Defending champion? Top seed? Their place?
No problem for Jordan Strum and the Williston Northampton softball team in the Western New England Class A Prep Softball Championship game.
Strum struck out 14 and only allowed one hit in the seventh inning and one ball out of the infield, walking zero in a 5-1 win over the Westminster School on Sunday in Simsbury, Connecticut.
Gabby Jones and Delaney Belinskas each went 3-for-4 and picked up an RBI on the day.
The Wildcats (10-3) won their first Western New England title.
Strum also pitched well in Saturday’s 1-0 semifinal win over Taft in Esathampton.
She struck out eight and allowed three hits.
Belinskas had two hits, while Jada Goodrich drove in the winning run.
Williston 7, Canterbury 3 — Chris Espinal and Daylon Thompson hit homers in a season-ending win Saturday.
Jared Freilich picked up the victory on the mound for the Wildcats (11-5).
Williston 12, Tabor 6 — Olivia Bonavita led the Wildcats with five goals on Saturday.
Meg Szawlowski contributed three goals and four assists for Williston (15-1).
The Wildcats won the Suffield Tournament on Saturday, capturing titles at both doubles spots.
Mike Dereus was named the Most Outstanding Male Athlete at the New England Championships on Saturday.
He set a New England record in the 100-meter dash, winning in 10.84 seconds and won the 200-meter dash in 22.28 seconds.
Dereus also took second in the long jump.
Alexis Ryan won her second consecutive New England Championships with a discus throw of 109 feet, 10 inches Saturday.
Williston 184, Cushing 244 — Jacob Zaranek (South Deerfield) was the match medalist for the Wildcats at 2-under 34 at Ledges Golf Course on Saturday.
Nick Randolph (Westhampton) Jack Phelan and Junya Ozaki all shot 38 for Williston (16-3-1).
Williston’s 184 team score was their lowest since at least 2004.