Coventry wins second consecutive state softball title

STORRS – Sarah Miller came to last year’s Class S state championship softball game with her Coventry teammates. But she could only sit in the dugout and cheer as she was recovering from a torn ACL in her left knee that happened over the winter.

Coventry won that title. The Patriots won another one on the volley and Miller was benched again.

Finally, on Saturday afternoon, Miller, a junior shortstop, could actually contribute to a state championship on the field. Miller was 4 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs in Coventry’s 16-3 win over Holy Cross (19-9) in the Class S final at Burrill Family Field softball complex.

“I’m very fortunate to be back here,” Miller said. “After an injury, you appreciate everything a little more.”

It was the second straight title for the Patriots (24-2). Senior pitcher Elizabeth Mitchell earned the win and had five hits and three runs scored and blasted a home run off the top of the center field wall in the third inning as Coventry scored four runs.

“As soon as he left the bat, I looked up and thought, ‘Is it going to end?’ I better start running right now,’” Mitchell said. “I’m very grateful that it passed.

“Putting 16 runs on the board – crazy. I hit so well.”

Elizabeth Mitchell hits last batter, Coventry beats Holy Cross 16-3 to win Class S title for second year in a row pic.twitter.com/fLi7maRRQu

— Lori Riley (@lrileysports) June 8, 2024

Freshman Lilah Talaga, who was named the game’s MVP, went 4-for-5 with two triples, a double and a single. She scored four runs and drove in four runs.

Seven of Coventry’s nine players had hits. They scored four runs in the third, two in the fourth, five in the fifth and had four more in the sixth.

“They fed off each other,” Coventry coach Jeff LaHouse said. “It becomes contagious. I felt sick, it seemed like no matter where the pitcher was throwing, I was on him.

“This is one of the best lineups we’ve had. From one to nine, we are solid. We really don’t give a pitcher a break.”

Miller had a bigger purpose Saturday than returning from a torn ACL to help his team win a title. She gave her teammates blue ribbons to wear in their hair and had one on her shoe in memory of State Trooper 1st Class Aaron Pelletier, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver on I-84 on May 30, during a traffic stop. Miller’s father, Kevin Miller, was a state trooper who also died in the line of duty in 2018, so the last week and a half has been a struggle for Sarah Miller.

“We are keeping Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier in our thoughts,” Miller said. “I am very grateful for this team. It was a tough week and a half, but they were there for me. I always take it when I feel down. I want the Pelletier family to know that I and the Coventry High School softball team are thinking of them.

“Every hit, I was thinking about doing it for him, for his family. It’s funny because I came into this season wanting to come back with my ACL injury, wanting to come back stronger than ever. But it became more than that.”