Warde's Softball "Bridesmaids" Suffer Another Heartbreaking Defeat in FCIAC Title Game

Just three years after longtime coach Bill "BJ" Johnson fielded the first softball team at Andrew Warde High School, the Lady Eagles captured the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship in 1977. However, 31 years later, the Warde girls are still in search of a second conference crown.

The Fairfield Warde Mustangs dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision in nine innings to Westhill High School last Thursday, May 22, in the FCIAC championship softball game at Pioneer Park on the campus of Sacred Heart University. The adjacent photo shows some members of the Lady Mustangs moments after the game ended.

It was a devastating loss for the Warde girls, who made a habit of fighting until the end and pulling out wins in the late innings. That formula helped fifth-seeded Warde win 11 straight and 13 of 14 heading into the title game against the number-two seeded Lady Vikings.

Unfortunately, finishing as conference runner-up is nothing new to Warde softball. Mr. Johnson, who retired as the skipper of the squad following the 1996 season, vividly recalls many painful defeats he and his team experienced over his 22-year reign.

"We won so many (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) East Division East titles (that) it seemed to other schools it was always Warde (in the East) and Norwalk in the West. Of course it all came to be playing for the state championship in front of 3,200 fans," he continued. "(It was a) good show, (but a) bad ending," Mr. Johnson lamented.

He consistently fielded winning teams, and he was always proud of the efforts of his players. "There were so many great teams and great players, many of whom went on to play in college," Mr. Johnson pointed out.

One year before claiming their lone FCIAC crown, the 1976 Lady Eagles (pictured above) provided the foundation for a solid program. After opening with a scrimmage victory over the University of Bridgeport, the squad finished with a 7-9 record. Warde was led by co-captains Marti Causey and Gayle Johnson.

Sophomore pitcher Joan Raiselis (seen below) pitched two no-hit games and earned a spot on the All-FCIAC team. The first no-hitter came in the season-opener against Central, and her next gem was thrown against Stamford Catholic.

Juniors Betsy Niesyn and Jill Niedermeier, sophomores Cindy Link and Martha Schwartz, and freshmen Mary McCarthy, Grace Rodriguez, and Sue McFarland were starters in 1976 who gained valuable experience on the way to winning the league championship the following year.

As for last Thursday's game, when the winning run crossed the plate many of the players from Warde (17-6), including pitcher Gina Treglia (seen at left), crumpled to the ground and buried their faces inside their gloves.

"This was the best season we've had in a long time at Warde, and the girls should be proud of what they accomplished," Mustangs coach Gary Quiricone said. "They're tough kids and they'll bounce back for the state tournament."

The Mustangs lost the 1986 and 1987 FCIAC finals when the school was known as Fairfield High School. "We put everything out there that we could," Warde senior Casy Duffy said.

"I've been coaching for 20 years, and that was one of the best games I've seen two teams play," Westhill coach Tom Pia said. "It was one of those games where it's a shame somebody has to lose."

Always a bridesmaid ...

Paul

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