By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – The Bristol Central softball program has an extremely busy week ahead of it – a slate of four games concluding with a crosstown battle at Bristol Eastern (Friday, 3:45 p.m.).

Some programs would be a bit anxious with a schedule like that but not the Rams and its ace duo in the circle.

If you’re an opponent going up against Central, you’ll eventually have to tangle against pitchers Alex Sciarretto or Sophia Torreso – this year and next.

And whichever pitcher Central coach Monica Hayes decides to employ, it’s always a long day in the batter’s box.

Think about what Sciarretto, a CCC South All-Conference selection last season, accomplished just against Hall last week on Thursday.

Central fell to Hall by a 2-1 final but Sciarretto chucked just a four-hitter, struck out 11 – many of those batters watching strike three – while just issuing two free passes.

“I thought that she was excellent,” said Hayes about Sciarretto after the Hall game. “She’s clearly getting better. She’s improving in those tight situations and that’s good for her.”

“She’s impressive.”

Errors fueled Hall’s win because Sciarretto, who truly had to deal with all the elements – including the cold – more than held her own in the one-run loss.

The miscues in the field were the ultimate daggers.

But, if Torreso was throwing instead, is that any better than Sciarretto chucking changeups by hapless batters?

Torreso has struck out 10-plus batters on several occasions and, like her sister Gwen, she isn’t afraid of a pressure-filled situation.

And when one pitcher isn’t throwing, the other is taking charge somewhere in the infield.

“We have two aces,” said Hayes. “We have solid pitching no matter who we throw.”

Last season, defense was the program’s calling card and not much has changed in 2022.

The Rams entered the busy week at 7-2 and needed just one win to qualify for states.

That’s not a forgone conclusion but don’t bet against Central this week.

Central’s two losses has been by a combined two runs as the lack of a big hit against Plainville and Hall foiled possible winning efforts.

“In the other game we lost [at Plainville], we were one hit away in the first game of the season at Plainville,” said Hayes. “In tight games, we seemed to struggle with that. But that’s something we learned today [against Hall]. We were one hit away. We’re almost there in a tight game against a really good team.”

Central’s line-up is pretty much stacked in 2022.

Kaley Laird is tough at shortstop while Sam Sklenka helps lead the charge in the outfield.

Lorelei Stancavage does a tremendous job behind the plate and there’s another talented Sklenka – this time Leah – playing in the outfield as well.

At the bottom of the order, Sarah Romano, Mya Porrini, and Adrianna Lubrico are all invaluable contributors to the line-up.

And this team has the capability to beat any squad in the Central Connecticut Conference as the Rams have a tough interdivisional slate.

This week, Central opens with Manchester on Monday and then plays non-conference foe Wolcott the following day in back-to-back home games.

In a third straight contest, the Rams travels to Windsor for a CCC interdivisional tilt and finally, it’s Central/Eastern on Friday from King Street.

And Central has a chance to run the table this week if everything works out, starting with Sciarretto and Torreso ready to pitch all the big innings.

“In close games against quality teams, we’re competing,” said Hayes. “I like our chances against a lot of teams in the state. I like our chances against a lot of the teams in the CCC.”

“I know we’re going to be competitive. It’s just a matter of offensively executing and defensively, we have to limit our errors and mistakes.”