05/07/2025
SIMSBURY — Alexis Gorneault had thrown the last of her 71 pitches to lead Berlin back to the Little League Softball state tournament, but there was one pitch left to deliver to her teammates.
Rather than douse her mom and Berlin head coach Danielle Gorneault with a water bucket full of ice, she suggested that each of them emptying water bottles on their coach would do the trick.
For Danielle Gorneault, the sounds of water bottles being squeezed like they had never been squeezed before was music to her ears and the perfect way for District 5 champion Berlin to leave the field after Saturday's 6-0 win over District 3 winner Seymour. The win clinched the second consecutive Section 2 title and a spot in the state tournament.
"They are excited, it is great to do it again," Danielle Gorneault said. "The girls who have been there know what it takes. We are going to keep battling."
Berlin did all of its scoring in the first four innings.
Katja Sepko started things out in the first inning with the first of her two hits. She came home on Isabella Carling's RBI double during Berlin's two-run first inning.
"My grandpa always tells me to think right field, think [hitting the ball to the] outfield," Carling said. "I try to think that, I get a hit and we get the runs in."
Gorneault had an RBI single in the second inning. Mischa Filipowicz, Sepko and Grace Burke all singled and scored in the fourth inning.
That was plenty of offensive support for Gorneault. She allowed just three hits as two of the four Seymour baserunners came with two outs. Some of the hardest hit balls by Seymour resulted in outs.
"I have confidence in my team," said Alexis Gorneault, who had five strikeouts and was aided by Carling throwing out a pair of runners trying to steal. "If they hit the ball, I am not...
Berlin advances to the Connecticut Little League Softball State Final Four to be played in Waterford after its win at Simsbury's Memorial Field