Softball Game Preview: Coginchaug Regional Blue Devils vs. Cromwell Panthers

The Coginchaug Regional Blue Devils will square off against the Cromwell Panthers at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Coginchaug Regional is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.1 runs per game this season.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Coginchaug Regional and Morgan meet (three straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Monday. The Blue Devils put the hurt on the Huskies with a sharp 18-2 victory. The high-scoring effort was just what the Blue Devils needed considering they were shut out in their previous match.

Emily Allen was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Allen was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played.

Ava Ekblade

Runs (Career)

04/21/25 @ Morgan	4
04/22/24 @ East Hampton	2
04/09/24 @ Suffield	2
04/05/25 @ Old Lyme	1
05/15/24 @ Bunnell	1

In other batting news, Coginchaug Regional let Lily Montgomery and Ava Ekblade run wild. Montgomery went 2-for-3 with five RBI, three runs, and two doubles, while Ekblade got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Those four runs gave Ekblade a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Bella Tosto, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.

Meanwhile, Cromwell fell victim to North Branford and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They lost 7-0 to the Thunderbirds. The loss continues a trend for the Panthers in their meetings with the Thunderbirds: they've now lost four in a row.

Coginchaug Regional's win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-3. As for Cromwell, they now have a losing record of 3-4.

Everything went Coginchaug Regional's way against Cromwell in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, as Coginchaug Regional made off with a 6-0 victory. Will the Blue Devils repeat their success, or do the Panthers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.