Matos One-Hits Southington as Cheshire Repeats as Class LL Champion

Matos sending one of her signature fast balls to the plate. AJ ANGELILLO PHOTOS

STORRS — Cheshire senior pitcher Jenica Matos one-hit Southington and struck out 15 in a complete-game shutout Saturday morning at the University of Connecticut.

For the second straight postseason, Cheshire’s ace stood between Southington and a state championship. Cheshire ended Southington’s season a year ago, when Matos one-hit the Blue Knights and struck out 13 in a 6-0 semifinal.

The Rams went into the championship game this year unbeaten at 26-0 and the St. John’s commit never let the Blue Knights believe the streak would end.

Matos entered the day having allowed two earned runs all season across 146 innings and she reached her 1,000th career strikeout in the conference final last month.

Southington senior pitcher Angela Insogna refused to let the game get away. She escaped an early jam in the first, pitching around two hitters and three stolen bases to keep the game scoreless, then settled in.

Insogna scattered three hits over six innings and held the most dangerous lineup in the state to two runs, hitting four batters but walking none. She kept the Blue Knights within reach deep into the game, even as her offense went silent.

Cheshire broke through in the second as Insogna hit sophomore designated player Blake Hall and freshman Chloe Marciano came into run.

Senior left fielder Addison Coffey would then line a single to center, which allowed Marciano to reach third and junior right fielder Avery Miramant dropped a bunt in front of the plate. Insogna fielded it but could not get the throw home cleanly and Marciano scored to put Cheshire ahead 1-0.

From there, Matos took complete control of the game. She struck out the side in the fourth and retired the first 14 Southington batters in order. The Blue Knights did not reach base until the fifth, when right fielder Savanna Eliasson lined a single up the middle for the only hit and the only baserunner Matos would allow.

She answered by striking out freshman first baseman Abby Lockwood to close the inning and the threat went nowhere.

Insogna, meanwhile, kept getting out of danger when, in the fourth with two outs, Coffey would be hit by a pitch, after Southington protested the previous pitch, after it was originally ruled that Coffey was hit when she wasn’t. Insogna shrugged it off, retiring Miramant on a fly out to left to strand the runner.

The Rams add on an insurance run in the sixth when Senior first baseman Lyla Blair opened with a hard liner to left and senior Celeste Elliot came in to run.

Senior shortstop Avery Radford moved Elliot to second with a sacrifice bunt and sophomore third baseman Olivia Rydzy followed with a double to left that brought Elliot home for a 2-0 lead.

Southington went down swinging in the seventh as senior center fielder Alexa Poutouves opened with an 11-pitch at-bat, fouling off four of her final five pitches before striking out.

After senior second baseman Olivia Gombotz filed to center, senior third baseman Aubrey Perugini battled through eight pitches in the final at-bat of her high school career.

Matos finished it the way she had handled the Blue Knights all morning, with a swing and a miss and the Cheshire team sprinted to the circle to mob her. Both teams lined up along the foul lines afterward for their medals, with Cheshire collecting the winner’s plaque.

The game closes a dominant era for Cheshire, which leaned on its senior class all spring behind Matos and UConn-bound senior second baseman Jordan McCue. They walk away as back-to-back state champions, handing the program its third title overall.

Matos took home the most valuable player honors for the championship. It was a remarkable achievement for the star pitcher, made all the more impressive by the fact that Matos has a rare genetic condition that makes her legally blind.

Southington finishes 22-5 and loses a deep senior core, including Insogna, Insogna, Poutouves, Perugini and University of Hartford commit Gombotz. The Blue Knights have sophomore shortstop Nerea Maule and catcher Addie Wanner with a young supporting cast that now knows just how the climb back to glory can be.

Matos with her MVP award.

Town Council Greenlights Grant Application for More Firefighters

FD Lt. Andrew Rennie makes the case for Assistant Fire Chief hire. PETER PROHASKA PHOTO

Southington Fire Department officials raised concerns about under-staffing in the wake of a recent blaze at Chuck and Eddie’s Used Auto Parts. On Monday night, June 8, Chief Scott Lee came before the Town Council to ask again for additional support for the Department.

The case was made in a power point presentation put together by Captain Daniel Comen, who Lee described as the department’s go-to man for his grant-writing skill. That skill will be put to the test again as grant applications were approved by the Council.

The primary grant in question is the federal SAFER (Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program, run through FEMA. Connecticut communities have mostly been excluded from the money in recent years. In 2023, for example, zero dollars went to Connecticut communities. Mansfield, West Haven and Middletown got grants for FY 2024. Southington received grants for hiring in 2015 and 2021.

Should FEMA award a SAFER grant to Southington, the plan is to hire 12 firefighters, bringing the department to what proponents say are minimum safety levels. Comen suggested that reducing the need for overtime pay would offer some cost savings, but the main thrust of his plea was that the safety of firefighters as well as the community was at stake.

Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Tim Wilk described Department members as “discouraged and beleagured,” and suggested more staff would aid morale while meeting national safety standards and reducing response times, especially as the number of simultaneous calls grows. Lee said there were five or six such incidents on Monday alone.

A request made earlier this year for three additional firefighting hires was rejected by the Board of Finance and the Town Council in the course of its budget decision-making.

Comen said that, while there has been some improvement in response times, the department would like to halve those times, particularly in Southington’s south end. Relying on mutual aid to fill in gaps in coverage is not sustainable, he added, since every surrounding communities face similar staff shortfalls and their first duty is to their own towns.

Volunteers firefighters, the traditional backstop for many Connecticut communities like Southington, have dwindled in number in recent years. Lee said that volunteers who work full-time jobs and have families and other obligations aren’t always available as needed.

The question of whether to authorize the SAFER application led to a debate among Town Council members. Tony Morrison, a Republican, and Chris Palmieri, a Democrat, found common ground in concerns about how the Town, already facing difficult budget decisions, would be able to fund the roles once the grant runs out. Palmieri also asked whether it was appropriate to effectively overrule the Board of Finance’s decision, a move which generally requires six votes.

Several other Council members spoke of the need to fund public safety and supported the proposal. The Council eventually voted 7-2 to allow for the SAFER application, with Morrison and Councillor Jim Morelli voting against the motion.

One stipulation was added to the approval, that the hires would begin in July 2027, when state law regarding municipal employee retirement benefits changes. Town Manager Alex Ricciardone called the new law a “game-changer” for its potential to save the town money and strongly recommended holding off on new hires until it takes effect.

The Council could also, per the discussion, refuse the grant money if it believed it could not meet the financial requirements for the positions.

Other First Responder Actions

 

In a related discussion, the Council voted unanimously to approve an application for a Federal Department of Transportation grant for equipment that can help reduce emergency response times and provide better real-time information. The grant would be $440,000, with a 20% cost share for the Town, divided between Police and Fire.

Chief Lee also made his own case for hiring an Assistant Fire Chief. In his testimony he cited a range of administrative tasks he has no choice but to take on himself, some of which would ordinarily be the purview of a subordinate. He mentioned in passing that he has not had a day off since October due to the scope of his current duties.

Lee’s ask was supported by Andrew Rennie, a Lieutenant with Engine Company 1, who passionately described Lee’s care for his department members and the community he serves as he argued for funding the Assistant role.

The Council voted to table the issue on a 5-4 vote.

The Council also formally asked Ricciardone to seek ways to facilitate cooperation between the Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Information Technology office, in order to reduce costs and find efficiencies where possible.

Additional Developments

In other events, a public hearing on adding definitions to the sewer code opened and closed with no public comment. The new definitions are meant to remove hardships for residents who may have to hook up to the municipal sewer system in the event of a septic failure, and to encourage new buildings to use the system.

The possibility of a new industrial development at 682 Curtiss Street hit a road bump when it emerged that the landowner was unwilling to contribute toward the costs of a new road project. Preliminary engineering studies done by Town staff estimated a cost of $450,000. While the cost could potentially be offset by a STEAP grant, the Council opted to table the matter for now. Another possible developer is also interested, according to Councillor Mike DelSanto, who suggested that future tax revenue from development in the industrially-zoned area could cover the Town’s initial outlay.

Finally, a proclamation honoring Donald A. Dorman, the decorated Southington Airman who perished and disappeared during World War II, was read into the record by Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky. Events honoring Dorman’s life, service and sacrifice will be ongoing at locations around town on June 22 and 23.

YMCA 26-Day Challenge Kicks off to Support Race4Chase Triathlon Program

The Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs is kicking off its annual 26-Day Fundraising Challenge to raise $50,000 to support the Race4Chase Youth Triathlon program. The challenge begins on June 1 with YMCA CEO, Mark Pooler, followed by 25 volunteers in both Southington and Cheshire. Participant athletes include YMCA board members and staff, teachers and faculty, business owners, Y members and community leaders. They will be running, biking, or swimming 2.6 miles for 26 consecutive days in memory of Chase Kowalski and the other students and teachers who lost their lives in Sandy Hook on December 14, 2012.

“The R4C Program is one of the most impactful and inspiring programs that our YMCA offers," stated Pooler. "Our Y focuses on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility and this program really touches all of those areas. The R4C 26-day challenge is a special and meaningful way to honor all of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy, including Chase who has been inspirational to so many people that he has never met."

The program, which is offered free of charge to young athletes, is run at over 28 different sites across Connecticut, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The programs in Southington and Cheshire allow young athletes from the two communities to train for 6-weeks and compete in a real triathlon on August 1, 2026 at YMCA Camp Sloper. Chase competed in his first triathlon in the fall of 2012 and now his memory lives on in the young athletes he inspires each summer.

Brandon Riollano, Head Coach of Cheshire’s Race4Chase, said, "Watching these kids go from hesitant first laps in the pool and unsteady bike rides to crossing the finish line with confidence is something truly special. Each day they grow stronger, more determined, and prouder of what they can accomplish. On race day, the joy on their faces says it all. In those moments, Chase’s legacy shines through every smile, every step, and every young athlete inspired to believe in themselves.”

The overall goal is to raise $50,000 in both the Southington and Cheshire communities. Each participant in the Challenge has been asked to raise monetary donations with an overall goal of $500 per person. This goal is reached by asking for support while they themselves train over 26 days in support of this program and the many children who learn valuable skills, gain confidence, and have an amazing experience.

“The Race4Chase Triathlon Program provides challenges and opportunities for our youth, allowing them to set goals, train, compete and build self-esteem; this is what this program is all about” stated Pooler.

Each 26 Day Challenge participant is eager to get started in their effort to raise money to support the Race4Chase Triathlon Program If you are interested in joining the challenge and helping the YMCA to reach the $50,000 goal, contact Jennifer McHale, Development Director at jmchale@scccymca.org. 

The actual Race4Chase program is offered to kids ages 6-12 to have a chance to try out the sport of triathlon in a fun, safe, and friendly environment surrounded by the support of their local community. That program will run June 22 – July 1, with the finale triathlon on August 1 this summer. If you are interested in supporting the program, follow this link: https://www.sccymca.org/R4C26Day

About The Southington Community YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across Southington and Cheshire, CT the Y engages men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.  Anchored in our communities, the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs was established in 1928 and has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. YMCA membership, YMCA Camp Sloper, the Learning Center, the gymnastics center and all Y programs and facilities are welcoming, inclusive and open to all regardless of income. For more information, stop by for a tour (29 High St. Southington, CT) or visit Sccymca.org.