After losing in the Class M semis two years ago and the Class M final last season, the Yellowjackets' softball team has finally won the big one. That's because East Haven took down top-seeded Fitch 4-2 in the Class L State Tournament championship game at Biondi Field in West Haven on June 12, clinching the Yellowjackets' first state title since 1984. East Haven, which was the No. 10 seed, finished the season with a record of 19-7.

"It feels great. It culminates everything that I've tried to do with the program," said Head Coach Ed Crisafi, who captured his initial state crown in his 22nd season as the club's skipper. "I tried to get the kids to take softball more seriously and play summer ball and then all of a sudden they've all bought in. Now, it's been six years in a row where we're right there. I think we're one of the elite programs right now. We're right up there."

With the game tied, 2-2, senior captain Giovanna Russo stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run double in the top of the third inning that proved the game-winning hit. Sophomore Danielle Stefania, who pinch ran for junior pitcher Laura Anderson, and senior captain Jena Villecco scored on the knock.

"I've been in a slump for the past few games, so this was great to come back in the state championship and finally get out of it," Russo said. "I just went up thinking that it was my turn to hit. That's exactly what I did."

Prior to the double, junior shortstop Allison Luzzi sparked the Yellowjackets with a full count, line drive home run to tie the game. Luzzi, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, laced one over the left-center field wall that ignited her entire squad.

"It means a lot to me. All my work that I've put in has paid off and it's just great," Luzzi said of the MVP honor. "I got a pitch right down the middle. For the momentum, I think it just got us moving. It started everything."

Anderson was nothing short of brilliant on the mound for East Haven. After a shaky first inning where Fitch (25-1) scored two runs on one hit, Anderson calmed down. She allowed just one hit the rest of the ballgame—a single to left field in the sixth inning—and nobody got past second base.

"The first inning, we started off rough, but then we came back and I knew we had it. It feels great. We won the state championship and I had a two-hitter. Nothing can be better than that," Anderson said. "We knew that we had this game going in. We're a very strong team and we just dominated them. We attacked the pitcher right off the bat and we won."

In the bottom of the first inning, Fitch's Taylor Wolfgang doubled to right-center field. On the next play, Jonell Hobert reached second on a fielder's choice and Wolfgang was safe at third following a rundown when East Haven tried to get her as the lead runner. Wolfgang then advanced home on a throwing error by East Haven freshman catcher Jessica Stettinger when she errantly threw the back to Anderson following a pitch, giving a Fitch a 1-0 lead. Hobert scored on a RBI ground out by Jackie Lewis for a 2-0 Falcons' advantage.

The Yellowjackets answered right back in the top half of the second. Junior Kara Hanson led off with a single and took second on a single by Russo. Senior captain Casey Smith then hit a two-out grounder to the shortstop that wasn't fielded cleanly and the Falcons were unable to get the force on Russo at second that would have ended the inning. Hanson, being alert on the base paths, rounded third on the play and scored without a throw.

After Anderson retired Fitch 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second, East Haven went on its tear in the third to take the lead and control of the game on Luzzi's tying homer and Russo's go-ahead two-run, two-bagger.

East Haven brought its 4-2 command to the bottom of the seventh and Fitch got the leadoff runner on base via an error. With one out, Luzzi fielded a grounder at short and fired to first, where SanGiovanni made the catch for the force and then threw to third as Villecco tagged out Jayden Delaporta trying to advance from second for the 6-3-5 double play that clinched the win.

"It feels so good," Luzzi said. "We got over the hump, as coach has called it, and it feels so great to finally be over it."

Fitch came into this game riding a 29-game winning streak dating back to last season and was the defending Class L champion. The Falcons also featured the Gatorade State Player of the Year in pitcher Caroline Taber. However, that didn't matter to the Yellowjackets as they collected 12 hits.

"Allie's home run jacked us up," Crisafi said. "We had 12 hits off of her, the Gatorade Player of the Year, and Laura was outstanding after the first inning."

After his team lost in last year's state final, Crisafi posted a picture of the girls gathered together as the Class M runner-up and used it to motivate them this season.

"We showed it to them and then that was it," he said. "You don't want to feel this way again. They knew what they had to do."

Russo, who had come so close to winning the championship, felt ecstatic that as a leader she played an enormous role in helping East Haven capture its second state crown in program history.

"It's honestly the best feeling in the world. No words can even describe how I feel right now," she said. "We've been working towards this since my freshman year and I really can't even describe it. It's the best feeling."

East Haven's complete championship roster consists of senior captains Giovanna Russo, Casey Smith, and Jena Villecco; along with juniors Ali Esposito, Laura Anderson, Kara Hanson, Bianca Pappacoda, Allison Luzzi, Chelsea Brandt, and Alyssa Barcomb; as well as sophomore Ciara Mortimer; plus freshmen Brianna Carrano, Selena Mauro, Jessica Stettinger, Julia SanGiovanni, Mariah DeCarlo, and Jessica Shultis. Head Coach Ed Crisafi's assistants are Jeff Crisafi, Dave Spano, Alyssa Apuzzo, Kristina Serio, and athletic trainer Marc Aceto.

From the Sidelines

This is East Haven’s second state championship in five attempts. The Yellowjackets other win came in 1984 with the losses in 1974, 1983, and 2014.

The Yellowjackets had defeated Bristol Eastern 2-0, Platt 11-0, Lauralton Hall 6-5, and Nonnewaug 4-3 to reach the state championship game, rallying from a two-run deficit in the sixth inning to stun Nonnewaug in the semifinals.

Senior captains Giovanna Russo, Casey Smith, and Jena Villecco combined for six hits and three RBI in their final game with East Haven.