2012 All-CT Region softball team

Meet the athletes who excelled during the 2012 softball season. The awards were selected by MSG Varsity's staff of reporters and editor.

MSG Varsity: Connecticut Region softball awards

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jessica DeMaio, Darien

A two-time All-State and first-team All-FCIAC selection, DeMaio finished her senior season with a 13-3 record and a sparkling 0.55 ERA in leading the Blue Wave to their second straight league championship. Offensively, DeMaio was a force as well, batting .475 out of the No. 2 hole with a .706 slugging percentage, four home runs and 21 RBI.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Purcell, Amity

The fourth-year coach did a quite a job, seemingly knowing which button to push at just the right time during the Spartans' remarkable Class LL title run in which they knocked off third-seeded Darien, second-seeded Westhill and ultimately, top-seeded Southington, for their first state title since 2005. Purcell also guided Amity to the SCC finals before losing to Foran. The Spartans, without a single All-State player, ended the year 23-5.

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Foran

The Lions might have come up one run short in their quest for a second straight Class L title, but that doesn't take away from another tremendous year under coach Jeff Bevino. Foran finished 26-2, won the SCC championship and compiled a .379 bating average -- all this despite graduating its All-State battery of Taylor Harkness and Rachel Booth. With just two senior starters, expect the Lions to be in contention for this distinction again next spring.

All Connecticut Region: First team

PITCHERS
Jessica DeMaio, Darien: Player of the Year

Jess Harkness, Foran: The sophomore had some big shoes to fill in replacing her older sister in the pitching circle, and more than held her own. Harkness finished 23-2 with a 0.87 ERA, 269 strikeouts and just 48 walks, and three shutouts -- including two no-hitters.

Allison Macari, Westhill: It was another outstanding season for the two-time All-FCIAC and All-State right-hander, who finished with an 18-4 record and a 0.85 ERA. Macari, who pitched a perfect game and no-hitter, also batted .519 with two home runs, four triples and 41 RBI. Will play at Ithaca.

Sydney Matzko, Torrington: The sophomore left-hander was a strikeout machine with well over 300 on the season, had a microscopic 0.17 ERA as of mid-May, and finished with multiple no-hitters. With Matzko pitching, the Red Raiders enjoyed one of their best seasons ever at 21-4, highlighted by a trip to the NVL finals and Class L quarterfinals.

CATCHER
Jenn Vazquez, St. Joseph: The senior excelled both behind the plate and in the batter's box. The All-State selection batted .468 with eight home runs, eight doubles and 30 RBI. Defensively, there were just three stolen bases against Vazquez all year.

INFIELDERS
Cassandra Kish, Westhill: One of the league's top hitters for the last two years, the senior started the season at third base before stabilizing the Vikings' defense at shortstop. A two-time All-FCIAC and All-State selection, Kish helped fuel Westhill's run to the FCIAC finals and Class LL semifinals.

Brooke Phelan, Foran: The senior shortstop was the leader on the Lions' 26-2 SCC championship team. She batted .398 with 15 RBI, three triples, 27 runs scored and 23 stolen bases and route to all-league and all-state honors.

Krista Robustelli, Stamford: The junior shortstop batted .611 with a .986 slugging percentage, four home runs, 19 RBI. 33 runs and 14 stolen base. Already a two-time All-State choice, Robustelli struck out just once all season.

C.J. Semones, Amity: The senior All-SCC first baseman was the MVP of the CIAC Class LL finals, going 4 for 5 with two doubles and an RBI in leading the Spartans to their first state championship in seven years.

OUTFIELDERS
Jacqui Ferraiolo, Amity: An All-SCC selection, the senior right fielder stepped up big-time in the postseason -- both in the field and in the batter's box. Ferraiolo hit .429, and there's no doubt her signature shot was a three-run homer early in Amity's 10-6 win over Southington in the Class LL finals.

Breana Shepard, St. Joseph: The standout speedy center fielder was injured early in the year, but returned to help ignite the Cadets' 15-game winning streak to close the regular season. A two-time All-FCIAC and All-State choice, Shepard had four hits in St. Joe's FCIAC quarterfinal win against Trumbull, and batted nearly .600 for the year.

Jessica Wheelahan, Watertown: The senior was one of the state's top offensive players. She batted a robust .537 with two home runs, six doubles, three triples, drove in 30 runs, scored 25 runs and also had a fielding percentage of .962.

Second team

Erica Ambrogio, Sr., Infielder, Greenwich
Fallon Bevino, Soph., Outfielder, Foran
Marissa Bruno, Jr., Third base, Foran
Marissa Dowling, Sr., Shortstop, Lauralton Hall
Kelly Fahey, Sr., Outfielder, Darien
Gina Georgetti, Jr., First base, Foran
Olivia Gozdz, Sr., Catcher, Darien
Eliza Guerrero, Jr., Pitcher, Ludlowe
Melissa Nelson, Sr., Shortstop, Law
Patti Sciglimpaglia, Sr., Pitcher, Norwalk
Hayley Spragg, Sr., Pitcher, Lauralton Hall
Kaidy Wollman, Sr., Outfielder, Weston
 

More from MSGVarsity.com