Playoffs are in full effect for Connecticut high school spring sports with four local area teams competing and playing in games on Wednesday.
There were four teams (not including the Berlin Redcoats softball team) that competed in their respective brackets with two softball teams and two boys volleyball teams in action. Three out of the four teams have moved on to the next round of their state tournaments with one of the four teams suffering a season-ending loss.
Here’s a recap from the four local playoff games on Wednesday:
No. 4 Southington rallies for four runs in the seventh, defeating No. 13 Simsbury 7-3
SOUTHINGTON – Taking the field fresh off of their first-round bye, the Southington Blue Knights softball team advanced to the quarterfinals following a 7-3 win over the Simsbury Trojans. With the game tied 3-3 in the seventh inning, Southington used four runs to hold off the Trojans while advancing in the state tournament.
In the win, Aubrey Perugini was a perfect 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Alexa Poutouves had a team-high three RBIs and Shelby Jordan got the win on the mound.
Southington trailed early on as Simsbury scored three runs in its first at-bat. A couple errors on some throws allowed Alyssa Candelario and Emma Simon to score. A single RBI grounder from Kate Gills allowed Abigail Koontz to score for Southington to gain a 3-0 lead.
Southington responded by scoring a pair of runs, cutting Simsbury’s lead to one. Savanna Eliasson scored the first run as Olivia Gombotz hit a single. Gombotz then scored when Aubrey Perugini hit a double to left field.
The Blue Knights tied the game in the bottom of the thirds after getting on base with a double, Perugini scored on a sacrifice fly from Alexa Poutouves.
The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, and then the Blue Knights erupted for a four-run seventh inning. Gombotz, Perugini, Reagan Salvatore, and Poutouves each scored in the final inning.
Following the win, Southington will host No. 5 New Canaan on Friday at 4:00 p.m. New Canaan knocked off No. 12 Shelton 12-2 in six innings on Wednesday.
Plainville suffers big 12-1 loss to New Fairfield in second round
PLAINVILLE — Looking to advance to the Class M quarterfinals, the Plainville Blue Devils softball team was denied by the New Fairfield Rebels.
New Fairfield earned a win at ease, scoring in all but two innings. Gianna Garafola drove in four runs in four hits and hit a home run in the win. Briana Puff added three RBIs in the win and pitched a complete game while allowing five hits and an unearned run.
Sophia Roland scored the inning’s first run, on a sacrifice fly from Lindsey Briggs. Garofola then scored on a wild pitch to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead after the first frame. A big four-run second inning increased the Rebels’ lead to six, going up 6-0.
Trailing New Fairfield 9-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, Plainville got its first run of the game. Emily Corriveau doubled on a hard ground ball, which brought home Ashley Chzranowski.
Plainville’s run didn’t matter, as the Rebels answered with a two-run fifth. Roland grounded out with Madeline Buturla advancing to home.
New Fairfield added one more run in the game as Briggs reached first on a hard grounder on an error. Garafoloa scored on the play.
In the loss, Grace Geddes and Corriveau each had two hits, collecting four of the team’s five hits. Following the loss, Plainville ended the 2025 season with a 12-10 record.
New Fairfield will face Nonnewaug High School at Nonnewaug High School this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Nonnewaug defeated No. 14 Wolcott 5-0 in the second-round.
New Britain defeats Farmington in five sets to advance in Class L state tournament
Facing the Farmington River Hawks at Farmington High School, the New Britain Golden Hurricanes boys volleyball team earned an upset win.
The No. 10 Golden Hurricanes took down the No. 7 River Hawks in five sets (14-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 16-14.) New Britain avenged a regular-season loss to Farmington 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12)on May 12.
In the win, Werner Lynes had 30 kills, 20 serve receptions, and 10 digs, Gabe Pedzich had 52 assists, Casper Adamus had 10 kills, 21 digs, and was 17-20 serving with nine service points.
Liam Alape had 23 serve receptions and 19 digs, Jayden Santiago had perfect serving, going 17-17 with eight service points, 11 kills, and Jovan Villega was 16-17 serving with 13 service points.
Following the win, New Britain will play at No. 2 Trumbull High School this Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Newington sweep Norwich Tech on way to Class M quarterfinals
Hosting the No. 13 Norwich Tech Warriors at Newington High School, the Newington Nor’Easters earned a second-round victory in the Class M state tournament in straight sets.
Newington won the first two sets by 10 points or more and finished the third set by not allowing the Warriors to get within five points. (25-8, 25-15, 25-18.)
In Newington’s win, Nate Parlapiano had 18 kills and 10 digs; Tristan Gorman had 35 assists; Adam Redman had 16 digs, and Seng Singkhamlon had seven kills and four aces. Newington improved to 17-5 on the season with the win while Norwich Tech fell to 8-9.
Following the win, Newington will host No. 5 Wolcott Tech, who defeated No. 12 Xavier on Tuesday at Newington High School on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
