The Fireside-sponsored Newtown Women’s Softball League team defeated Black Swan 6-5 in the Ruth Rowe Memorial Championship Game at Treadwell Park on August 16. This was a rematch of last year’s pinnacle game, also won by Fireside, which has claimed four consecutive league titles. Fireside was the top-seeded team and Black Swan was No. 2 this summer.

Black Swan scored two runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a Rosie Jackman triple. Fireside answered back with one run in the bottom of the first with a single by Lindsey Carley and a double by Lynn Bell, and added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning with a single by Bell and a home run hit by Ali Cordova to make it 3-2 Fireside.

Fireside scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning behind hits by Jody Morris, Rabiya Ansari-Johnston, and Melissa Ansman to extend the lead 6-2.

Black Swan came back to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning to make things close. Jackman tripled and scored twice, Melissa Fracker doubled and scored twice, Katie Schmidt had two hits and played great defense, Laurie Comerford prevented a possible run by making a running catch in deep center, and Melissa Shepard started a nice double play, tagging out a runner headed to second base, and throwing back to first for the second out. Shepard also scored a run.

Flawless Fireside defense was provided by Shelby Rotunda, Cordova, and Courtney Kowcheris.