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Warriors Made Playoffs with Late Run This Spring

Featuring eight returning starters on the roster, Head Coach Allyson Pitney expected the Valley Regional softball team to be competitive in every game that it played during the 2022 season. The Warriors continually developed more confidence on the field as the campaign unfolded, leading Valley to qualify for both the Shoreline Conference Tournament and the Class M State Tournament this spring.

“With eight players returning from last season, we were expecting to be competitive in the Shoreline Conference,” Coach Pitney said. “It’s always a goal to make the postseason, and this year we were hoping to make a good run in both the Shoreline and State tournaments. I am pleased with how competitive we were with the other teams in our conference.”

Valley finished the year with an overall record of 8-13, posting a mark of 8-11 for the regular season. Coach Pitney said that the Warriors battled some inconsistencies where some games they would string hits together and other times they would go cold. However, Pitney was impressed with how Valley was able to battle back and fare better when it faced certain teams a second time this year. For instance, after losing to East Hampton by a 5-4 score in the first meeting between the teams, the Warriors claimed a 6-1 win over the Bellringers in their rematch on May 14.

“Our season was a bit of a mixed bag. We had some great wins, but also some tough losses in winnable games,” said Pitney. “It was great to see how the team improved over the course of the season, as some of our rematches from the beginning of our season were much more competitive the second time around.”

One win that stood out for Coach Pitney and the Warriors was their road victory against Windsor Locks on May 16. With the game tied 7-7 entering the sixth inning, Valley scored 3 runs to take the lead and then hung on for the 10-8 win to clinch its berth in states. Pitney was pleased with how her players never gave up and had an answer for everything that Windsor Locks threw at them in a critical game that capped off a three-game win streak for the team.

Following the regular season, Valley entered the Shoreline Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed and took a 5-0 loss to No. 2 Cromwell in the first round. The Warriors went on to compete in the Class M State Tournament as the No. 25 seed, taking an 11-1 defeat versus No. 8 Wolcott in a first-round game.

While Coach Pitney and her players were disappointed with their postseason exit, the Warriors still felt proud about qualifying for both Shorelines and states this year. Pitney is hoping that Valley’s experience in the playoffs will pay dividends when next year’s team returns to the field.

“There’s always some excitement and some nerves playing in the postseason due to the, ‘win or go home,’ situations. It was encouraging that we made the tournaments, but frustrating to lose in the first round,” Pitney said. “It’s always a positive for the program to qualify for the postseason. With seven of our starters graduating, the upcoming players have some big shoes to fill. But I’m optimistic about the direction the program is moving—big numbers, dedication, and excitement to play.”

Pitney said that communication proved Valley’s strength throughout the season. Pitney was happy to see the team’s players talking to each other between plays and picking each other up after a missed play.

Coach Pitney also felt glad to see the Warriors’ confidence grow with each passing game. Pitney said that by the end of the year, everyone on the team realized that they could be a difference maker, no matter what year they were in the program.

“I saw a huge difference in confidence across the team as the year progressed,” said Pitney. “By the end of the season, our players realized that every athlete in the lineup can and should contribute both offensively and defensively in every game. The players had the skill all along, but the girls just needed to gain confidence in themselves.”

Valley was led by senior captains Vivian Paradis and Cede Peno this season. Paradis was the Warriors leader in the infield as the starting shortstop, while Pitney called Peno the team’s “anchor” at first base.

Junior Anna Benson was the primary pitcher for Valley this year. Coach Pitney said that Benson has confidence on the mound and is a steady leader in the field. Benson struck out 105 batters and finished the season with a .963 fielding percentage on her way to earning All-Shoreline Conference Second Team honors and Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. Senior Kenzie Mulé also pitched for the Warriors when called upon.

Benson also had a big year at the plate for Valley Regional. Benson posted a .443 batting average and .521 on-base percentage with 27 hits, 20 runs scored, and 14 RBI on the season.

Senior Sammy Pierce had a huge year on offense for the Warriors. Pierce had a .617 batting average with a .900 slugging percentage this spring. She collected 37 hits, including 8 doubles and 3 home runs, to go with 23 runs and 22 RBI. Pierce garnered All-Shoreline Conference First Team and All-State Class M accolades, in addition to being named Valley’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Senior Abby Amara won the Warrior Award and also earned All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention. Amara batted .365 and recorded a .492 on-base percentage with 19 hits, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, and 8 stolen bases.

Senior Ryleigh Czenthe-Wickland received 3D Award for Valley. Fellow senior Madison Sheehan was named the Warriors’ Most Improved Player. Gabi Quinn was also a member of Valley’s senior class.

With a senior-laden team, Coach Pitney said that Valley’s younger players looked up to and relied on the club’s veteran athletes. When the Warriors step back on the diamond next season, Pitney wants to them to build on their momentum and understand that any player in the program can make an impact.

“Returning players have to remember that there needs to be distribution in contribution to the team,” Pitney said. “While we can look to the leaders on the team, each player plays an important role, no matter how experienced.”

The Valley Regional softball team’s roster for the 2022 season featured senior captains Cede Peno and Vivian Paradis; seniors Madison Sheehan, Ryleigh Czenthe-Wickland, Sammy Pierce, Gabi Quinn, Abby Amara, and Kenzie Mulé; juniors Paige Lee and Anna Benson; sophomores Mulanga Drysile, Katie Schaefer, Riley Soares, Taylor Rae, and Kayla Carnelli; and freshmen Emma Gibson, Miley Prue, Angeleah Loftus, Colbie Ryan, and Nataly Pavon.