North Haven Cracks Top 10 In Latest Softball Poll

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Coaches and sports media members from around Connecticut conducted their first in-season softball poll, and Masuk High School emerged as the top team in the state.

The Panthers collected 12 of 16 first-place votes to easily outdistance runner-up Trumbull, which moved up a spot from its preseason ranking of No. 3. St. Joseph also collected a first-place vote, while Southington and Cheshire rounded out the top five.

North Haven made the biggest leap of the week, placing seventh in the most recent balloting.

Here are the top 10 teams, with last week's ranking in parentheses, as well as all other programs garnering votes.

1. Masuk (lw: 1)
2. Trumbull (lw: 3)
3. St. Joseph (lw: 2)
4. Southington (lw: 5)
5. Cheshire (lw: 6)
6. Norwich Free Academy (lw: 7)
7. North Haven (lw: NR)
8. Seymour (lw: 8)
9. Amity (lw: 4)
10. E.O. Smith (lw: NR)

Also receiving votes: Daniel Hand, Bristol Eastern, Valley Regional, Montville, Danbury, South Windsor, Brookfield, Granby, North Branford, Griswold, Stamford, St. Paul, Wilton, Coginchaug, Windsor, Coventry, East Haven, Newtown, Stafford, Fairfield Ludlowe, Guilford.

Voters: Coaches: Steve DeMartino, Coginchaug; Jeff Babineau, St. Joseph; Ken Pereiras, Seymour; Bryan Burdick, Norwich Free Academy; Nick DeLizio, North Branford. Media: Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Vickie Fulkerson, The Day; George DeMaio, WELI; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Ryan Lacey, Danbury News Times; Mike Madera, Hearst Connecticut Media; Dave Phillips, Hearst Connecticut Media; Richard Zalusky, Willimantic Chronicle; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Terry Dinan, New Canaanite.