Canton holds off late rally to hand Stafford their second loss

Katie Hill played shortstop in a game earlier this season. Her home run was the difference in Monday’s win over Stafford.

STAFFORD, May 4 – Catcher Katie Hill hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning and that proved to the gamewinner as the Canton High girls softball team handed Stafford its second loss of the season with a 5-4 decision on Monday. 

Hill’s home run gave the Warriors a 5-1 lead but the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Canton lead to one run. Catcher Heather Dolby and right fielder Megan Fonicello had RBI singles for the Bulldogs (9-2, 9-2 NCCC). 

Stafford threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Shannon Stuart led off the inning with a triple and Megan Fonicello walked. But Canton pitcher Jill Petraitis bore down. She got Stafford’s Sarah Provencher to pop up to Canton second baseman Emma Plourd for the first out of the inning. 

Stafford’s Heather Dolby had a foul ball caught by Hill for the second out of the inning. And the game ended when Canton first baseman Jaela Davidson tagged out Fonicello at first base to preserve the win. 

Canton (6-4, 5-3 NCCC) won for the fifth time in six games. Petraitis struck out 12, scattered eight hits and walked two for Canton.

Canton scored its first run in the second inning on left fielder Sophia Pelehach’s RBI single. Shortstop Katie Walker was hit by a pitch and Hill was walked to load the bases. Petraitis was walked to drive in another run. Katie Walker and Alexa Szczepanski each had RBI singles to give Canton a 4-1 lead. 

It was the first of four games this week for the Warriors. Canton hosts Enfield Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. before traveling to East Granby on Friday. The Warriors close out the weekend with a home game against Somers on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Avon 12, Bolton 4
BOLTON — Avon pitcher Lindsay Sataro allowed just three hits and the Falcons (2-9, 1-9 NCCC) exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away from Bolton earn their first NCCC win of the season. Julia Setter had a triple for Avon.