Highlights, how to watch: Star Connecticut pitchers combine for 49 strikeouts with trip to state final on the line

St. John’s signee Jenica Matos strikes out 26 while Stanford pledge Vivian Knott punches out 23 batter in semifinals.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Jun 11, 2026, 1:00pm
Jenica Matos of Cheshire and Vivian Knott of Darien went head-to-head Tuesday in the Connecticut Class LL semifinals, combining to strike out 49 batters in the 12-inning contest.

Matos, a senior St. John's signee, pitched all 12 innings and struck out 26 batters before senior Ava Pearson sent the Rams to the final on a walk-off that scored sophomore Olivia Rydzy.

Knott pitched 10 innings for Darien and punched out 20 batters. The junior Stanford commit allowed just three hits. Claire Willing pitched the 11th and 12th for the Blue Wave and added three strikeouts, bringing the game's total to 52.

How to watch
Class LL final
Teams: Cheshire vs. Southington
Date: Saturday, June 13
Location: Burrill Family Field | University of Connecticut
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Streaming: NFHS Network

It was a pitcher's duel all afternoon as both Matos and Knott reached 11 strikeouts by the end of the fifth.

Matos, who allowed two hits on the day, struck out the side in four different innings while Knott did the same.

Cheshire (24-0) will play Southington at the University of Connecticut on Saturday in the state final. Last season Cheshire beat Southington in the state semifinal before winning the state crown later in the week.

Matos has been on a heater all season with 24-0 record, 0.11 ERA and 429 strikeouts. She didn't allow an earned run in her first 19 games, a span of 113 innings. Matos also topped 1,000 career strikeouts this season.

The state semifinal was her 15th game striking out at least 16 batters this season.

Knott wrapped up her junior season with a 14-2 record, 0.29 ERA and 281 strikeouts. 






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