Windham High wins second Class A State Softball title in three years

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High’s varsity softball team derailed top-ranked Cheverus in the Regional Championship Game and then took on seventh-ranked Edward Little at Saint Joseph’s College on Saturday, June 21. Windham got the bats going early and immediately put runs on the scoreboard, ultimately winning 7-0 and capturing its second state championship in three years.

Windham junior Addison Caiazzo swings at a pitch while
batting against Edward Little during the Class A Softball
State Championship Game at Saint Joseph's College
on Saturday, June 21. WHS won, 7-0, to earn its 
second state softball title in three years.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA
 

“I think our chemistry as a team (led to the win),” said senior Stella Jarvais. “We all love each other; and I think we were doing it for each other. It’s just amazing, having this bond with the kind of people that you love and cherish and getting to practice and seeing everyone’s face is the highlight of my day. Being able to get in this game, the final game of the season, that’s what we wanted to do because we wanted to spend as much time as we could together. We’ve prepared and we’ve worked so hard. Obviously knowing this is our last game, just keep it simple; we know how to play together.”

Windham defense sent the first three Edward Little batters back to the dugout in the top of the first inning. But in the bottom of the first inning, Windham scored when junior Addison Caiazzo tripled for Windham and was followed by a single by Jarvais scoring Caiazzo. Junior Oakley McLeod reached first base and when freshman Yani Kostopoulos doubled, McLeod scored.

Windham would eventually put runs on the scoreboard in every inning but the fourth and fifth.

In the third inning, senior Kennedy Kimball reached first base following an error. McLeod singled and Kostopoulos singled. Sophomore pinch runner Abhilasha Jain scored. Later in the inning, McLeod scored on a passed ball, as did Kostopoulos.

Kimball had 11 strikeouts, no walks and no errors in the game and she only allowed three hits. She threw 84 pitches, 63 of which were strikes.

In the sixth inning, Windham senior Chloe Edwards singled and Jarvais grounded out, scoring Edwards.

“Our main goal for today was communication and keep talking to each other ... that was a big key for us”, said Caiazzo. “Once you get quiet your mind starts to wander, so just talking to everyone, talking on every pitch, kept us in the game. It feels amazing; I’m so blessed that we have the seniors we have this year – so thankful, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

In the top of the seventh inning, Windham was three outs away from another state title and recorded a strikeout, a fly out before allowing several singles. A final strikeout started the championship celebration for Windham.

“Surreal (to win a second state championship in three years),” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “I never thought taking this job I would have the caliber of athletes that I have. I can’t say enough about this team. They show up to work ... to get better and they show up every day to compete. This is where they want to be. They want to be playing the last game every year, and I couldn’t be prouder of my team. 17 girls in that dugout today, we don’t win it without one through 17 supporting us all.”

Gardiner said a lot of practice and preparation led to the victory. Their biggest focus was the change in pitchers it expected to face. The team had been prepared for a while to face Cheverus’ Addison DeRoche and now they had to turn the page and face a pitcher who wasn’t her. The coach said having pitchers like Lydia Marden, Lacie Higgins, Abhilasha Jain made their offense better by pitching to WHS batters during practice. She said the championship game wasn’t just won on Saturday, rather it was won throughout practice all week long. <