St. Paul softball reached its season-long goal on Friday night when it played for the Class S state championship against Holy Cross in West Haven.
The Falcons came up a win shy of the ultimate prize in a 4-0 loss to the Crusaders.
“To be the best, you got to beat the best,” St. Paul head coach Gary Hovhanessian said afterward. “Right now, [Sarah Lawton] is the best in Class S.”
What the loss can’t take away are the memories made by the Falcons, especially in the 9-8 comeback win over Coventry in the semifinal round.
“The accomplishment of the other night, that’s something they’re going to remember forever,” Hovhanessian said.
Going into the tournament, Hovhanessian and the Falcons were aware of who the best teams were. One was top-seeded East Granby, which ninth-seeded St. Paul stunned 7-3 in a quarterfinal contest.
Hovhanessian had nothing but praise for the effort of senior pitcher Alessandra Milardo, who battled against a tough Holy Cross offense.
“Her goal this year was to be an all-state pitcher, and she pitched like an all-state pitcher in my opinion,” Hovhanessian said.
After the game, senior captains Milardo, Brigid Johndrow and Brooke Perez accepted the runner-up plaque. It may not have been what they wanted, but those seniors — along with senior Bianca DiLernia — were part of the greatest run a St. Paul softball team has ever made in the state tournament.
For this season, check off a NVL semifinal appearance and a Class S state final game. That’s quite the legacy to leave behind.
There are solid players returning for 2018. Shortstop Jess Persechino, who made several good plays in the field during the title game, will be a junior. Lindsey O’Bright and Katelynn Oullette return as seniors and Abby Poirot will be a junior. Janessa Gonzalez and Katrina Roy have a year of varsity experience under their belts and will be back as sophomores.
It will take a lot to come close to what St. Paul did this season, but that’s because the Falcons made history, and a ton of memories, along the way.
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