By Michael Letendre

MERIDEN – With the Panthers’ top pitcher in the dugout on crutches, an anticipated pitcher’s duel between the Bristol Eastern and Platt softball programs never materialized.

The Lancers were able to capitalize early and often over an 18-2 victory in a CCC South tilt from Meriden on Thursday.

Eastern moved to 9-5 off the win, avenging a 16-1 loss the previous day to powerhouse Berlin. 

The Panthers (7-7) had to turn to three different pitchers, trailed by fifteen runs before finally getting on the scoreboard – allowing the entire Lancers’ team to contribute to the winning effort.

“We needed to bounce back after yesterday,” against Berlin said Eastern coach Scott Redman. “It was unfortunate that we couldn’t see their best [pitcher] because this would have been a good game.”

Even without star pitcher Emily Hart, the Panthers threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Lancers from the mound.

And Platt never quit, refused to lose by a straight 15-0 mercy-rule finish and made the visitors work at the end to earn it.

“I have to tip my cap to Platt,” said Redman. “I told [the Platt players] after the game, that was the most heart I’ve seen this year against any team.”

And in a game that could have been sloppy, Eastern had a flawless defensive effort to highlight an all-around excellent day of ball.

The locals faced just three batters over the minimum as Eastern star chucker Ali Tellier allowed just three hits, no walks and posted seven strikeouts over an efficient effort.

“I told them from the get-go, I want a clean game defensively,” said Redman. “Obviously, Ali is pitching with confidence with that big lead but, like I told them in the pregame, Platt is a pesky team. They’re quality, they have some real quality hitters – especially at the top of their order. You’re trying to work ahead. I think Ali started off every single batter with a first pitch strike which was pretty amazing.”

Eastern tallied three runs in the first inning as Tellier singled to left, Riley Giblin was hit-by-pitch and Jasmine Perez (3-for-4, four runs scored, HR, five RBI) dropped in an RBI tally to center to make it a 1-0 game.

Sam Policki then walked on four pitches to loads things up and Jazmyn Brown (three RBI) skied a ball to center for an out but on the sacrifice, Giblin scored, and a 2-0 push followed.

To end the frame, Alex Shorette (two RBI) smashed a single to left and when Perez scored, Eastern led 3-0 through just a half-inning of play.

In the second stanza, the Lancers added 11 runs to the till.

Sarah Lacouture and Tellier drew walks and while Giblin’s fielder’s choice erased the lead runner, Perez earned a base-on-balls to load the bases.

From there, Janessa Gonzalez (2-for-3, two RBI) sent a base hit to center to plate pinch runner Sarah Snedeker and when Policki walked for the second time, Giblin scored from third to give Eastern a 5-0 cushion.

RBI base-on-balls by Browne and Shorette gave Eastern another couple tallies on the board as the Kingstreeters nabbed a 7-0 push with just one out.

Saniya Carraway then came into pitch for the Panthers, but she ended up walking Makayla Antunes for an RBI as the Lancers secured an 8-0 edge.

Lacouture then came to the plate in the inning for the second time as Eastern had batted around.

She also drew a bases loaded walk and off a pickoff attempt, the Platt catcher threw the ball into right field as two players tagged the dish and an 11-0 Eastern push ensued.

Riley also walked to re-load the bases and Perez bounced a ball off the wall in center for another RBI single. – making it a 12-0 game.

Gonzalez also earned a bases loaded walk – as did Browne – for another couple runs as the Lancers ended the second stanza ahead by a 14-0 push. 

After three consecutive groundouts by Platt in the first inning, Tellier struck out the side in the second as the score remained 14-0 going into the third frame of action.

To open the third, Antunes dropped a double into left, Tellier reached on a one-out error and even as reserve Ashley Serafin grounded out, Antunes scored to make it 15-0 through three.

Tellier fanned batters four and five in the bottom of the third as the Eastern chucker was perfect through nine batters.

Gonzalez and Sophia Nocera opened the fourth frame with back-to-back walks and Browne grounded out to advance both runners into scoring position.

But an unusual first base to home plate double-play ended the inning with the Lancers still in front by 15 runs.

It was the top of the order for the Panthers in the fourth and the home team showed some life.

Platt’s Ariana Soto sent a double into left, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball to make it a 15-1 game.

Tori Talento then scorched a two-base hit to left, as did Thalia Ortiz, with the second double making it 15-2 but Eastern was still firmly in control through four frames.

“They didn’t go away,” said Redman of Platt. “Platt bounces back. You think it’s just going to be a walkover, mercy-ruled [game]. They bounce back and score a couple. They didn’t break up [Ali’s] no-hitter with a bunt a single or a little blooper. It was a well-placed ball and a couple more well-struck hits, nothing cheap about it.”

And then Perez blasted the ball out of the park to give the Lancers an 18-2 cushion – the final runs of the game.

Antunes and Serafin both walked and on a 2-0 pitch, Perez absolutely crushed a shot over the fence in center as the three-run homer gave Eastern a 16-run lead.

“I like the way that we answered,” said Redman. “We didn’t bounce back going on a passed ball or anything. Jazmyn Perez gets into it and tags one – the second game in a row that she hits one out. That’s really good to see her red hot.”

Gonzalez then sent a single up the middle but ended up stranded as Platt had to score a couple to stay away from being mercy ruled.

Tellier went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth to close it out as Eastern nabbed an 18-2 victory.

“I thought we came in here and did what we had to do,” said Redman. “We got some [other] girls in and they contributed as well. That was good to see.”

CCC South Softball

BRISTOL EASTERN 18, PLATT 2 (5) 

from Orville H. Platt high school, Meriden 

Bristol Eastern (9-5) 3(11)1 03  – 18 8 0

Platt (7-7) 000 20 – 2 3 2

WP: Ali Tellier (BE, 9-4); LP: Lyani Castro (P)

Bristol Eastern Batting

2B – Makayla Antunes

3B – None

HR – Jasmine Perez

Platt Batting

2B – Ariana Soto, Tori Talento, Thalia Ortiz

3B – None

HR – None

Records: Bristol Eastern 9-5 overall; Platt 7-7