but when the ball left my bat I had a pretty good feeling. Rounding the bases was great, the Westhill players were telling me `nice hit’ so that shows the sportsmanship on their side too. This is pretty special and we have about 12 hours to enjoy it, then its back to practice and get ready for Thursday.”
Enjoying one of its best seasons ever, Greenwich (19-4) will host No. 11 South Windsor in Thursday’s quarterfinals at 4 p.m.
No doubt, this one will be tough to top — particularly since it was the Cards’ first win against the Vikings (15-8) in three tries this season.
Picking up right where it left off in last week’s 5-1 FCIAC quarterfinal round victory over Greenwich, Westhill struck early as Kaira Ramon led off the game with a single and later scored on a sac fly in foul territory by Sadie-Rose Apfel.
The Cards, however, would answer right back in the bottom of the first following consecutive singles by Jen Ambrogio and Erin White, both of whom would eventually score.
The 2-1 lead would hold up for pitcher Jessie Schelz and Greenwich until the sixth, when Apfel ripped a one-out single to score Erica Gambino.
Both teams would threaten in the seventh with runners in scoring position and less than two outs, but both Schelz and Apfel would bear down to send the game into extra innings.
Again the Vikings had a chance to grab the lead following a leadoff double by Gabby Laconna, but after a sac fly by Apfel, Schelz was able to induce a pop out and an inning-ending grounder.
So that set the stage for DeCarlo, who crushed an 0-1 changeup over the fence.
“It was a changeup off the plate and (DeCarlo) just timed it perfectly,” Westhill coach Tom Pia said. “It was a good season and we lost in the FCIAC semis and second round of states on walk-off homers to two really good teams, so hey what can you do? Its tough to beat a team like Greenwich three times, they deserve it and I wish them well.”
Madison Burhans had three hits in the win, while sophomore Catherine Decker drove in a run for a Greenwich squad that also shined in the field — highlighted by DeCarlo’s running catch at the edge of the infield dirt to end the seventh.
The winning formula was one that Cardinals coach Mary Beth Fratello hopes will continue.
“Solid pitching by Jessie, strong defense and enough offense,” Fratello said. “It was a total team win.”
When asked where the win ranked during her tenure with the program, Fratello didn’t hesitate.
“Right up there at the top,” Fratello said. “I’m very happy right now.”
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