One week after claiming its third straight Shoreline Conference Tournament title, the North Branford softball team has won its first four games in the Class M State Tournament to advance to its first championship game in more than 40 years. The 7th-seeded Thunderbirds posted a 7-1 win over 3rd-seeded Northwestern at DeLuca Field in Stratford in the Class M semis on June 7. North Branford will face No. 4 seed Seymour (22-2) for the state crown at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at West Haven High School. The T-Birds have only appeared in a state final one other time, and that was in 1975, when they took an 8-5 loss to Sheehan in the Class M final.

Junior Sydney Senerchia pitched a three-hitter and went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a grand slam, when North Branford beat Northwestern in the Class M semis. The T-Birds had defeated Montville (9-1), Haddam-Killingworth (11-0), and Griswold (7-4) in the first three rounds of the State Tournament.

Previously, North Branford was crowned the champion of its conference following a 10-5 victory versus Hale-Ray in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final at Old Lyme High School on May 28. Not only have the Thunderbirds taken the tournament title the last three years, they've now won it in each of their three seasons with Nick DeLizio as head coach.

"For me, watching the girls celebrate with the trophy in hand is one of the best feelings," said DeLizio, whose team went on to win its first four games in the Class M State Tournament to reach the final. "Setting a goal in the beginning of the year and watching them achieve it is one of the best feelings."

Top-seeded Hale-Ray had defeated No. 2 seed North Branford, 4-2, in the teams' regular season meeting on April 27. However, with the Shoreline title on the line this time, North Branford grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning and later broke open a two-run game by plating four in the fifth for an 8-2 advantage on its way to the win.

"I think the loss to them earlier in the season proved to us that we needed to grow as a team more," said DeLizio. "The first time we played them, we weren't mentally focused and made mistakes to beat ourselves."

Coach DeLizio could tell that his athletes were hungry heading into the Conference Tournament, and it didn't long for the T-Birds to get going. North Branford shut out Old Saybrook 16-0 in the quarterfinal round, edged 3rd-seeded Haddam-Killingworth 2-1 in the semis, and then doubled up Hale-Ray to claim the title for the third year in a row.

"Once the postseason started, you could see the fire in all of the players' eyes," DeLizio said. "They started to ask one another if they were 'juiced for the game,' and then during the H-K semifinal game, they brought juice boxes for everyone. Whatever they needed to do to get pumped up."

Junior southpaw Sydney Senerchia got the start on the mound versus Hale-Ray and threw a gem for her eighth win of the year. Senerchia recorded seven of her first nine outs on a strikeout and finished with 10Ks on the day, scattering seven hits.

"I started her because she was throwing really well as of late, and they didn't face her in the regular season," Coach DeLizio said. "Even when she started to give up hits, she kept her composure and showed mental toughness, and that's what you need in big games like this."

Senerchia was backed by an offensive surge that featured four home runs from the Thunderbirds. Senior captain Emily Muzyka went yard twice, while juniors Danielle Ramada and Olivia Hemstock also homered for North Branford. Coach DeLizio said that his team's first hit of the game helped open the flood gates to what proved a prolific day at the dish.

"Julia Haeckel led off the game with a double," he said. "I feel that set the tone as far as showing the rest of our girls that Hale-Ray pitcher Katrina Ceceri was hittable."

The Thunderbirds started powering up in the third inning. With sophomore Brianna Raccio on second base, Hemstock stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run homer for a 2-0 lead. Right after that, Muzyka crushed one that made it 3-0. Hemstock, a junior captain, had four hits in the game, including a pair of doubles to go with her home run.

After sophomore Angelina Ramada drove in a run in the fourth, Hale-Ray (18-5) got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 4-2. North Branford responded by scoring four times in the fifth, starting with Muzyka's second home run that scored Hemstock for a 6-2 advantage. Following a walk to freshman Katy Pederson, it was Ramada's turn to clear the fence as her two-run homer gave North Branford an 8-2 cushion.

"She saw her pitch and didn't miss it. She hit it well over the fence," said DeLizio of Ramada's homer. "It was one of the furthest hit balls I've ever seen. The ball was smashed."

North Branford tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh to put a bow on the victory and another Shoreline Conference title. Coach DeLizio said he feels proud about how the Thunderbirds have developed a tradition of excellence through these past few seasons.

"This is a great for the school, community, and for the current and former players. The 2015 team set the foundation and then each of the following years, those players have built off of what that team started. I've been involved with this program since 2009 as an assistant, and every year you can see the development and growth of the program," he said. "We've had many great players come through the system and, when I took over as a head coach in 2015, I wanted these girls to set the bar even higher by believing that this program is a contender every year."

DeLizio added that he feels grateful for all the support his team has received from the North Branford community on its road back to the top of the conference.

"Seeing former alumni that I coached through the years stop by after the win to congratulate myself and the program is one of the reasons why I do this. I love the support and outreach from them whether in person, through a text, or through social media. All of it is special and means a lot," DeLizio said. "Since North Branford is such a tight-knit community, you can really feel the love and support from everyone here. That is something to be embraced for sure."

Prior to the conference final, North Branford defeated Haddam-Killingworth 2-1 the semifinal round. Ramada had two hits with an RBI, and Pederson drove home North Branford's other run. Senerchia allowed one run two hits and struck out 10 to send the Thunderbirds into the final.

Following Shorelines, North Branford opened the Class M State Tournament as the No. 7 seed and defeated No. 26 Montville 9-1 in a first round game on May 30. The T-Birds were held scoreless through four innings, but scored six runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth on their way to the win. Haeckel was flawless on the hill by allowing just one unearned run on one hit to go with 10 strikeouts. Senerchia had three hits, while Muzyka, Angelina Ramada, and Danielle Ramada added two apiece. Danielle Ramada and Kayla Despres both had a pair of RBI.

The next day, North Branford topped No. 10 Haddam-Killingworth, 11-0, in a rematch of their Shoreline semifinal. Senerchia put forth a dazzling performance on the mound by allowing three hits and striking out 10 in the shutout. She also helped her cause by recording a pair of RBI. Muzyka had two hits with four RBI, Hemstock had three hits, three runs, and two RBI; and Angelina Ramada had two hits, three runs scored, and drove home two.

On June 2, North Branford visited 2nd-seeded Griswold and prevailed 6-4 to advance to the Class M semis. Pederson led the charge with three hits and two RBI, while Brianna Raccio had two hits and two RBI. Muzyka and Hemstock each had two hits, Hemstock drove home one, and Despres knocked in North Branford's other run. Senerchia allowed four runs on 14 hits and three walks, but hung tough to earn the victory.

From the Sidelines

The North Branford softball team's 2017 Shoreline Conference champion roster includes senior captain Emily Muzyka, fellow seniors Jazzmine Gargano and Julia Haeckel; junior captain Olivia Hemstock, fellow juniors Danielle Ramada, Sydney Senerchia, and Marisa Ferraiolo; sophomores Amy Raucci, Angelina Ramada, Ashley Anderson, Kaylee Velez, Samantha DeAngelo, and Brianna Raccio; and freshmen Ava Galdenzi, Mairead Aiken, Julia Ricardo, Emily Cole, Katy Pederson, Rachel Vitarisi, and Kayla Despres. Head Coach Nick DeLizio is assisted by Jon Rapport and Sarah Bevins.

Hemstock had six hits and five RBI in the Shoreline Conference Tournament, while Muzyka had five hits with five RBI.

Senerchia struck out 20 batters in the tournament, with Haeckel fanning eight in the quarterfinal victory versus Old Saybrook.

Haeckel earned All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors as a pitcher, while Muzyka (third base), Hemstock (shortstop), and Senerchia (pitcher) made the Second Team, with Pederson earning Honorable Mention at second base. Haeckel also made the All-State First Team and the Academic All-State First Team and will also play in the Senior All-Star Game and the Scholar Athlete Classic with Muzyka. Hemstock and Senercia were chosen to play in the Junior Select Game.