Coginchaug senior Lauren Esposito put in one of her most impressive efforts in a Blue Devils uniform while leading the school's softball team to a 6-0 win Friday over St. Bernard in the Class S softball championship.
The left-hander struck out 11 Saints batters and drove in three runs in her final game in red and blue and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"It's the best feeling and when it's with such an amazing group of girls you couldn't ask for anything better," Esposito said.
The game was scoreless in the bottom of the third inning when Marissa Puchalski hit a line drive into left field. The ball got past Saints' outfielder Kiely Smith and Esposito raced all the way from first base to score.
Coginchaug (23-4) took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning after Esposito knocked in two runs on a double to left-center and Kayla Votto's RBI single.
"Just so happy for them," said Coginchaug coach Ann Moscovics. "They've worked hard all season. They're a tight group of girls, they're all good friends and that helped us all season. Our bats were on."
The state title is Moscovics fourth as Coginchaug coach. The win was Esposito's fourth championship this year — she also won a Shoreline Conference title in soccer and softball and a state championship with the basketball team.
While St. Bernard (15-10) managed just two hits off Esposito, the Blue Devils finished with 10 hits against Saints' stater Rivkah Berkman.
Coginchaug outscored its opponents 36-2 in the Class S tournament.
