Cracking the code! Fairfield girls unlock the vault and reign as new LL sectional champs

By Rick Menning

MILFORD, CT -- The mission was clear, yet the task at hand was monumental for this year's Fairfield Little League Softball Major Division All-Star team.

Battling against a Milford program that has brought so much prestige not only to its district and section but also all of Connecticut and even beyond, Fairfield's ability to continue its own journey -- the ultimate quest being the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina -- required unwavering determination, laser focus and solid execution on the diamond.

Nearly an hour before the Section 1 championship game versus Milford at Brewster Field, Fairfield's road warriors already had their game faces on as they warmed up along the outfield foul line.

STATELY STATURE: The girls from Fairfield celebrate their Little League Softball Major Division Section 1 championship win at Brewster Field. The team now advances to Waterford for the state tournament. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

That mindset to succeed -- and the willpower to accomplish something extremely special -- was evident from the first pitch to the final out. The end result was an 11-1 victory which catapulted Fairfield into a prime-time state tournament opening game matchup against Berlin on Tuesday in Waterford.

First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Guilford will face South Windsor in the first game of the Final Four showcase at 5:30 p.m.

The complete tournament schedule can be found here: 2025 Little League Softball

Fairfield ended the Milford organization's six-year run as state champions, and they did it with perseverance and a fighting spirit to overcome every challenge in the third and decisive Section 1 contest.

"We have a solid group of great girls who have been playing together on one team or another since fourth grade," manager Ellen Kiernan said. "They have grown to love each other, and they've just been so much fun to coach."

She noted that the title-clinching performance was a true example of teamwork.

In all, seven batters in Fairfield's lineup had at least one hit, and every player had a key role -- either at the plate or in the field -- during the title-clinching win.

GRAND THEFT: Fairfield baserunner Sloane Sokol slides safely into second with a stolen base and later scored her team's fourth run. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

"There's no game where it's been one-person-only contribution," Kiernan continued. "They've come together as a team and made an impact up and down the lineup. They go out there to have fun, but they also play hard."

Perhaps the most important turning point came in the third inning with Fairfield ahead 4-1.

After a clutch third baseman-to catcher-to first baseman double play by Milford with the bases loaded and no outs, Kiernan's squad stayed positive despite what appeared to be a shift in momentum.

What occurred next was a rapid-fire response that transformed the three-run lead at that point into a seven-run cushion. Three consecutive RBI singles off the bats of Michela Messina, Vanessa Ritchie and Avery Hillmann set the stage for Fairfield to take a commanding advantage.

LAUNCH PAD: Vanessa Ritchie sends a pitch rocketing into the outfield as Fairfield unleashes a two-out, four-run onslaught in the third inning. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

"We had put the ball in play in the first two games, but Milford is such a great defensive team that our line drives just weren't finding the holes at the right time," Kiernan said. "Even in that first game, we won but with only a few hits."

The Fairfield girls knew that their solid contact at the plate would eventually reap good results, and it did with that great two-out rally in the third inning.

"I just went up (to the plate) thinking that I have to support my team, and my focus was on making sure I get that hit," said Michela, who not only ripped a two-run shot past the Milford infield but also completed a key pick-off play at third base on a Milford runner in the bottom of that inning. "My approach was to come through for my teammates and be a team player."

GLOVE GEM: Fairfield third baseman Michela Messina scoops up a sharp grounder and prepares to fire the ball over to first base for the final out of the second inning. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

After giving up a leadoff double to Addy Horvack in Milford's half of the third inning, Fairfield pitcher Morgan Kiernan did not allow another hit the rest of the way.

Morgan's effort inside the circle drew high marks from her catcher.

"(Morgan) was really locating her pitches and that gave us a lot of confidence," said Sloane Sokol, who singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice in the second inning. "We have a goal this year, and we have been working really hard to get as far as we can in All-Stars."

Morgan handled the always-tough Milford lineup with precision. She allowed only that one hit and finished with three strikeouts. In fact, she was in such control that all but two of Milford's at-bats resulted in the ball reaching the outfield.

"A couple of different pitches were working well for me today," Morgan said. "My drop curve was my main pitch and I was also pounding the zone with my fast balls."

STRIKE FORCE: Fairfield pitcher Morgan Kiernan kept the Milford batters off balance and was in charge throughout the sectional championship game. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

During that second inning, Fairfield came through with a huge double play of its own as second baseman Stella Rosado snagged a sharply hit liner and, in one motion, made a pinpoint throw over to Messina at third base to erase Horvack -- who had advanced on a wild pitch -- trying to get back to the bag.

Milford had a chance to keep the game going in the fourth inning with a runner on third base and one out but Morgan rose to the occasion with a strikeout and a grounder for the final two outs of the game.

The new Section 1 champs made their intentions known right at the outset with a three-run first inning highlighted by Vanessa's clutch RBI base hit to right field, the first of her two hits in the contest.

For Avery and her teammates, their close bond and camaraderie enabled them to overcome any initial jitters and rise to the occasion.

"I think we were all a little bit nervous coming into this game, but we all were very excited and showed that during warm-ups," Avery said, adding that the team practices for two hours on fundamentals and drills every day. "We always try to prepare as best we can for the next game and I think that has made us a very good team."

FLIGHT PATH: Fairfield center fielder Avery Hillmann positions herself perfectly underneath the ball for an easy catch to record the first out of the second inning. (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

Back-to-back walks by Stella and also Sierra Stephens in that first inning were followed by Sophia Tiriolo's hard-hit grounder that could not be handled cleanly and resulted in a pair of runs crossing home plate. Vanessa's single increased Fairfield's lead to 3-0.

After Milford manufactured its only run without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the first inning, Fairfield answered right back in the second inning thanks to a one-out single to right field by Sloane and an RBI fielder's choice from Izzy Hegedus to make it 4-1.

Then came the third-inning heroics and uprising that had Fairfield in the driver's seat.

"We had already been hitting the ball really good in this game, so when I came up to bat in that inning I just wanted to keep the momentum going," said Avery, whose RBI single capped the two-out rally. "I focused and I'm glad I was able to contribute."

GOOD JOB: Izzy Hegedus gets a high-five from her first base coach after singling to right field to start Fairfield's three-run fourth inning. She also had an RBI fielder's choice in the second inning (Photo courtesy of Mike Messina.)

The icing on the cake took place in the form of a three-run fourth inning that had the visitors making plans to spend this upcoming week in Waterford.

Izzy lined a single to right, Morgan laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and -- after a hit batter, a walk and several wild pitches brought in more runs -- Sophia ripped an RBI shot past the infield to put the exclamation point to the victory.

"I'm really excited and it's kinda crazy that we won. Going to states really means a lot," Vanessa said. "We've all grown so much as a team since our first (All-Star) game and we are very looking forward to our next challenge."

While each level of play will be tougher, Michela feels as though Fairfield has all the ingredients to be a state contender.

"I think everybody on this team has so much talent, and we have the potential to go far when we play our best," she said.

Sectional Game One: Fairfield 4, Milford 2: Molly Flynn and Sloane Sokol unleashed back-to-back singles in the fifth inning, and first baseman Molly was on the receiving end of seven infield putouts.

"Molly is a great first baseman and she has been clutch for us in every game," Michela said.

Maddy Kelley went the distance inside the circle.

Sectional Game two: Milford 3, Fairfield 1: Maddy Kelley reached on an error and later scored, and Vanessa Ritchie had an infield single in that second inning.

Little League Softball Section 1 champions!

2025 Fairfield Major Division All-Stars (in alphabetical order): Molly Flynn, Izzy Hegedus, Avery Hillmann, Maddy Kelley, Morgan Kiernan, Brianna Lavanda (injured), Michela Messina, Vanessa Ritchie, Stella Rosado, Sierra Stephens, Sloane Sokol, Sophia Tiriolo. The manager is Ellen Kiernan and the coaches are Frank Tiriolo and Craig Stephens.