The Blue Knights softball team figured out that the third time really is a charm as they beat Simsbury for the first time in three chances Saturday, 1-0. The Blue Knights had yet to score a run off Kathleen Conway all season up through six innings Saturday, which was a total of 20 innings, but freshman sensation Nicole Rossitto led off the top of the seventh with a double that bounced over the wall, a hit that would have been a triple had it not landed on the other side of the fence, then Val Mazrek ripped a single into left and advanced to second on a throw that sailed home and kept Rossitto at third; Rossitto then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brittney Cyr to score the deciding run.

Brittany Volpe was great on the mound, giving up one lonely hit, a swinging bunt single, and she retired the side in the ninth, walking a batter, but wiggling out of harm's way for the win.

Simsbury had beaten the Knights in two previous appearances this year, both 1-0 wins for the Trojans, but the Blue Knights came out on the other side of the coin in Saturday's game.

Southington will now get its best test of the year as they will face one of the nation's top hurlers in Rachele Fico, going to Louisiana State University on a softball scholarship, on Monday for a chance to get to the Class LL finals. Fico and her Masuk teammates slithered by Cheshire in 10 innings on Saturday, 1-0. The semifinal game will be played June 8, at DeLuca Field in Stratford at 7 p.m. Bring you bug spray!

Volleyball follows suit

The Blue Knights volleyball team cruised past 11 seed Xavier Friday night in three games, setting up a semifinal date with underdog, ten seed Cheshire, who beat two seeded, one-loss Fairfield Co-op. The game will be played Tuesday at a nuetral site to be announced as well as the time. The Blue Knights are attempting to reach their third straight Class L title game, which they have yet to win.

Lacrosse falls to Green Wave

The New Milford Green Wave held off a furious attack by Southington Friday night to win 11-7 as the nine seed beat the eight seed at home and advanced to the next round. It was only the second time the Knights hosted a state tournament game, the first at home under the lights. The Knights finished off a great year at 12-5.

Trailing 3-2 at half, the Blue Knights came out with a flury, scoring three goals in a minute and a half to start the third quarter with a 5-3 lead, but New Milford hung tough for the win.