News

‘I Think It’s Ridiculous’: New Canaan Girl, 10, Ousted from Softball Tournament Because She’s Too Young

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Softball officials ousted a New Canaan girl from a state Little League tournament Tuesday after it emerged that she was too young to qualify officially for 11- and 12-year-old division play. Hours after Carolina Welch, 10, helped lead the New Canaan 12-and-under All Stars to a 13-6 win at Waveny Park against rival Darien, the rising Saxe Middle School sixth-grader received the news that the game itself (where she pitched four dominant innings) would be forfeited as a loss, and that she would be ineligible for the rest of the tournament. “I’m upset because I’ve always played in the summer, so now I don’t get to play in the summer on a team,” Carolina (or ‘Lina,’ as she’s known) said Wednesday evening from the sidelines at Waveny’s Orchard Field, as her teammates battled Darien in this best-of-3 round. The girls had her uniform number 22 drawn in marker on one shoulder, and ‘X’ the Roman numeral for 10 (Lina’s age) on the other. The “Majors” division in which Carolina plays admits 10- to 12-year-old girls for regular season play, but for Little League-sanctioned state tournaments such as the one that started this week, according to the Williamsport, Pa.-based organization’s rules, only 11- and 12-year-old girls can play in this division.

News

‘Win-Win’: 10-10 Draw in Little League Majors Division Softball Final

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Pennyweights New Canaan White 10, TOGS New Canaan Red 10

On Saturday evening June 13, at Waveny Orchard Field, the New Canaan Majors White and Red softball teams faced each other in the winner-take-all championship game of our tri-town Little League playoffs. The White team sponsored by Pennyweights and Red team sponsored by TOGS had competed throughout the spring against each other and teams from Darien and Rowayton, and had finished first and second after a two-week, five-game round robin playoff series. Now it was time for the girls to temporarily put their friendships aside and battle it out for a few hours to win one final game. The Red team got off to a great start, scoring five runs in the top half of the first inning and immediately had the No. 1 seed White needing to play catch up.

Sports

Keshin Sisters Lead New Canaan Softball’s Postseason Honors

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Four New Canaan Rams softball players earned conference postseason honors, as All-FCIAC teams were announced this week. Leading the way for New Canaan were Molly and Rachel Keshin. The twin sisters—both sophomores—made the All-FCIAC Second Team after putting together outstanding offensive seasons in 2015. Molly led New Canaan with a .491 batting average with team highs in both runs batted in (20) and runs scored (24). She also hit seven triples, tying former New Canaan great Cydney Ventura’s school record, set back in 2012.

News

Oh ‘K’! Kane, Keshin Lead Rams Softball over the Hilltoppers

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After a cold and dreary home opener back on Friday, the New Canaan Rams softball team stepped back onto Orchard Field Wednesday, this time under the bright sunshine. And the sun wasn’t the only thing that shined on the field. Freshman pitcher Gillian Kane struck out 13 batters and allowed zero earned runs while sophomore shortstop Rachel Keshin went 5-for-5 at the plate, leading New Canaan (2-2; 2-1 FCIAC) to a 13-6 victory over Bridgeport Central (1-5, 0-3 FCIAC). After retiring the Central side in order in the top of the 1st, Kane helped herself early with some offense. With Keshin on base after a leadoff single, Kane ripped a pitch down the right field line for a home run and a quick 2-0 Rams lead.

Sports

O Captains!: Conley, Schlim Lead New Canaan Softball Past McMahon

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After dropping its first two games by a combined 23 runs to Stamford and Trumbull, the New Canaan Rams softball team came into Monday’s game at Brien McMahon High School looking for a spark—something, anything to get the team jump started and turn the young 2015 season around. They didn’t have to look far or wait long. The Rams jumped all over the previously unbeaten Senators (2-1; 0-1 FCIAC) from the start, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding four more in the second en route to a 10-0 win, the first of the season for New Canaan (1-2; 1-1 FCIAC). Junior captain Claire Conley led the offensive attack for New Canaan with a perfect 4-4 performance at the plate. Sophomore Rachel Keshin added three hits and three runs.