Day Two of the Bristol Girls Little League Softball City Series continued with the Gators (1-0) and Diamond Girls (1-0) meeting in the second round of the tournament at Rockwell Field on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Panthers (0-1) and Rockies (0-1) met at Peck Park to play the first elimination game of the tournament.

Panthers Vs. Rockies
In the elimination game, the Rockies leadoff hitter Kaci Cistulli singled to start the game, stole two bases and scored the game’s first run. Josie Avritch and Alexis Waida both reached base safely and scored, as the Rockies took an early 3-0 lead.

The Panthers roared back to score five runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Desiree Nickerson drew a leadoff walk, stole two bases and scored on Maria Albert’s single. Cleanup hitter Gia Hatcher singled to left to score Albert.

Camryn Mastrobattisto reached base safely, and then scored along with Hatcher on Bella Arborio’s 2-run double to left field. Arborio took the mound for the Panthers and retired the next three Rockies hitters in order.  

Panthers Aria Morales and Madison Morrissey each drew a walk and scored in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Desiree Nickerson hit a deep line drive to left center field that hit the top of the fence to stay within the park and make the score 7-3, Panthers.

Pitching was the big story for both teams over the course of the next four innings. After a collective total of 10 runs were scored in the first two innings, only four more runs were recorded for the remainder of the six-inning affair.

The Rockies chipped away at the Panthers lead, as Cistulli, Waida and Angie Croce each scored a run for Rockies, but it was not enough to regain the lead, as the Panthers held on to win 8-6.

The Panthers (1-1) now advance to the third round of the tournament at Rockwell Park on Wednesday.

Gators Vs. Diamond Girls
The second game of the evening featured the Gators (1-0) and Diamond Girls (1-0). The Gators starting pitcher Brooklynne Whitlock followed up her 1-hitter from the previous night with another strong performance against the Diamond Girls.

The game began with Diamond Girls leadoff hitter flying out to Gators first baseman Bellah Loveall in foul territory. Whitlock would retire two of the next three hitters via strikeout to end the top of the first on 15 pitches.

Gators leadoff hitter and starting shortstop Leah Webber faced Diamond Girls starting pitcher Breyona Demora. After running the count to 3-2, Webber grounded out to shortstop Haley Powers.

Twin sister Kayla Webber fouled off several pitches to push the count to 3-2, before doubling to left center field. Webber stole third base and helped Whitlock reach base safely on a dropped third strike that the Diamond Girls Catcher decided to hold onto, as opposed to allowing the runner from third to score.

Cleanup hitter Loveall hit the first pitch she saw from Demora to left field, scoring Webber and advancing Whitlock to third. The Gators loaded the bases with a walk to Madison Foertsch and score their second run on a two out walk to Lyla Wegiel.

Whitlock returned to the mound in the top of the second and gave up a sharp line drive down the right field line to Diamond Girls first baseman Stella Sirianni on a 1-2 count.

Whitlock retired the next three batters via strikeout. The Gators sent five batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a walk to Briana Annunziata and a beautifully executed bunt from the left side by shortstop Leah Webber. However, the Gators were unable to add to their 2-0 lead.

The top of the third inning brought a lot of excitement for the Diamond Girls. After the first two hitters were retired by strikeout and a ground ball to first baseman Loveall, leadoff hitter Haley Powers hit a pop fly that was just out of the reach of second baseman Abby Corbin.

Heads-up baserunning would advance Powers to third. The following batter struck out on three pitches, but advanced on a dropped third strike that catcher Kayla Webber decided to hold onto, as opposed to throw to first base, potentially allowing the runner from third to score.

It would not matter though as Hailey Beebe hit a 1-0 offering to deep right field scoring Powers and Tori Hogan. Beebe scored on an over throw to third, giving the Diamond Girls a 3-2 lead.

The bottom of the third inning saw the Gators Loveall and Corbin each single and score to give the Gators a 4-3 lead after three innings.  

Whitlock remained dialed in and shutout the Diamond Girls for the remainder of the game, allowing a total of three hits, three walks and striking out 14 as the Gators (2-0) closed out the game 6-3.

The Gators (2-0) now advance to the championship game on Thursday, as they await the winner of Wednesday’s elimination game between the Panthers (1-1) and Diamond Girls (1-1).