Jackets score gutsy 7-6 hometown win over Chiefs

WINSTED — Gilbert’s spirited softball squad hosted Nonnewaug on Monday, May 2, in an extra-innings affair that ended in a stunning Jackets comeback to edge out a 7-6 win at Walker Field.Yellowjacket starter Jaime LaChance worked a quick one-two-three inning and topped off the hitless first half with her first strikeout of the day.Gilbert’s leadoff batter, Jess Shotwell, worked out a walk, then turned a bunt single by Courtney Hoxie into a scoring opportunity with an inspired base-running effort. Shotwell’s aggressive speed allowed her to score from first, with the aid of a handful of Chief throwing errors — giving the Jackets a one-run lead and putting the also speedy Hoxie in position to score at third. Mackenzie Russo did not keep Hoxie waiting at third for long, driving her in with a base hit to put the Jackets up by two heading into the second.LaChance gave up a hard line single into shallow center to start the second, but a heads-up play by Hoxie caught the runner looking for a double and sent her back to the dugout with a quick throw to first. LaChance induced two infield grounders that were expertly fielded and quickly wrapped up another strong, scoreless inning.Gilbert added another run off a base hit RBI from Hoxie in the bottom of the second, but the innings to follow turned into a combined pitching and fielding duel between the two clubs.The Jackets’ defensive efforts continually lifted them from troublesome situations, and even when the young team coughed up an error, they quickly rallied and responded with top-drawer plays to maintain their advantage.Nonnewaug carried a quick swing in momentum into the top of the fifth after battling out of an immensely ugly bases loaded situation in the fourth and began to generate some offense at the plate. The Chiefs’ first chance to score came off a wild pitch that sent the runner from third sprinting home. Catcher Emily Owens quickly tracked the ball and sent a timely toss over to LaChance, who made the tag at the plate to keep Nonnewaug off the score sheet.The Chiefs, however, kept their bats moving through the fifth. A hard line drive came back at LaChance and momentarily shook her up long enough to allow a run to score. The play continued and an unfortunate mistake by the Jackets cost them another run, cutting their lead to just one heading into the bottom of the fifth.Keeping with the fluctuating nature the game was beginning to develop, Gilbert’s Jen Fritch opened the fifth with a long double. Shannon Tuozzo followed suit and doubled to drive in Fritch. Carissa Tuozzo kept Gilbert’s hitting streak alive with a fly single, and Zamis Fernandez knocked in a run off a ground out at first. Nonnewaug made a quick change at the hill, sending hurler Sarah Broderick in to close out the inning.The thrills continued as Nonnewaug countered the Jackets’ scoring efforts with a strong sixth inning. After allowing the Chiefs to add two, Rachel Wendell closed out the inning with a strong play to snatch a slow roller down the line to make the throw to first. Nonnewaug continued to close on the Jackets’ lead, now trailing just by one (5-4) in the bottom of the sixth.Seemingly thwarted by Broderick at the mound, the Jackets were unable to generate much of a response, save another long double by Fritch in the sixth. Nonnewaug worked a two-out single in the top of the seventh, then drove in the tying run with a triple. A hard line drive caused some trouble for the Gilbert infield, opening the door for the Chiefs to score the go-ahead run.Gilbert, down by one in the final inning and looking to tie or score a walk-off game winning run, started the seventh with another walk worked by Shotwell. Wendell came up with a colossal base hit that drove Shotwell in to tie the game at six apiece. The Jackets managed to stay alive but were unable to capitalize with runners on and sent this emotional, hard-fought game into extra innings.LaChance, still standing strong at the mound, induced two easy pop outs and recovered from giving up a walk to induce another lazy pop out to keep the Chiefs from scoring in the eighth.At the bottom of the eighth, with game tied at six, Carissa Tuozzo battled at the plate and worked out a walk off a seemingly frustrated Broderick. Fernandez slapped a single over third base to put Tuozzo in position to score, but LaChance hit into a fielder’s choice that prevented Tuozzo from reaching third. Shotwell worked out her fifth walk of the game to load the bases with one out.Hoxie hit into another fielder’s choice, this time at home to keep the winning run from scoring. Wendell, with bases loaded and two outs, seemingly unaffected by the immense pressure of the situation, quickly added to her seventh-inning heroics by ripping a hard line drive over third base, driving in the game winning run.Gilbert unceasingly battled through all eight innings and earned the very well-deserved, plucky 7-6 win at home. The Jackets’ lively bats tallied 15 hits through the outing, receiving solid offensive efforts throughout their line up. Shotwell produced a single and five walks, while Hoxie, Russo, Fritch, and Tuozzo all added two hits of their own. Rachel Wendell earned two hits, and two RBIs, including the tying run and the game-winning run.The Jackets improve to 6-4 with their win at home.